Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)

Subject: Obit: Barry Skinner
From: GUEST,Graham Bradshaw
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 12:50 PM

Just heard that Barry Skinner passed away last week. Funeral is on Thursday 18th Nov in Snowdonia. No further details at present.

No doubt there will be plenty of tributes later.

Barry started the first Coventry Folk Club in 1962 and was a stalwart of the folkscene in the 1960s and into the 70s, before moving to North Wales where he worked as an Outward Bound instructor and artist.

Barry was a good friend to me and put me up when I first moved to Coventry in 1970.

RIP old mate.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner
From: GUEST,Big Al Whittle
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 01:03 PM

Sorry to hear this - a talented man.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 01:05 PM

oh bollocks, he played my club at Bury st Edmunds several times, a fine banjo player singer guitarist entertainer, who always gave a good night a real trooper,A BACKBONE OF THE UK FOLK SCENE, for many years RIP my friend,

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 03:14 PM

This really is a shock to hear this awful news; I was just talking to a friend of mine a few days ago at a Folk21 meeting about Barry and a gig I saw him at in Sunderland back in the sixties. I booked him at The Royal Turf, Feling and a couple of times at South Tyne Folk and Blues. A wonderful entertainer, a mainstay of the folk scene AND he could talk about football al night.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 03:28 PM

Sad news indeed. One of the good old team

Barry's home page

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 03:30 PM

I was really sorry to hear this news. He was, as others have said before me, a fine singer and good company. He played my club on a number of occasions. I'm sure others will add their voices to bring tributes to Barry.

Rest in peace old friend.

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 04:14 PM

He was someone who could put traditional music over in an entertaining way,without cheapening the music,RIP Barry.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: GUEST,Eddie1 (Still sans cookie)
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 04:53 PM

First met Barry back in the late 60s when I booked him for The Cottage Theatre in Cumbernauld - a great performer and all round good guy!
RIP Barry

Eddie

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: Gurney
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 12:30 AM

The man who first interested me in folk music. A mate persuaded me into a FC, and Barry sang 'Fanny Blair,' unaccompanied.
It was the most powerful performance I'd ever heard. 45+ years later, I can't think of a more moving one.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: GUEST,OldNicKilby
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 04:36 AM

The funeral is this Thursday NOT in a months time.
A truly lovely man, fabulous singer and an equally amazing Banjo player.
Stayed with me when he used to come to the Ampersand

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: G-Force
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 07:14 AM

One of the very first guest artists I ever saw in a folk club (Walton on Thames approx. 1968). Saw him one or two more times, always a good evening.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: SunrayFC
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:24 AM

Oh, that is sad news. I loved his style of playing. Though I saw him mainly in Coventry, I also saw him in Swyre, Dorset.

Sad.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:35 AM

@G-Force. The Alley FC at Walton on Thames, WM club. Stan Arnold etc?

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: bill\sables
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 09:03 AM

Very sad news, although I've not seen him for years. Barry, on a couple of occasions in the early sixties, got me to swap gigs with him, I went to his as Barry Skinner and he went to mine as Bill Sables, we both got away with it as we looked similar and played the same instruments. One club even return booked him when it was realy me, he played the return and I don't think anyone noticed. He also borrowed a song book from me years ago, I expect I'll get it back when I get to that folk club in the sky.
Bill

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 09:25 AM

I didn't know of Barry or his music, but judging from his website (above) he was also a fine artist. Pete.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 09:40 AM

Barry and I were good friends but lost touch eventually when he dropped out of the folk scene. I am saddened to learn that he has passed, but glad that I knew him. Rest in Peace old friend.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: Wheatman
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 10:41 AM

Sad news indeed. We booked him a number of times at Chester le Street folk club in the late 60's. Always did a damn good show and was very popular. gan canny Brian

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: Mick Tems
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 11:43 AM

Very sad news - although Barry did emigrate to God's own country! I saw him at the Valley Folk Club in Pontardawe, and we shared some good times together when we were both booked by Broadstairs Festival.

