Morris Men in general are somewhat unusual, but every side has particular character; an extrovert who generates good humour wherever the side appears. Horwich Prize Medal Morris Men lost just such a man when Tommy Hewlet died on october 16th 1991, just a few days after his 63rd birthday.

Around twenty years ago, Tommy became interested in Folk in all its aspects. He was a regular performer at Wigan Folk Club and started a collection of dialect books and other writings in a one-man campaign to preserve his beloved Wigan dialect.

As a singer, he was a sensitive performer of ballads but could also turn his hand to comedy songs, he wrote many fine songs of his own, some of which were featured in television documentaries. At the same time, he could produce rhymes that were rather risque - and hilariously funny!

A Most versatile man.

When in November 1975, members of Horwich Folk Club dicided to revive the Prize Medal Morris Men, Tommy joined in with great enthusiasm. He was deeply involved in the collection of dance notations and other information from a variety of Horwich residents; he remained a dedicated member of the side to the end of his life. He was paticularly loved by the young members of the side, who regarded him as and extra grandparent as he guided them through the technicalities of playing the bones.

Tommy, who was born in October 1928, worked for twenty years in a coal mine and for a similar period as a dust-bin man (or Garbologist, as he would have put it). These occupations took their toll of his health but, in spite of warnings from his doctors he persisted in dancing at practices with generous use of and inhaler - though he latterly settled for the side drum when we danced out.

His family and friends became concerned during the spring of 1991 when Tommy lost a good deal of weight and he was diagnosed as suffering from motor neuron disease in June. He was aware of his condition and showed great courage and homour during his last few weeks.

When Horwich performed his latest dance for him outise his home, he wore cap and clogs and a sweater proclaming 'Tommy for Squire'; A few days before his death, he told a visiting parson that he was going to empty God's dustbins. We at Horwich find it easy to believe that he arranged the shower of rain that fell on a figure called 'Tommy's Star' as we danced at the Crematorium!

St Barnabas' Church in Marsh Green, Wigan, was filled to capacity as the local community joined with representatives of the Folk world to pay their last respects to Tommy. It is a measure of the affection in which Tommy was held that the congregation covered all ages: it included several people who had traveled over a hundred miles to be there.

Poet, song-writer, folklorist, entertainer, dancer, bones player, wit, practical joker and gurning champion, Tommy will be sorely missed by all who were privileged to know him. But he'll probably have a good clog side together by the time we join him!

Roland Higson

(Foreman, Horwich Prize Medal Morris Men)