2009 Obit: Fiddler Jennings

Subject: Obit: Fiddler Jennings
From: GUEST,Jenny Selfe
Date: 05 Oct 09 - 09:57 AM

Fiddler Jennings is no more. He died in Faro hospital, Portugal on Friday 25th september.
He was a profound influence on the musical life of many and will be sorely missed.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fiddler Jennings
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Feb 11 - 08:49 PM

Hi I am Fiddler Jenning's niece. I grew up in New Zealand and we didn't have much contact with hin. Can anyone tell me anything about him? Would love to hear from you.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fiddler Jennings
From: Jenny S
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 05:14 AM

Fids was the finest fiddler we have ever met. Having taken up the fiddle at the age of 6 or so, he was called Fiddler from around that time, when he and his chums (several also named Jimmy, same as him) would all ignore their mothers calling them in from play. One day Fids' mum in exasperation called him "Jimmy... Fiddler"... and so the name stuck, and no more ignoring Mum!

He spent a number of years in the Royal Marines, being invalided-out in around the mid '70s due to a spine problem caused by a mis-judged parachute jump. He underwent spine surgery that went wrong, and was told that he would never walk again. His reply: "f*** that" as he strode out, never again to be without pain, but never giving in to the medics' prediction, nor to the pain.

Thereafter he lived in Plymouth, leading sessions as well as playing with the Pheasant Pluckers, Slipknot and many others. His club at the Riverside at Saltash was a golden era for Plymouth folk. He moved to Portugal (for the warmer drier climate, to ease the constant back pain) in the mid '80s.

He was so highly-regarded that when Stephane Grapelli did a concert in Plymouth he sent for Fids to play with him.

He was a profound influence on and mentor to a great many musicians - many of whom found him rather too "abrasive" for their own egos! However, those who came to know him well will tell you what a generous, sensitive and soft-hearted person he was, always ready to help anyone (even those he disliked) who was in need. When he won the Slow Air fiddle contest at Carrbridge in Scotland the judge said that "he played like a man with a broken heart". How true.

Such is his friends' regard for him that not only was a huge wake held for him in early 2010, but also a follow-up music weekend in March 2011. There are moves afoot to meet again in Spring 2012. Send a pm if you would like to join us, or if you would like to see video of the wake (including a clip of Georgie Heslop reading extracts from Fids' service record - it makes entertaining reading!).

Subject: RE: Obit: Fiddler Jennings
From: maeve
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 06:58 AM

Fiddler Jenning's niece will need to join Mudcat (free) to send or receive PMs (Private Messages). I hope she will. This is a classic example of Mudcat acting as a connection between people.

What a fascinating story of a remarkable man! Thank you for the information, Jenny S.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fiddler Jennings
From: Jenny S
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 07:05 AM

Yes. It's a shame we don't get notification of replies to posts - it took me five months to find Fids' niece's message - she's likely given up looking for a reply by now!

Subject: RE: Obit: Fiddler Jennings
From: GUEST,natasha
Date: 08 Dec 14 - 03:39 PM

https://larrylawmusic.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-ludgvan-ii

Fiddler played with my Dad a lot, he features on the second half of this album if anyone is interested

Subject: RE: Obit: Fiddler Jennings 2014
From: meself
Date: 08 Dec 14 - 08:32 PM

Just listened to a few cuts - great stuff, if you like that guys-in-the-pub-having-a-good-time feel - which I do! Thanks!

(Here's a clicky: https://larrylawmusic.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-ludgvan-ii)

Subject: RE: Obit: Fiddler Jennings 2014
From: Janie
Date: 08 Dec 14 - 09:27 PM

got a 404 error, meself. Would love to listen. Can you check and then repost the link?

Subject: RE: Obit: Fiddler Jennings 2014
From: meself
Date: 08 Dec 14 - 11:30 PM

Here we go!

Subject: RE: Obit: Fiddler Jennings 2014
From: Sugwash
Date: 09 Dec 14 - 04:53 AM

Lovely to hear them both again, thanks for the link Natasha.

Andy Sugden

Subject: RE: Obit: Fiddler Jennings 2014
From: Janie
Date: 09 Dec 14 - 05:16 AM

Thanks! Lovely.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fiddler Jennings (2014)
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Mar 20 - 01:20 AM

Hi all I served with Fiddler whilst in the Royal Navy
He was really an inspiration to me in regards to folk music and I thank him for all he taught me, many a good time we had. fiddler I hope you are still Rosen the bow up there

Subject: RE: 2014 Obit: Fiddler Jennings
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 01 Mar 20 - 07:50 AM

Missed this the first time round! So have now added him to the "In Memoriam" thread.

Subject: RE: 2014 Obit: Fiddler Jennings
From: meself
Date: 01 Mar 20 - 11:13 AM

Why does the thread title say "2014", when the initial post is from, and year of death is, apparently, 2009? Correction in order?

Subject: RE: 2014 Obit: Fiddler Jennings
From: GUEST,Derrick
Date: 01 Mar 20 - 11:33 AM

2014 became part of the subject here,
Date: 08 Dec 14 - 08:32 PM
when your good self added it

Subject: RE: 2009 Obit: Fiddler Jennings
From: Jeri
Date: 01 Mar 20 - 12:30 PM

His good self didn't add it. A moderator is the only one who can change a thread title. I changed it to 2009.

Subject: RE: 2009 Obit: Fiddler Jennings
From: meself
Date: 01 Mar 20 - 01:43 PM

Apology accepted, Derrick.

Thanks, Jeri.

Subject: RE: 2009 Obit: Fiddler Jennings
From: GUEST,Derrick
Date: 01 Mar 20 - 07:03 PM

Meself,
I didn't realise the subject and the thread title were separate things,
your post was the first mention of 2014,I wrongly thought it was the
reason for the title change.   
I knew Fiddler and his playing and company were some of the greatest pleasures of my fifty odd years of folk music.

Subject: RE: 2009 Obit: Fiddler Jennings
From: meself
Date: 01 Mar 20 - 07:12 PM

No problem. I envy you having enjoyed the company of this man and his music.