William Walker (Walter) Abson (1911-2005)Author(s): John JennerSource: Folk Music Journal, Vol. 9, No. 1 (2006), pp. 128-129Published by: English Folk Dance + Song SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4522793 .

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FOLK MUSIC JOURNAL VOLUME 9 NUMBER 1 PP. 128-142 ISSN 0531-9684

Obituaries

William Walker (Walter) Abson (1 911-2005)

William Abson was born in Yorkshire and went up to Fitzwilliam House, Cambridge, in 1929. At college he became friendly with William Palmer, who invited him to a party held to recruit new members to the local branch of the English Folk Dance Society (EFDS). In the autumn of 1930 he joined the Cambridge Morris Men, and as there were so many Williams among his friends, he became 'Walter', and the name stuck throughout the rest of his life.

Walter soon became active in the local branch of the EFDS. He was a member of the Cambridge team at the Oxford Folk Dance Festival held at Blenheim Palace on 6 June 1931, and he recalled that just after going to bed that night, at 1.30 a.m., there was a sizeable earthquake. Ihe wall of Jesus College was damaged and at Madame Tussaud's the head of Crippen, the murderer, was split in two.

In 1934, Joseph Needham, squire, and Arthur Peck, bagman, arranged a week of morris instruction for members of the Cambridge Morris Men at Ringstead Mill in Norfolk. The founding of the Morris Ring was informally discussed, and names for the two officers were put forward. Alec Hunter was the obvious choice for squire; and while Walter was asleep he was suggested as 'secretary', and he awoke to find that all the men had agreed to his nomination. The provisional first officers were formally agreed when the Ring was instituted at the Cambridge Morris Men's AGM on Saturday, 14 April, and confirmed by the other clubs at Thaxted in June. Over the summer Walter did a great deal to get the agreement of at least five of the other founding clubs, which culminated in the meeting on 10 October 1934 at Cecil Sharp House where, with Douglas Kennedy presiding, the Morris Ring was finally inaugurated and the first squire and bagman elected. Many morris men felt that the EFDSS had lost its way with regard to teaching the 'ritual' dance - Walter said that they had all but given up on it - so the formation of an organization with this special interest was welcomed by the clubs. The Ring would have a simple constitution, with just two officers and no committee. It would not take over from the clubs, but would help them in teaching the dances and provide facilities for dancing together.

Up to 1940, Walter was instrumental in welding together the disparate groups into a national institution of some thirty-five clubs. Eighteen meetings were held, mostly with periods of instruction as well as public shows, and in those days the bagman made all the arrangements; he kept a log of the meetings, and this has been published by the Ring with a foreword by Walter. He retired as bagman in 1946, to be followed by other Cambridge men, Bob Ross in 1946 and Russell Wortley in 1950.

Walter had moved to London in 1932 and joined both the country dance and morris sections of London Pride, where he remained an active member for the next

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OBITUARIES 129

seventy years. He soon became the main instructor and was appointed squire in 1950. Well into his last decade, he continued to attend weekly practices, teaching new members not only the steps and figures but also the less tangible, spiritual aspect of the morris, with its infectious combination of rhythmic movement, teamwork, and traditions.

He went on his first tour with the Travelling Morrice in 1931 and continued regularly to participate in the August tours, in later years taking round the cake, sword, and tin, and talking to audience members of all ages about the mysteries and spirit of the morris.

Walter Abson Photograph courtesy of Gordon Ridgewell

His advice on the finer points of the dancing was always welcomed. He continued to attend Ring meetings right up until his ninety-second year. He did not say a great deal; but when he spoke, all men listened and often rambling discussions were quickly brought to an agreed conclusion.

After university, Walter took a teacher training course and subsequently taught mathematics and physics at Marylebone Grammar School. During the war he served in the RAF, testing airborne radar. Afterwards, using his 'extreme intelligence and understanding', he travelled around Europe securing enemy military scientific equipment which had been seized and helped to re-equip laboratories both here and in Europe. He joined the civil service and was attached to various departments, utilizing his scientific training and knowledge. During the early 1950s Walter served on the Committee of Visitors of the Royal Institution, and was chairman in 1955-56. In retirement he took up painting, going on courses and visiting France sketching or painting the mountains and hills, which he loved. He was also secretary and frilly involved in the life of his local church, in West Wickham.

Walter had a great knack of talking to and helping everyone, and he soon won the respect of all who came across him. He died on 27 February 2005 and will be greatly missed by all who knew or met him.

JOHN JENNER Bassingbourn

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