OBIT John Nettleton 13 April 2009 UK Shantyman

Subject: OBIT John Nettleton
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 13 Apr 09 - 09:16 AM

Last night John was singing at the Topsham Folk Club. This morning he suffered a sudden heart attack and died. He was a keen festival goer, co-host at Topsham Folk Club, and a member of the Exmouth Shantymen, with a fine voice and great range of songs. He sang wonderful harmony duets with his wife Cath.
    The Shantymen are singing for a charity gig this afternoon, it won't be easy.

Subject: RE: OBIT John Nettleton 13 April 2009 UK Shanteyman
From: Blowzabella
Date: 13 Apr 09 - 01:09 PM

I didn't know him, but sorry to hear of his sudden and unexpected passing. Condolences to friends and family

Subject: RE: OBIT John Nettleton 13 April 2009 UK Shanteyman
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 13 Apr 09 - 04:04 PM

Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear this - we were expecting to see and hear him with Cath at the song and ale in June again. Please, Jeff, can you give our best wishes and sympathy to Cath.

Kitty (and Derek)

Subject: RE: OBIT John Nettleton 13 April 2009 UK Shanteyman
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 13 Apr 09 - 04:13 PM

Photo of John from the Exmouth Shantymen's Myspace site, here


Kitty

Subject: RE: OBIT John Nettleton 13 April 2009 UK Shanteyman
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 13 Apr 09 - 06:31 PM

Will do, with pleasure and gratitude, Kitty. Cath is suprisingly strong and philosophical at the moment, I'm sure things will keep on coming back to her, though. We sang this afternoon at a concert, some of the audience knew the background and were astopnished at our fortitude, but it was us doing it for him. We still find it hard to believe. jeff

Subject: RE: OBIT John Nettleton 13 April 2009 UK Shanteyman
From: Little Robyn
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 03:08 AM

Lovely photos Kitty but which one is John? Obviously not Tug.
Commiserations guys.
Robyn

Subject: RE: OBIT John Nettleton 13 April 2009 UK Shanteyman
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 06:30 AM

The link takes you straight to John, aka Cutler Legov, the ship's surgeon.

Subject: RE: OBIT John Nettleton 13 April 2009 UK Shanteyman
From: GUEST,psychomorris
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 03:11 PM

My condolences to his wife Cath, family and friends. I had spoken with him a couple of times in the recent past at Sidmouth and remember him as a quiet man and a fine singer. Allan C

Subject: RE: OBIT John Nettleton 13 April 2009 UK Shanteyman
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 01:36 PM

Funeral will be on the afternoon of Fri Ap[ril 24th at Exeter crematorium.

Subject: RE: OBIT John Nettleton 13 April 2009 UK Shanteyman
From: vectis
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 04:27 PM

My fondest regards to Cath. Hard to believe he went just like that.

Subject: RE: OBIT John Nettleton 13 April 2009 UK Shanteyman
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 07:36 PM

Will she know who vectis is?

Subject: RE: OBIT John Nettleton 13 April 2009 UK Shanteyman
From: GUEST,Nettleton Family
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 05:17 AM

Cath and the family would just like to say how grateful we are for everybody's thoughts, kind wishes, flowers and cards. The response to John's death has been overwhelming and would have made him very proud. All of your kind comments have been a great comfort to the family.

As above funeral is at 2.45pm on Friday 24th April at Exeter Crematourium. Afterwards at the Globe Hotel, Topsham for a good old sing and fitting send off.

We're overflowing with flowers at home - completely out of vases - so please keep any flowers for yourselves. Also no flowers for the funeral (they made him sneeze) - instead donations to RNLI Exmouth Lifeboat House.

Subject: RE: OBIT John Nettleton 13 April 2009 UK Shanteyman
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 06:02 AM

A message from Shantymen first mate Martin Nicholls, who will be leading the service.

