Congratulations to the latest recipients of the English Folk Dance and Song Society’s highest award
Gold Badges are presented for unique or outstanding contributions to folk music, dance or song and/or exceptional contributions to the Society’s work.
The first Gold Badges were awarded in 1922 to Lady Mary Trefusis and Mrs Dudley Hervey. In the following year, two seminal figures of the early 20th century folk movement were celebrated: the collector and educator Cecil Sharp, and Anglo-concertina player and morris dancer William Kimber. The list of illustrious Gold Badge holders includes composer/collector Ralph Vaughan Williams (1943), performer/writer AL Lloyd (1975), Ewan MacCoIl (1987), Peggy Seeger (1987), Shirley Collins (2003), Eliza Carthy (2007) and Kate Rusby (2019).
Anyone can make a nomination, which should be seconded by one other person. The deadline for nominations for 2026 is 31 March 2026: Find out how to nominate someone
Gold Badges for 2025 are awarded to:
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Jo FreyaJo composes, sings, is a multi-instrumentalist and the current artistic director of National Youth Folk Ensemble. Viewed as a maverick in her early days as a rare female saxophonist in the folk world, she is passionate about the music she plays. Keen always to learn from collaborations with others this has translated into the work she has done across international borders and between cultures on home ground both in bands and as a music educator. |
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Fay HieldFay has been involved with folk since following her mum around with Oakworth Ladies Morris, and attending the Bacca Pipes Folk Club, through to her current roles as Professor of Music and director of Soundpost, a community music organisation. Alongside, she has maintained a performance career, with The Full English Band receiving two Folk Awards. Photo: Kate Griffin |
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Alex MerryAlex is an illustrator, portrait painter and folk artist. Her work spans from intricately painted pet portraits to large scale folk beasts and ritual masks. As a founding member of Boss Morris, she breathes new life into ancient customs through performance, craft and reinvention – conjuring a dream-like world rooted in folk tradition. Photo: Sophie Davidson |
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Laurel SwiftLaurel Swift is an inspiring instigator of creative projects and performances rooted in folk arts. A musician, singer and dancer, solo, with Gadarene and The Gloworms, Laurel founded Morris Offspring, co-created Under Her Skin with Debs Newbold, has choreographed morris for film and theatre, developed Shooting Roots, and has worked on many community projects including EFDSS’s London Youth Folk Ensemble. Photo: Matt Brassington |
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Pauline Woods-WilsonPauline, President of The Morris Federation from January 2020, has been modernising and enlarging the activities and profile of the organisation by way of online workshops and talks for the wider morris world (particularly during COVID) and, more recently, an Arts Council funded schools’ project. A morris dancer from age 19, and former dance teacher of Windsor Morris. Photography Photo: Dorset Morri’arty Photography |
