Sylvia Needham here, with a message that I would really rather not be leaving.

Edward Thorpe was found dead at his home in Dewsbury at 6.30 a.m. on Thursday 21st February.

Most of you didn't know him, those who did know he was a lovely, kind, gentle man. He played the guitar and wrote many songs - some funny, some sad and some about the injustice that the working man still suffers. He was a regular at the Bag O'Shoddy/Shoddy Doggie folk club in Dewsbury (now closed), being the designated photographer (another of his hobbies - he took the photographs at my niece's wedding). Edward also went to Cleckheaton Folk Festival every year.

As the club he went to regularly is now closed, meant that the news about his death has filtered out slowly, and, unfortunately, the tragedy doesn't end there. Edward was murdered, it would appear, by his 25 year old son, Richard, who suffers with mental problems.

As soon as I have any news about Edward's funeral, I will post it here.

Take care.

Sylvia