Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)

Subject: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London) 3rd Dec 08
From: GUEST,Helen Akitt
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 10:01 AM

I am sorry to have to report the death of Tom Gilmour, one time stalwart of the London folk scene and resident at Capital Folk Club in the 1980s. He sang with Paul Draper and myself in Les Lapins and was a familiar figure singing in the York Tap at Sidmouth Folk Festival for many years.

Tom was only in his 60s but had recently been having breathing problems and coughing a lot and had been diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis. However he died from bronchial pneumonia, last Wednesday. Although he had been ill it was not expected. It's been something of a shock all round.

The funeral will be on Tuesday 16th December 11.00am; his wife Raff says at Finchley Crematorium (that may mean Golders Green) but she has to confirm the details and when I have them I will post them here as I know Tom had many friends on the folk scene even though he had been absent from it for a few years.

Helen

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)
From: Micca
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 10:43 AM

Sad News indeed Helen, He was a good man and a good singer.my sympathies and condolences to Raff and his family
Micca

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 01:15 PM

Very sorry to hear about this - work commitments mean I probably won't make the funeral, but deepest sympathy to Raff and the family.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 01:18 PM

My condolences to his family, Capital was my first folk club and Tom one of the first people I met welcomeing me to the scene.
Cllr aka Mike

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)
From: Morticia
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 01:58 PM

I'm really sorry to hear this.My best to his family.

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 02:24 PM

Miskin Man and myself had many happy times with Tom at Sidmouth.One more artist gone to the folk scene in the sky.
God bless Tom.

Scooby

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 03:28 PM

Another good man gone !

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)
From: Richard Atkins
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 03:30 PM

So sorry to hear this news. it was only recently I asked Paul how Tom was. I have fond memories of his contributions to Chippenham and Sidmouth. My condolences to His Family
Richard

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 03:58 PM

Although I haven't seen Tom for quite a while I'm really sorry to hear this. My condolences to Raff and his family.

Mick

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 07:01 PM

This is very sad. I remember him from Capital Folk Club. A good guy. I remember him trying to play the xylophone and being very proud he could change the keys if he was playing in F or G.

Blessings
Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)
From: DG&D Dave
Date: 08 Dec 08 - 07:42 AM

Much Loved, Much Missed.
His contribution to the Sidmouth Doom Gloom and Despondency workshop as Founder Member, Chief Judge and Master of Ceremonies will not be forgotten.
Condolences to Raff and family.
Dave + Fiona.
"Dear friend there'll be no sad farewell..."

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 08 Dec 08 - 08:29 AM

I only knew Tom vaguely (at the folk club we sat ourselves at opposite ends of the bar) until I turned up one rainy afternoon at Sidmouth (it must have been about 25 years ago now). I had come down by coach and was soaked. I went into the Anchor, intending to have a pint before going up to the camp-site, when I bumped into Tom. Neither of us had known the other was coming to Sidmouth. Seeing the state I was into Tom put my gear into his car and said he'd drive me up to the campsite later. Later never came and as it was too dark and wet to pitch my tent he said I should sleep in his which was family sized. We started working together that year, busking on the prom and picking up other musicians and singers.

Tom was a fixer and he soon got us the gig running the Rose and Crown singarounds at Chippenham festival and the York Tap singarounds at Sidmouth for which he recruited Rosie (whom still runs it upstairs), Bubbles, Tim Kent, Simon Reay, Alan Bond and others. We also had some smashing sessions at Poynton every Easter including one when Johhny Silvo managed to knock an iron cauldron off the rafters and onto Tom's head.

Tom could get anyone to join in and one year at the Rose and Crown in Chippenham we agreed to run the singaround in the evenings as well as at lunchtime. The pub was the usual meeting place for people intending to go to the local nightclub, Legends, and one night no folkies has turned up but the bar was still full. Tom asked me to play something (he accompanied on washboard) and after a while the backs turned and feet were tapping. Seeing this Tom started singing the sort of songs you would get at a Rugby club and in a short time had introduced us to what turned out to be the local football team. In the following years they would often come out to see us and sing a few songs themselves.

