Our first real fame came in 1954. The Times on May 3rd featured a picture of us dancing at the Shepherd and Dog, Fulking. This had been taken two days earlier on our May Day tour of Sussex with the Ravensbourne Morris Men, from Surrey and is reproduced below. Later in the year, we also appeared for the first time on the television.

In June it was decided that black breeches and white stockings should replace the white trousers. Was this because wives and mothers complained about washing beer-stained trousers?

We were the first Sussex team to be admitted to the Morris Ring, our election took place on Saturday July 9th 1955.

On Boxing Day, 1955 saw us give our first performance of the Steyning Tipteers' Play. Tipteer is the Sussex dialect word for a Mummer. This was hugely successful, and continues to be performed as part of our Boxing Day tour at Sompting and Steyning.

During the early 1960s saw the development of The Whit Tour. Many of teams who traditionally danced the Morris, went away on tours - mainly to collect extra money! Chanctonbury Ring's tours have followed their example. Each year the side hires a village hall to use as a base and 'indoor camping'. Coach tours on Saturday and Sunday where we visit local villages and other interesting places (such as public houses), and then often a dance somewhere halfway home on Bank Holiday Monday. Our tours have been to all parts of England, recent ones have included visits to Yorkshire, Hereford and Dorset.

In 1967 we revived 'Apple Howling'. Apple Howling had long been known in Sussex, but like so many traditional customs had fell into decay. This took place at Tendring, Magham Down in East Sussex. We still perform Apple Howling today, but a little nearer our base, at a farm near Henfield. Apple Howling takes place between Christmas Day and Twelve Night (Old Christmas Day) and as the weather is always a little uncertain, it is the only time Chanctonbury Ring Morris Men can dance with their coats on!

In 1967, we held our first Ring Meeting. There is little doubt that the Brighton Ring Meeting put us on the map. This most successful event provided an enormous boost to our members. On Friday 7th July we had a Morris Ale and on the Saturday over 250 men departed on various coach tours around Sussex. On the Sunday morning, after the church service a St Peter's Church, the men danced through the town to the Royal Pavilion where massed displays took place. This was the first time I saw Chanctonbury Ring Morris Men dance - I was 5 at the time! My father had been a member in the late 1950s, and as usual whenever Chanctonbury Ring Morris Men danced in Brighton he made an effort to go and watch. On this occasion, my parents took me down to see the procession, and then to the Royal Pavilion Lawns to watch the displays. They ate tea and cakes, while I had an ice cream!

We held a second Ring meeting in 1980. This time fifteen sides attended, with four coach tours going the length and breath of Sussex. The weekend culminated in a massed procession along Brighton Seafront, and like the 1967 meeting, massed dancing on the Royal Pavilion lawns. We have our 3rd Ring Meeting booked - this will take place in 2003 as part of our 50th year celebrations. Those teams wishing to attend should watch this space!

Another big event of 1980 was the Round Britain Tour. At 5am on Friday 23rd May, Fourteen intrepid men set off for Scotland. Reaching Ambleside by lunchtime, a kind American plied them with huge quantities of Theakstons Old Peculiar, which necessitated a row across Windemere to sober up! The night was spent in a barn halfway up Blencatha where they woke up a cuckoo. After Saturday's breakfast in Carlisle, it was a quick dash across the border through Gretna to Dumfries. It is said that the first Scotsman to put money in our trug (a trug is a traditional Sussex gardening container. Ours has been specially modified to collect money!) asked for change! The day ended with a ceilidh at Kirkcudbright. Sunday marked the dash over another border - Wales, then returning by way of the Cotswolds they arrived in Brighton at 5pm.

On Good Friday 1982, Chanctonbury ring Morris Men and The Knots of May (a ladies Garland team based in the Brighton and Lewes area) revived 'long rope skipping' at Alciston. The Skipping had formerly taken place on the beaches at Brighton and a few other places in Sussex, but was moved inland during the last war. Long Rope Skipping still takes place, with many spectators getting involved and showing their skill.

The Whites return. In 1987, over thrity years since changing to black breeches, Chanctonbury ring Morris Men returned to wearing white trousers.

During the early 1990's, on several occasions we appeared with Noel Edmunds on his early evening Saturday show on the BBC. On one show, our Fool missed being gunged - a Pearly King got it instead! (Gunging is a technique whereby a person sits under a container filled with slimy liquid - usually colour green.) While, on another show we had a sightseeing trip around Basingstoke as a Gotcha for Barbara Windsor.

1993 saw our 40th anniversary. We held a dinner and invited current and previous members. This was a huge success. Jim Hoare, one of our founder members was guest of honour and gave a rather amusing speech.

Here you can see the Cotswold side dancing at a recent Garland Day, in Lewes.