Graeme Miles - EFDSS Gold Badge Award

Subject: Graeme Miles - EFDSS Gold Badge Award
From: nutty
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 06:17 AM

On Friday night I was lucky to be invited to attend the presentation of the EFDSS Gold Badge Award to Graeme Miles who almost singlehandedly developed a song tradition for Teesside and the surrounding area. The award is given for outstsanding service to the EFDSS in particular and folk music in general. The award was presented on behalf of the EFDSS by Doc Rowe who read out a lenghty citation.

Graham wrote an unknown number of songs (estimated to be between two and three hundred) many made popular by illustrious folk artists and his writings encouraged others like Vin Garbutt and Richard Grainger to follow in his footsteps.

Songs like Sea Coal, Eldorado, Where Ravens Feed, The Shores of Old Blighty, The Lairdsfield Disaster and Guisborough Road are my particular favourites but there are so many other good and memorable songs.
I was lucky in being able to thank Graeme in person but felt that others might want to do so. I'm sure Graeme would appreciate your congratulations.

I'm sure the citation will (in time) be available on the EFDSS web site for all to read.

Subject: RE: Graeme Miles - EFDSS Gold Badge Award
From: GUEST,Eileen
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 07:46 AM

Hi Hazel

I too felt very privileged to be at Graeme's presentation and to be able to congratulate him on his award. Graeme has written so many wonderful songs and his award was certainly well-deserved. Doc Rowe's citation certainly demonstrated the respect and love for Graeme and his work that we all feel. It was also great to hear so many of his songs during the evening.

It seems that wherever you go to a singaround you will hear at least one of his songs.

There are so many great songs it's hard to single out favourites but I particularly like his songs of the Cleveland hills and Yorkshire moors which paint pictures in your head as you listen to the words, such as Green Banks of Grain, When the Snows of Winter Fall and When the Green Man Walks the Forest.

I'm sure all who have been moved by Graeme's songs would wish to congratulate him on his award.

Subject: RE: Graeme Miles - EFDSS Gold Badge Award
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 08:03 AM

Congratulations, Graeme. I'm delighted that your work has been formally recognised.

I would also like to acknowledge the contribution of all those who have helped to make Graeme's songs so well known, including his local folk club, humble floor singers and professional performers.

Subject: RE: Graeme Miles - EFDSS Gold Badge Award
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 08:37 AM

I'd like to add my congratulations too.

When I started singing in the 60s it was in the folk clubs of Teesside and, apart from a couple of songs by Ron Angel of the Fettlers, the only local songs were those written by Graeme. So I grew up in those clubs singing his songs and it was good to see them gradually taken up by singers all around the country. And as Hazel says his work encouraged others to follow in his footsteps, writing songs about the life and times of the area.

I only met Graeme once I think (IIRC, Vin introduced me to him at a Redcar festival in the early 70s) and seen him elsewhere only a few times, but his songs have been with me for the last 45 or so years. And though some of the songs have dropped out (it's years since I sang Guisborough Road or Procession, two of those songs from my earliest repertoire) Sea Coal, Eldorado and The Shores of Old Blighty still make appearances in my singing.

So again I'd like to add my congratulations to a very deserving writer on receiving this award.

Mick
Mick

Subject: RE: Graeme Miles - EFDSS Gold Badge Award
From: GUEST,ian1943
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 09:20 AM

After a presentation of Graeme Miles' songs by Robin Dale at Durham City Folk Club, we agreed that his work should be formally recognised and that the only thing acceptable to him would be the EFDSS Gold Badge.So I contacted the society and persuaded them to make an additional award to Graeme having been told that the 2012 Gold Badges had already been presented.I wrote the citation and am delighted that the matter came to fruition. It is a fitting tribute to a great songwriter!

Subject: RE: Graeme Miles - EFDSS Gold Badge Award
From: nutty
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 02:01 PM

That's solved the mystery Ian - we were wondering who had put Graeme's name forward. Good for you.

Reading the list of recipients of the Gold Badge on the EFDSS Web Site they are a very varied bunch but to me there are some glaring ommissions. However I'm saying no more - people can make up their own minds - perhaps in another thread.

Subject: RE: Graeme Miles - EFDSS Gold Badge Award
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 02:11 PM

A WELL deserved award !

Subject: RE: Graeme Miles - EFDSS Gold Badge Award
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 02:48 PM

I am absolutely delighted to hear of this award. Big congratulations Graeme, so well deserved. Your contribution to the contemporary tradition cannot be underestimated. It is always a privilege to sing any of your fine songs, and although I count myself fortunate to have around a dozen of them embedded in my permanent repertoire I am continually making further serendipitous discoveries. These are songs that stand the test of time indeed.

Subject: RE: Graeme Miles - EFDSS Gold Badge Award
From: GUEST,Dave Eyre
Date: 03 Dec 12 - 03:23 AM

I am a huge fan of Graeme Mile's songs. My own particular favourites are the Young Engineer (about the building of the Forth Road Bridge) and Snows of Winters Fall.

The former (describing how workers came from all over Britain to work on the bridge, building from each side of the river) has the most perfect line I have ever read.

"When the men from the south and the men from the north,
Will meet and complete the bridge over the the Forth".

Subject: RE: Graeme Miles - EFDSS Gold Badge Award
From: r.padgett
Date: 03 Dec 12 - 04:03 AM

Nice one echo the good wishes of all on this award to Graeme Miles

Ray

Subject: RE: Graeme Miles - EFDSS Gold Badge Award
From: Willa
Date: 09 Dec 12 - 04:02 PM

Well desrved indeed!
I shall be singing "snows of winter" tomorrow.

Subject: RE: Graeme Miles - EFDSS Gold Badge Award
From: JHW
Date: 09 Dec 12 - 04:36 PM

Thanks Ian for your recommendation to EFDSS. Excellent idea.
Didn't see you there but it was a good night and a thoroughly well deserved award.

Subject: RE: Graeme Miles - EFDSS Gold Badge Award
From: SylviaN
Date: 09 Dec 12 - 05:52 PM

Many, many congratulations Graeme. Keith and I sang "Scarecrow" last night on the Isle of Wight. People love singing your songs and listening to them.

Subject: RE: Graeme Miles - EFDSS Gold Badge Award
From: The Sandman
Date: 10 Dec 12 - 01:10 PM

Robin Dale has been championing GRAEME'S songs for 40 to 50 years