Bidford-on-Avon is a village which lies about seven miles down river from Stratford-upon-Avon and on the outskirts of the Vale of Evesham. It is well known for its Morris Dance tradition, and particularly for the revival of it by D’Arcy Ferris in 1886. It also had Christmas mummers who were the foundation of that revival. More recently its folk heritage has been added to by its regular folk dances, and the band that provides the music for it.

In 1955, with the explosion of interest in folk dancing, Kenneth and Sybil Clark organised dances in the village school and were supported by local musicians. A young caller quickly took the dances over and the partnership of John Chapman and the Bidford-on-Avon Square Dance Band had begun.

The dances soon moved to the newly built Crawford Memorial Hall and one has been held there almost every month since, right up to the current day. There has never been a club, nor a committee, nor any kind of membership. The hall is booked, the caller and band turn up, there are refreshments in the kitchen, and it is then hoped that dancers will want to come and dance. It seems to have worked. The 500th dance was held in 2001 and band and caller having remained the same for 45 years.

Sadly, on 5th March 2003, John Chapman died suddenly following a heart attack. More on John Chapman The future of the dances came into question but, following discussions with John's widow, Dee, the Band leader, Phil Taylor, and the stalwarts of the Bidford dancers, it was decided to continue for the short term with guest callers. The dances have continued on this basis ever since.

The Bidford Band (the name has become shorter as the years have passed) has always been concerned, primarily, to provide good music for dancing: the rhythm and tempo being the most important elements. It tries to provide music that the dancers will enjoy moving to. Most of the band are dancers themselves.
More on the Bidford Band