About Suffolk Folk
ABOUT SUFFOLK FOLK
Suffolk Folk was initially a branch member of the English Folk and Song Society (EFDSS) which was founded by Cecil Sharp in 1911. The earliest reference found to the Suffolk District Branch, as it was known at the time, appears in the EFDSS handbook dated February 1941 although there can be no doubt that folk dance in Suffolk was thriving for many years before that. There is mention of the Norfolk and Norwich District in an earlier edition – March 1937 – but it could well be that Suffolk was an active member at that time and the Secretary had simply failed to send in a report. Further research is needed if anybody wants to dive deeper than the level required for this simple homage to Suffolk Folk.
The 1941 edition of the handbook records seven centres in Suffolk ranging from Exning to Woodbridge and it is clear that there was a lot happening at club level. The actual name ‘Suffolk Folk’ came about in 1995 when ‘districts’ were abolished by EFDSS and so Suffolk Folk became an independent organisation with its own constitution and the stated aims of publishing the magazine entitled Mardles and of organising an annual folk dance – the Playford Ball.
Produced and directed by Doc Cox with typical Yorkshire generosity. Who could have believed that the county of deep pockets and short arms was capable of such a polished production?
