OBJ Morris - 1996 Scrapbook

First Practice and Kit-making

The first practice, kit-making and the first appearance in kit

OBJ was formed after a chat over tea and danish at Wimborne Folk Festival in 1996.

The first formal meeting took place on 23rd July 1996, and the founding members chose the kit (surprisingly quickly), the style (no problem!) and the name of the side (after lengthy debate)

This page shows the progress from the first practice, through kit-making, to the first public appearance of the kit, three months later.

Click the pictures to enlarge them

The first OBJ Practice
St. Michael's School, Easthampstead, Bracknell
10th September 1996

Left to right: Jos, Mary, Linda, Doug, Lynne, Kate, Colin, Chris, Pam, Jackie.

Lee (non-dancing style advisor) is horizontal.

Behind the camera: the caretaker

The Bracknell Times
6th October 1996

Back: Doug, Jack and Colin (in Jack's Datchet jacket)

Front: Jackie, Chris and Pam

We'd designed our Green/Black/White kit in July, but hadn't started to make it when we planted this article in the local paper

OBJ Kit - the original design

This started life as a Powerpoint figure of a man striding along with a briefcase, which was then edited using MS-Paint.  It was adopted in July/August as the kit colour scheme and hasn't changed much since 1996

The image was used to make a logo for T-shirts, letter-heading, etc

The first rag-jackets were made by buying C&A black shirts and removing the collars and arms to make the "waistcoat".

The first Rag-Jacket-Making party
Doug and Kate's house 17th November 1996

More eating and drinking than sewing, but it got the kit made.

Left to right: Lynne (nearly), Pam, Chris

More of the first Rag Jacket party

And they said teachers are responsible people! It had taken an hour to sort those tatter-rags into order.

Left to right: Doug (pinning), Lynne (throwing), Jack (encouraging her)

First public appearance of the OBJ kit
1st December 1996

Colin and Jackie just before setting off with Jack for an impromptu "prat-around" at Wokingham Winter Carnival