Mick Tems

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: G-Force
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 11:49 AM

>John Mackenzie: yes, Alley FC with Stan Arnold.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: pavane
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 12:35 PM

I too saw him at Pontardawe - I may still have some of the gig on tape

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: The Sandman
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 12:51 PM

Pavane, if there is any way you could get up on here, that would be really good.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 01:28 PM

Barry's Album.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Oct 12 - 09:57 AM

I'm Barry's partner and thank you all for your tributes to him.
If Bill Sables gets in touch with me via Barry's website I'll try to return the book! Anne www.bedd-gelert.co.uk

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 21 Oct 12 - 10:44 AM

The album I've got is called Abroad as I was working

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: pavane
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 04:29 PM

As requested, I have now uploaded Barry Skinner's (1972 or 1973) Pontardawe gig (As much of it as I recorded) to the following address
Ivy Bush Gigs
it is about a 15mb download though.

A few years ago, I had an email discussion with him and Malcolm Douglas about the "Treble tail gypsies", which is a unique variant of the song title. Barry just said that he got it from another singer. Malcolm had never heard of that name before.

You can also find a number of other sessions there, Diz Disley, Alistair Anderson etc.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Oct 12 - 11:41 AM

Anne Henry Bill, I'm Barry Skinner's partner and if you get in touch via the contact link in Barry's website www.bedd-gelert.co.uk I will try to return your song book. Barry never threw anything away and I'm sure he'd like you to have it back.
Or email me on [e-mail] and we'll see what we can do.
Regards, Anne

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: GUEST,Marion
Date: 24 Oct 12 - 02:57 PM

Rather a shock. Met him a number of times at Broadstairs festival and elsewhere, many years ago. Very sad. Good man. Anne, much sympathy.

Marion Pitman

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Oct 12 - 12:06 PM

Anne.
Thank you Marion. Very lonely without him around now.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: The Sandman
Date: 26 Oct 12 - 04:57 PM

Barry was an excellent frailing banjo player and guitarist, THANKYOU PVANE for giving us his songs , he was a very popular performer, Iremeber him staying with us at bury st edmunds, he was a very knowledgeable ornitholigist too

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: Colin Randall
Date: 29 Oct 12 - 03:29 AM

Bill Taylor, with whom I long ago ran a folk club in Bishop Auckland, Co Durham, remembers Barry well, as I do from his occasional visits as a highly welcome guest singer.

Bill has written this obituary at Salut! Live (I intend to put more about Barry there soon but wanted this to appear as soon as possible) ...


http://www.salutlive.com/2012/10/barry-skinner-rip.html

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: The Sandman
Date: 29 Oct 12 - 06:07 AM

that is a lovely obit, he was a much underated performer, and one who I admired as a professional.
I can remember playing to small crowds in folk clubs in the eighties, and looking for encouragement to try and give my best,I remember thinking of two performers who inspired me to battle on, those two were Barry Skinner and Johnny Silvo, two consummate performers who always gave of their best whether it was an audience of 2 or 2 hundred.Dick Miles

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: Colin Randall
Date: 29 Oct 12 - 10:12 AM

Anne, Barry's partner, tells me he was adamant there should be no flowers at his funeral: :"... a bloody waste of money" ...

He did, however, hope people would donate instead to the
Gwynedd Haemotology and Cancer Relief Fund where he was treated. He was appallingly unlucky: surgery for small bowel cancer appeared to have been successful only for lung cancer, which had spread into a rib, to be found quite separately and it was this that caused his death.

The more detailed obituary mentioned in my earlier message now appears at ...


http://www.salutlive.com/2012/10/barry-skinner.html

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Skinner (Oct 2012)
From: pavane
Date: 29 Oct 12 - 01:43 PM

Glad that my recording is saved for posterity. It was only done on a little cassette recorder. Tapes were expensive then, otherwise I could have recorded more, and also more gigs.