I could tell a few more stories but Tom was really the one for this. I'm sure he will be missed but more than just his family.

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)
From: GUEST,Trefw
Date: 08 Dec 08 - 08:49 AM

Manitas / Flooze

Can you give me details of where the service is - I have tried both Hendon and Golders Green for 16th and I am told it is not there. I hope to get there - may be will try Raff later. Thanks.

I have not seen Tom for some time but as usual the last time I did it was in the pub and he told me some un-pc jokes as only he could.

I 'roadied' for Les Lapins for some time and had many a laugh on the way. We also had a couple of trips to Ireland including an accidental lost few days at the Lisdoonvarna matchmaking festival

A bit in shock really.

Tref

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)
From: GUEST,Les Sullivan
Date: 08 Dec 08 - 11:07 AM

as Leadfingers said another good man gone like most catters I had not seen Tom for some time but I remember him well from capital folk club in my minds eye I can still see him trying to be heard above the underground trains going past the window the lorrys delivering to borough market and the rock band downstairs ..........ah memories my thoughts are with his family

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)
From: MBSLynne
Date: 08 Dec 08 - 02:05 PM

Very sad about this. Tom was one of the first people I met my first Sidmouth 26 years ago (in the Middle Bar of course!) He gave me his Anchor Middle Bar badge, of which there are very few in existence I believe, because I was upset about having to go home at the end of Sidmouth. (I didn't believe I could ever repeat such a wonderful week. Happily I've done so over and over again since) I got several songs from him, most notably "The Lego song". He was a funny, friendly, lovely man, and though I haven't seen him for several years now, I will notice the gap he leaves.

My sympathy and thoughts to his family

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)
From: Cats
Date: 08 Dec 08 - 03:22 PM

A great loss to the folk world. Tom was always there and always had a song to fit the occasion. Our thoughts are with the family. Kathy Wallis & Jon Heslop

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 08 Dec 08 - 04:51 PM

My first happy memories of Tom go back to the singarounds in The Rose and Crown, mentioned above.
A happy, kind man, and a friend I will remember with great affection.
So sorry.

Andy

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 02:07 AM

I've known Tom almost as long as I've known Manitas - he was at our wedding and on our honeymoon - don't ask!

I can only repeat what has been said above, he will leave a huge, very quiet hole in a lot of lives.

LTS

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)
From: GUEST,Helen Akitt
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 05:25 AM

Liz
And there was me thinking you were having your honeymoon on our holiday......

I am planning to collect all these comments up for Raff, Tom's wife. I am sure she will be so pleased to see how fondly Tom is remembered in the folk scene - although she herself played little part in Tom's "folk life"! and never met many of you.

Helen

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)
From: Polly Squeezebox
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 03:58 PM

I too remember Tom from the singarounds at the Rose & Crown in Chippenham - now both are gone - Tom and the pub (which has closed down).

Our condolences to his family and all who cared for this caring man.

Pauline, Jack & Zak

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 04:46 AM

It's all been said, what more can I add? I have fond memories of Tom - Doom, Gloom and Despondancy, Les Lapins playing in the Royal York Bistro, the Rose and Crown at Chippenham, Towersey... He was a good friend and a great character.

My condolences to Raff for a loss so great. He will be missed more than ever.

Bob

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)
From: Bob TB
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 04:50 AM

(Ooops, Where did my cookie go! That "Guest" was me. Sorry.)
Bob H.

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London)
From: GUEST,Helen Akitt
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 11:56 AM

I now have definite information regarding Tom's funeral.
It will be at Islington Crematorium, High Rd, Finchley, London N2 9AG, at 11.00 on Tuesday 16th December. Map link below (I hope it has worked). It's just South of the North Circular Road off the A1000.

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=526967&y=190378&z=0&sv=N2%209AG&st=PostCode&lu=N&tl=~&ar=y&bi=~&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=

Helen

Subject: RE: Obit: Tom Gilmour (London) - Funeral details
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Dec 08 - 09:16 AM

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