Dancing around the MAYPOLE

Three women share the joys of their favourite time of year

- GILLIAN HARVEY

Dancing at sunrise is magical

Alex Merry, 43, is a pet portrait artist and illustrator, and lives with her partner Aron, 44, in Stroud.

As I step into the dance, the first rays of light begin to glimmer on Painswick Beacon, the site of an Iron Age fort, and shimmer on the colourful folds of my costume. For morris dancers, May Day is one of the most important dates in the calendar.

My parents were 'folkies' and I remember my dad dancing at home with hankies! But it was when I moved to London from Stroud in 2009 that I finally learnt to morris dance.

I was working for an artist in a world of privilege that made me uncomfortable. So when I saw an advert for morris dancing lessons in Camden, it was a chance to find a new community.

The lessons were pretty challenging, but I began to master the moves. I was still daunted, though, when a friend asked if we'd perform a St George's Day dance at his folk club.

Thankfully, it went well and my nerves were swallowed up once the dance began. I became part of a side The Belles of London City - and we performed at several festivals that years.

In 2015, I moved back to Stroud near my sister, Kate, then 35, where I now work as a commercial illustrator and artist. I told Kate I'd miss morris dancing; she was inspired. 'Let's start a group here!' she said.

She got some friends together and we found a local dancer to teach the moves. A few months on, we formed our all-female side Boss Morris. We made our debut at the Stroud Fringe Festival in 2015 and have been embraced by the local morris community.

In 2016, a morris group from Gloucester invited us to Painswick Beacon to celebrate May Day. The 4.30am start was a shock, but dancing as the sun rose was amazing.

It is now our annual tradition to don our finery and morris dance on this special day on the Beacon against the backdrop of the rising sun.