Contact Martin on
[e-mail]

As Cath and I begin to prepare the service, could I ask any of you who have particular memories of John to jot them down in an email? He has such a wide network of friends, I would like embrace as many as possible during the thanksgiving. Moving memories, funny ones, recollections that reveal the man he was... all would be most helpful, no matter how small. Thanks.

Subject: RE: OBIT John Nettleton 13 April 2009 UK Shanteyman
From: GUEST,Phil Beer
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 06:06 AM

We're all very, very sad to hear about John. He was a stauch supporter of music in general and turned up to all sorts of gigs that I've been at recently. Our annual christmas gig at the globe will not be same without him. We can't make the funeral due to being at the opposite end of the country so we will raise a glass in Kendall that night.

Subject: RE: OBIT John Nettleton 13 April 2009 UK Shanteyman
From: GUEST,Martin John Nicholls
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 11:01 AM

Without trying, I can still hear John's gleaming voice ringing out songs like Spanish Ladies or Heaven's A Bar with the clarity of Sheffield steel... my fondest memory - and there are so, so many, is of John singing Spanish Ladies from the deck of Exmouth Lifeboat as we drew alongside the harbour, his words carrying across the water and washing against the harbour wall. His power and clarity immediately drew a crowd and with real pride and utter joy he filled his lungs, opened his arms and delivered the final verse like a force 9 gale!

Subject: RE: OBIT John Nettleton 13 April 2009 UK Shanteyman
From: GUEST,John Conolly
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 03:41 PM

So sorry to hear of John's passing - I hope he has found his own Fiddlers' Green . . . I met him and Cath on my first visit to Topsham Folk Club earlier this year - lovely people and a lovely Club - all my best wishes and condolences.

Subject: RE: OBIT John Nettleton 13 April 2009 UK Shantey
From: GUEST,Sean O'Shea
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 02:47 PM

A good man and a steady one,despite singing in a shanty crew.
The place is a sadder place.

Subject: RE: OBIT John Nettleton 13 April 2009 UK Shanteyman
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 02:30 PM

Refresh as it's tomorrow.

Kitty

Subject: RE: OBIT John Nettleton 13 April 2009 UK Shanteyman
From: Sue the Borderer
Date: 24 Apr 09 - 09:52 AM

I can't be there in person, but have had John and Cath in my mind all day and am adding my voice to those who are gathered together right now to give John his final send off.

"It's time to go now."

Sue
2.53pm BST

Subject: RE: OBIT John Nettleton 13 April 2009 UK Shanteyman
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 24 Apr 09 - 07:25 PM

John had a good send off. The crematorium was packed, with as many standing in the warm sun outside. The shantymen led the coffin in with 'Stormalong John'. Lots of music, by the Budleigh male voice choir, of which he was a member, Dave Wood, Maggie Duffy, the Shantymen again with 'Leave her Johnny leave her.'
The conclusion , at the end of a moving service led by Martin Nicholls, was a recording of John's own voice, made for a recent CD, singing 'Heavens a Bar'.This led to spontaneous and sustained applause amid the very real and genuine tears. Back to the Globe, home of his own Topsham folk club, and several hours of excellent singing by a whole hosts of friends anf family.
    He would have loved to have been there.
       Goodbye John, we witnessed so many accounts of a life well lives, well done.

Subject: RE: OBIT John Nettleton 13 April 2009 UK Shanteyman
From: GUEST,Maggie & Jim Duffy
Date: 26 Apr 09 - 04:57 PM

Everything that can be said about John Nettleton has been said a genuine all round top guy, We were proud to be counted as friends to him & Cath.
Johns family & friends will be poorer for his loss, but rich in memories of one of lifes most genuine & dearly loved people.
God Bless John xxx

Subject: RE: OBIT John Nettleton 13 April 2009 UK Shanteyman
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 06:16 AM

I will pass on to Cath all the well wishing from friends at the Crediton Weekend who hadn't heard the news.