A BRIEF HISTORY
The Wantsum Morris Men were formed in sandwich in 1967 by John Pilfold. He was a man with a great deal of Morris and folk experience. He started a folk dance club in Sandwich a few years earlier from which the Morris side emerged, first as the Sandwich Morris Men, and then as an independent group, when the current name was adopted.
The side takes its name from the Wantsum Channel which separates the Isle of Thanet from the rest of Kent. The device on the Tabard shows Reculver Towers and the cross of St Augustine. Reculver Towers stand at the north end of the channel; Ebbs Fleet, where St Augustine landed in 597 AD, lies at the south.
As the Sandwich Morris Men, and occasionally afterwards, the musician, John's wife Valerie, played the accordion for Morris, Rapper and Clog dancing, then as the side set forth alone she was joined by concertina player Michael Perry of Herne Bay. He became the principal musician and first Squire. Thirty Nine years later, Michael still holds the position of principal musician. The other founder members were Pete Stead (Ramsgate), Mike and Pete Austen (Sandwich), Bob Birch (Broadstairs), Dave Cork (Eastry), Charles Davis (Kingston Nr Canterbury), Dave Stephens (Canterbury), and Ted Austen. Micheal Perry, Dave Stephens is still with the side.
The first practice venue was Johns garage, adjoining his house in Johns Green, Sandwich. The confines of such a place resulted in Wantsum's trademark, a tidy compact style. The side reached its first great milestone when, in 1970 it was granted membership of the Morris Ring..