Some misguided folk might say all morris men are fools with bells on, but the lads won’t have that. They’re keeping a vital tradition alive and having fun. And that’s what counts.

So let’s get it straight. For morris read Moorish, from whence the name came. The Moors derived from Africa and today’s morris squads still black their faces for Border dancing, a punch-up masquerading as a knees-up which originated in Wales.

“They probably blacked up to avoid being recognised,” jokes Dave. “Either that or they’d mug people after dancing!”

The evergreen Dave is 60 but looks 50. As Fool he’s licensed to flounce around cracking jokes and bashing his team mates with sticks.

“I enjoy a bit of chastisement,” he said. “Fools traditionally carry a pig’s bladder on a stick and give the dancers the occasional whack. I prefer a soft cosh!”

Dave is married to the long-suffering Loreley, who works at the Rutland Times and is remarkably supportive of his hobby. “She’s been tremendous,’ he said. “She knows I enjoy my Monday night dance practice with the boys.”

The Casewells have two daughters, Helen,33, and Fiona, 30, who are musical but draw the line at dancing. They couldn’t join Rutland Morris MEN anyway. Women have their own lusty groups and there’s also mixed morris, which sounds fun.

Morris men are jolly folk. The Rutland squad comprises teachers, surveyors and retired gentlemen and they’re quick to forgive one another for the occasional wounding as staves clash or handkerchiefs flail.

Blows on wrists are common as movements grow more intricate, though when one big-booted dancer collapsed one day his fellow dancers thought he was only joshing and began kicking him, only to find he was out cold. The occasional nose is also bashed, one accident producing so much gore that an onlooker fainted.

“Morris is great fun,” declares Dave, a retired teacher who now works at Beans coffee shop in Uppingham and makes a mean espresso.

“You meet your mates and you’re carrying on a tradition that goes back centuries.

“More to the point, it’s easy to learn. We were once joined by a seven-year-old lad who took to it immediately. Anyone can do it.”

Rutland has a proud history of morris. Primary schools were taught it before the First World War and Rutland Morris Men were re-formed in 1973.Two of its founders, musician Mike Harnett and ‘foreman’ (dance instructor) Jonathan Unna, are still with the 20-strong squad.

“Membership is steady,” said Dave. “We enjoy performing, whether the crowd is 300 or three and a dog. People may laugh at us but we don’t mind.

“I was taking the mickey out of morris myself when I started the Gretton Boris Dancers as a spoof in 1977. Then a real morris enthusiast came along and we were hooked.”

Jonathan Unna, a former teacher, has done much to spread the word and raw recruits, preferably 16 and over, are always welcome.