MEMBERS of the Headington Quarry Morris Men made it to the US for a stateside show in June 1976.

The group were guests of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC to showcase the traditional form of dance.

It was part of a five-day festival of European folk dance and singing, and followed three years of planning and a nomination by the English Folk Dance and Song Society.

The Headington Quarry men were picked by the national society because of their 'versatility.'

It wasn't the first time the performers had played abroad, either, having flown to Tokyo in 1973 to perform at a British trade fair in the Japanese city.

One of the group said of the gig: "The Americans have always been pretty keen about traditional things.

"I don't know whether they'll understand what it's all about but they should enjoy it."