Days of girl guides, 80s hair and Morris men

The 1980s produced some of the best music of the 20th century – and some of the worst fashions.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Dec 2015, 10:53 BST

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From bat-wing tops to leg warmers and rah-rah skirts, the clothes were like an explosion in a fabric factory.

As for the hair...some of us still have nightmares about the hell that was back-combing and layered on mascara.

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While the ‘big hair’ was very much present in these pictures of top-performing girl guides in January 1983, it was offset by the smart uniforms and their well-deserved awards.

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The six girls had all received their Queen’s Guide award – the highest accolade in guiding.

They were: Clare Cochrane and Sarah Hopkins, of the 7th Burgess Hill company, Judy Brown, of the 6th Haywards Heath, and Julie Goodwin, Rosemary Cooper and Julia Bagguley, all of the 11th Haywards Heath.

While the girls were celebrating their success, the Chanctonbury Ring Morris Men were entertaining customers at the Rose & Crown pub, Cuckfield, with their annual Mummers Play.

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The play saw St George fighting a Turkish Prince who then had to be tended by a doctor as Prince Charles and Father Christmas looked on.

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According to the report in the Mid Sussex Times, the play depicted the triumph of good over evil and had its roots in 1763.

It was performed every Christmas and New Year – and 1983 was particularly special as it marked the 30th anniversary of the Chanctonbury Ring group.

Their numbers included: musicians Barry Luck, John Samuels and Brian Cooper, and dancers Ian Allen, Doug Parrott and Dick Playll.

Are any of them still Morris-ing?

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Related topics:PrinceHaywards HeathCuckfield