Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017

Subject: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 08:47 AM

Rob Phillips has just posted on Facebook the sad news that Les Jones passed on Sunday 5 March 2017. Folk Songs and Tunes with the Beech Band
Les was a prolific contributor to Mudcat, with over 7000 posts to his name. He had a lively inquisitive, and sometimes mischievous, approach but he always conveyed a good-humoured attitude. He was a founder of the session at the Beech in Chorlton which has nurtured and supported many singers and musicians, although he disclaimed any role as "leader" of what he termed an anarcho-syndicalist collective. He was nevertheless an inspiration to many people from Manchester and much further afield. I expect others will add more detail, but I would like to pay tribute to Les as a lovely man who will be much missed.
You can read his Mudcat contributions here: Posts by Les in Chorlton
Sadly his last contribution on Jan 1 2017, concerned musicians lost in 2016, so the Grim Reaper is evidently continuing his deadly harvest into 2017.
Matthew

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: Will Fly
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 09:32 AM

Oh, that is sad. I popped into a Beech session a few years ago, while in the Manchester area, and met up with Les and his tenor banjo - a lovely man with a great sense of humour, and a great enthusiast for his music. We had an "xclnt" evening - as he would have written. RIP Les - keep egging them on at that great session in the sky.

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 09:39 AM

Very sad indeed. I always intended going to the Beech to meet Les but never made it. Alas, it will never be :-(

Condolences to all who know and loved him best.

DtG

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 09:40 AM

I only "know" him from the occasional post here and think at some point may have exchanged some views over abc/tune sheets for his session.

I'm (unfortunately again, but I don't know what else to say...) sorry to read this and offer my condolences to family and friends.

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 12:02 PM

Sad news. Les contributed to English Dance & Song magazine during my editorship, with a great article about the Beech session. Condolences to his family and friends.
Derek

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: GUEST,AlanG
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 01:20 PM

Fond memories of Wednesday evenings in the singaround in The Beech with Les. A lovely man and an xlnt host and organiser (although he'd never claim any responsibility). Unfortunately I've not been able to attend since they moved to The Dulcimer on a Tuesday, so I was not aware that he'd been unwell. RIP Les.

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: Jack Campin
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 01:38 PM

Somebody I always wanted to meet and now won't. Sad news.

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 02:45 PM

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 02:49 PM

Some one I never met but always followed his posts with interest

R.I.P Les

Gerry

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: Brian Peters
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 02:58 PM

I didn't know Les well, but I certainly do know musicians who have benefited hugely from the Beech session (and its successor), and the tune books he had a hand in producing. It's no exaggeration to say that lives have been changed as the result of his efforts.

He was also a very canny prodder of discussions (and sometimes a poker of hornets' nests) on this forum. He had a genuinely enquiring mind, a priceless asset.

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: alex s
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 04:11 PM

Les sent me loads of great stuff by email after I asked for advice, although he didn't know me at all. A very generous man.
RIP bonny lad

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: Brakn
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 05:14 PM

I first met Les through the mudcat as a result of the threads below. It was because of Les that I took up mandolin and started learning tunes at the beginners sessions in Chorlton, Manchester. A very inspirational man who be sadly missed around this town.

http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=114534&messages=50

http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=117654&messages=122

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: fat B****rd
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 05:31 PM

I'm sad to hear this. Les always came over as a good man. My condolences to his family and friends.
Charlie fB

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: GUEST,Susie
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 06:20 PM

Met Les at the Beech once with J.J.; very nice chap. Very sad to hear he's gone.

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: GUEST,Spleen Cringe
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 06:47 PM

Les was a lovely bloke who was passionate about ordinary folks making music together - I can picture the look of sheer joy on his face when the rafters were raised by a rousing chorus in the tiny snug at the Beech. Les would always encourage anyone to have a go, without being pushy about it. The world - or at least this part of it - is a poorer place without him.

As well as his folk habits, he was a keen rambler, cyclist and caravanner, an active Labour Party member, a regular fundraiser for Gill Head kids activity centre and much more besides. An xlnt fellow in every way.

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: GUEST,Spleen Cringe
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 07:42 PM

Nice clip here of Les in stand-up mode...

Bob 'Morris' Dylan

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: TheSnail
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 08:30 PM

Really sorry to hear this. I only knew him through Mudcat but he always seemed to be one of "The Good Guys". He was obviously doing good work encouraging others. I hoped to meet him one day.

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 09:24 PM

Oh, my. I'm so sorry to hear that Les died. He was such a nice person.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: GUEST,keith price
Date: 08 Mar 17 - 04:38 AM

Very sad news, he'll be sorely missed.
RIP Les

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: Monique
Date: 08 Mar 17 - 05:13 AM

I'm very sorry to hear Les passed away. We had a nice PM exchange about French trad music some time ago.
RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: banjoman
Date: 08 Mar 17 - 05:22 AM

Sad news. Always felt that his contributions here were worth reading.
Sadly one of three Les Jones (and the last) I know who have passed on.

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 08 Mar 17 - 06:14 AM

Only knew him through his contributions here, but enjoyed his input very much. RIP

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: MikeL2
Date: 08 Mar 17 - 02:33 PM

Hi

I occasionally visited the Beech and I saw Les and the gang. Never really got a chance to say other that Hello .I know of his tremendous contribution to Folk in this area.

My condolences to his family and friends.

With sadness

MikeL2

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 08 Mar 17 - 06:19 PM

Sorry to hear the news: never met him, but have benefited from the Beech Tunes book which is a great resource. Condolences to his family.

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 09 Mar 17 - 07:32 AM

Another good man gone. I have added his name to the "In Memoriam" thread. My condolences to his friends and family.

RIP,

Peter

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: Will Fly
Date: 09 Mar 17 - 07:41 AM

Hi Pete - good to see Les's name in the "In Memoriam" thread. A small point, I know, but you have him as "Les of Chorlton", and he was actually "Les in Chorlton". :-)

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: GUEST,Rob Phillips
Date: 11 Mar 17 - 03:01 AM

Friends have been asking about Les' funeral arrangements. I heard yesterday from Les' wife, Liz. Essentially, the arrangements (which Les and Liz has discussed) perfectly reflect Les' outlook as a non-religious folkie.

There will be a non-religious service at the funeral parlour at a date to be arranged. The capacity at the parlour is limited so attendance will be "by invitation only". However, the service will be followed by a gathering for all at South-west Manchester Cricket Club in Chorlton. Musicians, bring your instruments.

In a few weeks time (again, date to be arranged) there will be a ceilidh to celebrate Les' life. The Beech Band will be providing the music. Les was enormously proud of the Band and how it operates. Essentially, anybody who plays at the Tuesday evening sessions at Dulcimer in Chorlton (which were previously held at The Beech) automatically becomes a member of The Beech Band. When the band goes out to play at a ceilidh, on a folk train, at an Amnesty International card signing, etc., it usually musters 20+ musicians. We're hoping for a great celebratory night in remembrance of Les. Somewhere in the Chorlton area, all friends welcome.

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: GUEST,Morris-ey
Date: 11 Mar 17 - 06:27 AM

Sad news.

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: Janie
Date: 11 Mar 17 - 01:48 PM

While I rarely comment above the line I read there often. He was a fine Mudcat contributor.

My condolences to his family and all of you who knew him.

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 11 Mar 17 - 01:57 PM

RIP

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Jones (Les in Chorlton) 5 March 2017
From: olddude
Date: 11 Mar 17 - 07:25 PM

Another good catter gone, so sad sorry to read this