The Official Britannia Coconut Dancers Press Statement - 30th July 2020
Following several press statements over the last couple of weeks from the Morris Ring concerning the use of full black/skin tone face make up a meeting was called by the executive members of The Britannia Coconut Dancers and was held on Monday 20th July 2020 to discuss the matter which was outlined by the JMO. We were saddened to receive this statement as it perceives that we and other teams who these bodies represent have a tradition that is not fit for the modern day. The Britannia Coconutters have evolved within our community upholding a folk dance & music which is honest and unique. Our age old tradition is embedded in the hearts and souls of the people of Bacup, Rossendale and overseas.
As a team we have discussed the use of black face makeup in great detail and have come to a unanimous decision that this will continue to be part of our unique mining tradition, removing any part of our costume will take away the mystique of who we are. The dances were devised by local miners. Since they all had permanently black faces on working days, from the outset it became an essential part of the tradition that they also performed with black faces. This tradition has now been maintained continuously for more than a century. It has no connection with ethnicity nor any form of racial prejudice.
We have been in discussions with the committee members of the Morris Ring over the past few weeks but have been unable to find a compromise that would be suitable for both The Britannia Coconutters and The Morris Ring.
We as a team have concluded that our membership of the Morris Ring will cease at the end of this year and trust that the JMO will understand and respect our decision to continue with the integrity and respect as we have for many centuries. We would like to wish all members of the JMO the very best for the future and hope to one day work with The JMO.
Statement from the Morris Ring:
It is both sad & regrettable that The Morris Ring and The Britannia Coconut Dancers have come to this impasse which has been driven by outside forces.
We would like to wish ‘The Nutters’ all the best for the future and hopefully in time we will find a way to work together again.
Pete Simpson.
Squire of the Morris Ring
Easter Saturday 2024
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Easter Saturday 2022 - Donations
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Easter Saturday Statement | 8th March 2022
On Saturday 10th April 2021, Dexter McNulty took park in a sponsored 6k walk in aid of The Britannia Coconut Dancers of Bacup. The 6k covered part of the route the takes on their annual boundary to boundary dance on Easter Saturday. Dexter covered just over 8k on the day and managed to raise a grand total of £1,671.21 both on the day, through sponsorship form and through the donation link on the teams website. On Wednesday 21st April, Dexter presented the teams leader Donald and teams treasurer Luke with the cheque as a handover at the ‘Nutters Gardens’. From Dexter and the team, thank you to everyone who sponsored him.
Saturday 3rd April 2021 was the second Easter Saturday in lockdown. Despite all the doom and gloom in the world, the team decided that they still wated to support a local charity/good cause. This year the team chose the WaterWell Foundation CIC, a mental wellbeing and suicide prevention charity based in Rossendale. Despite the lockdown restrictions across the UK the team held a ‘virtual’ Easter Saturday that consisted of live feeds of the route, team members sat in gardens ragged up and members of Stacksteads Band played the iconic ‘Nut Dance’ at various locations throughout the day. Even though the UK, along with the rest of the world are battling the Coronavirus, the team managed to raise a grand total of £800.00 via online donations that were received gratefully from places as far at Australia and donations received in cash via our street collections from the great people of the Rossendale Valley. From all the team, thank-you for your generous donations! The WaterWell Foundation CIC was presented with the Cheque on Sunday 11th February 2021. Tracy and Lia who spear head the WaterWell Foundation CIC, were very grateful and overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone who donated. They explained how the donation will be spent on providing more services and activates after receiving an increase in calls following our East Saturday campaign. Again, form all the members of The Britannia Coconut Dancers of Bacup, a massive thank you for your donations!
Despite our annual Easter Saturday Boundary Dance not taking place this year due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19). The team decided to continue to raise money for a special local charity the Rossendale Hospice. The team has manage to raise a total of £622.23 for this key Rossendale resource. We are hoping to present the donation to members of the Hospice once we come out of lock down. The members of the Nutters would like to thank each and everyone of you who donated online or by cash to our Easter Saturday Rossendale Hospice Donation Appeal.
