Following the successful 50th Anniversary celebrations, which took place in Leyland on the 29th April, the team somehow found some extra energy and sallied forth to Scorton just two days later on May Day; and what a day it proved to be.

When you see the decorated bicycles and wheelbarrows appear all around Scorton village, you know that it is May Day weekend. The weekend features a live re-enactment event, archery, 2-day music festival, a dog show, artisan fair, children’s games, beer tent, Sherriff 10k run, family cycle rides, Rose Queen day, wheelbarrow racing, pop-up cafes, Morris Dancing, brass band concert and classic cars. The Bikes & Barrows Festival has plenty to suit all ages and lots to enjoy.

The internet free encyclopaedia, Wikipedia, says this of Scorton: In the 19th century there was a cotton mill in the village and the village had a railway station on the West Coast Main Line from 1841 until 1939. The village has three churches, one pub (Stouts Bar, at the Priory Hotel), and is home to The Barn garden centre, gift shop, cafe and restaurant, the Bowland Grill, which is open at weekend and all week in the summer season. The annual Scorton Steam show takes place on Fathers' Day weekend in June each year and the Lancashire Game and Country Festival which takes place at the same purpose-built showground. The hills around include the much walked Nicky Nook on the edge of the Forest of Bowland area. Scorton is home to the Bikes and Barrows Festival, which started in 2011. This event takes place each May Day bank holiday weekend. Now isn’t that a pip?

The BBC were in evidence and low and behold, the team appeared on the 6.30pm national news bulletin that very evening. Our ‘two minutes’ of fame was attributable to the TV Channel’s coverage of the local elections, which were due that week. The team however, had ventured to the banks of the River Wyre, not for political reasons, but to dance the Morris in the long held English May Day tradition. Historically of course, Morris Dancing has been linked to May Day celebrations.

What the BBC failed to notice was the Leyland Morris own hero, Andrew Tipping, who had cycled over from Longton to Scorton, an estimated 40 plus miles round trip. On arrival Andrew threw off his cycling gear to don the yellow and blue apparel of his beloved Leyland Morris Men, before dancing at three spots around the village before once again mounting his trusty ‘iron steed’ for the twenty mile trip home. A true man of steel!!!!

The Scorton event was a success for the team who were well received by the good folks of the Wyre.

Dave Rowland