Making Mischief Oral History Project, 'The Old Fool Forest Of Dean Morris' full

London College of Fashion

Chris Barber has been involved in folk music and folk clubs as long as he can remember, and joined Forest of Dean Morris in the 1980s after getting married and moving to Gloucestershire. Shortly after joining the team, he was asked if he would like to be the Old Fool. The Fool is 'the Lord of Misrule' - his role is to attract an audience, keep them entertained between the dances and add an element of danger to the dances by interacting with the dancers. Forest of Dean Morris wear rag coats. These are homemade garments made by stitching multi coloured rags on to old jackets or waistcoats. Chris and his wife made his Fool’s costume from an old tailcoat. They created his top hat out of a cornflake packet.