John Graham

5 September 1941 - 24 May 2023

John Graham was an EFDSS Gold Badge holder, the mainstay of Headington Quarry Morris Dancers, accordionist and band leader particularly for Headington Quarry Folk Dance Club.

He was for many years chair of Oxfordshire Folk Dance Association and editor of Oxfordshire Folk News.

A memorial event was held at Steventon Village Hall in 2024. The sign on the entrance doors to Steventon Village Hall on 17th March, stated “House Full”. It is witness to both the role that John played as the “face of folk” in Oxfordshire for so many years and to the affection in which he was held that over 130 people from all over the UK representing the various aspects of his work, came to commemorate and celebrate his life.

Among the attendees were Headington Quarry Morris, Westminster Morris, Rod Stradling, Madeleine Smith, Kathryn and David Wright with 3D playing for the dancing with Ivan Aitken as master of ceremonies and caller.

The afternoon got off to a lively start with a procession and display by Headington Quarry Morris with whom John had played for over 60 years. The dance programme included dances that John particularly liked interspersed with short tributes from Dave Townsend, Squire of Headington Quarry Morris, Madeleine Smith, Roger Dorman from Westminster Morris and Rod Stradling, Morris dancer and musician. Everybody mentioned his encyclopaedic knowledge of music and his love of Playford tunes, which he could play at a moment’s notice (even if the music thrust into the hands of his fellow musicians was often less familiar to them).

During the interval the whole room stood up and sang two verses of ”Thine be The Glory” to the Handel tune with trumpet accompaniment from Nick Dewhurst. This was a tune that John had asked for his funeral which sadly we were all not able to attend. The Headington Quarry Handbell Ringers then played some of the tunes that precede the Christmas Headington Morris display. Alan Kimber Nickelson then gave a moving eulogy of John’s life whist wearing John’s waistcoat.

Towards the close, Chis Dewhurst recalled many happy times at Halsway with John at Christmastide and in particular how John had taken Nick under his wing and shared his obsession with croquet with Nick including playing by candlelight on a New Year’s Day just after midnight! In recognition of this event Ivan composed a special dance for the occasion – “Hokey-Croquet” to a tune of the same name written by Chris Dewhurst.

Ted Morse co-ordinated the tributes and called two dances to tunes composed by John and John Dawson mounted an exhibition of photographs and memorabilia including the somewhat battle scared music stand of the “Quarry Turners”. This was supplemented by material from Headington Quarry Morris.

In 2019, John was awarded the EFDSS Gold Badge, presented by Ron Smedley (L) and Michael Heaney (R) [Photo by Will Partridge]

This is the citation for the Gold Badge

John first began learning Morris dancing at Headington Secondary School in 1953. The Headmaster of the day, Cyril Easton, was always keen on local traditions and arranged for William Kimber, with his son Fred, to come along to the school on Thursdays, after the end of lessons, and teach them the Headington Quarry Morris dances.

Eventually the day came when William Kimber felt too old to teach, and he retired. The Headmaster appealed for someone to step forward to take Kimber’s place as musician at least. John, who was having private piano lessons at the time, agreed to learn the piano accordion. The local church organist, David Rendell, who also played the accordion, was approached and he agreed to teach John the new instrument and the journey had begun.

In 1956 John left school and along with two or three other boys in that year, joined the Headington Quarry Morris Dancers and John began playing for the team more or less straight away on their practice nights. In 1958 Jim Phillips, one of the senior members, was elected Squire of the Morris Ring of England. He took office at Whitley Bay in Northumberland, and the team travelled up North from King’s Cross station to support him, with John playing for the team at the age of seventeen.

And there was more – much more! – to come. In 1973, along with their soul mates the Westminster Morris Men, they were invited to go to Japan as a publicity vehicle for the Department of Trade and Industry. This turned out to be three weeks of hot hard work but also very rewarding, as they were guests of the government.

Three years later they travelled to Washington DC to help celebrate the US bicentennial. They danced on 4 July, Independence Day, and afterwards they were presented to HM Queen Elizabeth upon her visit to the Lincoln Memorial. Life was good!

Since his debut in 1958, John has played for Headington Quarry Morris Dancers for 61 years – but that’s not all. John joined the Headington Quarry Handbell ringers in 1957 and over the course of time has helped to develop the repertoire to include five- and six-part harmonies. The annual highlight of the last 62 years has been playing a selection of Christmas tunes in Holy Trinity Church before the midnight service. The Handbell ringers also accompany the mummers and sword-dancers on their Boxing Day tour.

In November 1967 John and the Morris were involved in Bruce Forsyth’s Generation Game.

Also in 1967 the Headington Quarry Folk Dance Club was revived after a break of five years and John became involved in forming a band consisting of accordion, guitar, fiddle and drums to play for their weekly meetings. They held their first practice in a house called ‘Quarry Turn’ and so became known as ‘The Quarry Turners’ – they still play under that name in this very room where we stand now, 52 years later.

John says he has two claims to fame. Firstly, being called a ‘Big head’ by Prince Philip when John told him how many tunes he knew; secondly, being chased down Oxford High Street by actress Rosamund Pike, who was taking a degree at Wadham College when he was working there – she wanted to give him a signed photograph when she left. I wonder if he’s still got that photo?

Good wishes, John for the Gold Badge award that you so justly deserve.

Bruce Laurie Chair Oxfordshire Folk Dance Association