Thank You To Our Supporters

NYFTE has no grant funding and could not operate without the backing (both financial and practical) of our supporters. We'd like to acknowledge that support and thank those who donate their time, skills and money. That includes

• Financial donors, from individuals to dance teams. Some of our donors wish to remain incognito, others are listed below.
• The tutors who donate their time and skills to teaching the team.
• The festivals and dance teams that invite us to take part in their events.
• The parents who pay expenses, work as team taxi drivers and roadies and support us in many other practical ways.
• The committee who do their best to keep the organisation running smoothly.
• The performing members who put a lot of energy and enthusiasm into the team.

We have recently received a generous donation from Oxfordshire Folk, who held a memorial day to honour musician and EFDSS gold badge holder John Graham and who have donated the proceeds to NYFTE. Below is a short biography of John. We would like to extend a very big thank you to all involved. 

John Graham

 September 1941- May 2023

John Graham lived all his life in Headington Quarry, part of Oxford, and the nearby villages of Marston and Garsington. He was one of the last living links to William Kimber, who taught Morris dancing at John’s school. John soon became the main musician for his Morris side, a role that he fulfilled for  over sixty years. During that time, he performed at Cecil Sharp House, the Royal Albert Hall and on trips to the USA and Japan, and appeared on TV in Midsomer Murders, Dr Who and the Generation Game.

John was a key member of Headington Quarry Folk Dance Club, playing at nearly all their meetings. He became a leading musician for folk dance music throughout Oxfordshire, which included heading his band, the Quarry Turners. He loved Playford tunes and had an encyclopaedic memory of them, which he could play at a moment’s notice.

At John’s Memorial, Chis Dewhurst recalled particular ‘croquet by candlelight’ events one New Year which inspired the creation of a dance (Hokey-Croquet) written to a tune of the same name by Chris. John was awarded the EFDSS Gold Badge in 2019 and will be remembered for his cheerful, eccentric character. 

NYFTE also gratefully acknowledges support from

• Winchmore Folk Dance Club
• The Third Friday Folk Dance Club (Oxonfolk)
• The Beaux of London Morris Men
• Worksop Folk Dance Group
• Ken Simpson
• Avoncroft Folk Dance Group
• R and S Hunt (Go with the Flow)
• Ian and Gill Ludbrook
• Peter Mayes
• Friends of Cecil Sharp House

To all of you: Thank You.