2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)

Subject: Obit: Alan Bell
From: Michael
Date: 27 Apr 19 - 12:27 PM

Announcement on Jamie Bell's Facebook:

It is with great sadness, that the family announces today that Alan Bell passed away on Thursday evening after a short illness. Alan was 84, a much loved husband, brother, father, uncle and great uncle. He was planning an event on Saturday 22nd June 2019, as a 1 day Fylde Folk Festival revival in Fleetwood. We would like to confirm that it was his wish that this event woul dgo ahead. So it will be held as a celebration of the man and his music. Finally it was his wish that any flowers at his funeral should be from the family only. Therefore we would like to ask that friends make a donation to the RNLI instead. He was a great fundraiser and supporter of the amazing work these volunteers carry out. So here's to you Alan, may the wind always be your back.

Subject: RE: Obit: Alan Bell
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 27 Apr 19 - 12:33 PM

So sad to hear this. He was a wonderful man. A great songwriter, generous , decent and tolerant.

Subject: RE: Obit: Alan Bell
From: Capo da Monty
Date: 27 Apr 19 - 12:44 PM

Very sad news indeed.
It was a privilege to have spent time in his company. He did so much for folk music in so many ways.
Sincere condolences to his family.
Malcolm

Subject: RE: Obit: Alan Bell
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 27 Apr 19 - 01:02 PM

Very sad indeed. I was privileged enough to have met him many times and even booked him for one of our festivals in the late 1980s. He was a lovely chap and so helpful to us fledgling festival organisers. I last saw him in the North Euston during the festival last year and we had a good chat about years gone by. I even commented on here about how well be looked then. Such a loss to the folk world. Condolences to his loved ones and army of friends.

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 27 Apr 19 - 04:38 PM

Alan’s path first crossed mine nearly 50 years ago and although it’s around 30 years since we last met his songs have regularly come to mind. The last and most stalwart of the Blackpool Taverners.

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 27 Apr 19 - 04:38 PM

So sorry to hear this.
I was there at the North Euston as well last year and also commented on how well he looked. We were performing as the trio and it was with trepidation that we did "The Dark Island" but we got the thumbs up from him.

The first time that I met Alan was back in the early '80s at Sidmouth and he was busy as ever making sure of arrangement for the Fylde festival starting soon after.

We once bumped into him and Christine at the bird and wildlife reserve at Silverdale, proof that he did have some time free for other interests.

I am happy that I was able to tell him that Anne and I had "Bread and fishes" at our wedding.

So much is owed to his memory.

Robin Madge

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: Raggytash
Date: 27 Apr 19 - 04:44 PM

A good man indeed I am saddened to hear of his passing. My condolensces to his family and his friends.

Thank you for your music Alan.

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: The Sandman
Date: 27 Apr 19 - 05:08 PM

Sad news and a shock, RIP

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: rich-joy
Date: 27 Apr 19 - 06:24 PM

I did not know the man, but such great songs .....

"So Here's To You" especially, means such a lot to me (and to my late husband), so Thank You.

VALE, Alan.

Rich-Joy
Down Under

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Apr 19 - 11:45 PM

He wasn't a prolific songwriter, but the songs he wrote were lovely. I especially liked "Windmills" and "Here's to You." May he rest in peace.
Joe

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: r.padgett
Date: 28 Apr 19 - 03:21 AM

Last remember speaking at Warwick folk fest 2018 with Alan and Christine
Bell

First met him at Barnsley folk club run by Derek and Dorothy Elliott in the King George sometime late 1970s

A mover and a shaker

God bless him and condolences to Christine, family and friends

Hope he is walking and climbing again in the heavenly mountains ~ "here's to you and our time together, I'll share with you now a parting glass and bid adieu"

Ray

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: Niamh Bird
Date: 28 Apr 19 - 04:58 AM

Ah very sorry to hear of Alan's passing. What a wonderful man, and I was honoured to sing at his great festival, and be able to make a live album. Also honoured to sing his 'So Here's to You' back in 1999 which I learnt from Karan Casey and Frank Harte. He will be a big loss to his community. Many condolences to his whole family and his friends. RIP and thank you for the songs.

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 28 Apr 19 - 05:46 AM

I was very sorry to hear of Alan's passing. He will be missed. My condolences to his friends and family.I have added his name to the "In Memoriam" thread. As Niamh Bird so rightly says, "A wonderful man".

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 28 Apr 19 - 06:58 AM

I had the honour of backing him up on Guitar at Whitby in 2017. I have known him for 45 years, and was looking forward to seeing him at Warwick this year. God rest you Alan you will be missed.
Nick Dow

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: GUEST,Mally Dow
Date: 28 Apr 19 - 09:02 AM

So very very sorry to hear of Alan's passing. Without Alan, and the Fylde Folk Festival Nick and I would never have met, and shared 36 wonderful years together. His songs will live on with many generations to come including our Grand children. RIP Alan it was a pleasure to know you. Sincere condolences to Christine their family and friends.
Mally

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 28 Apr 19 - 06:15 PM

I'm very sorry to hear of Alan's passing and I'll miss meeting him at breakfast in the Bedford during Sidmouth festival. I have happy memories of folding Fylde festival flyers in the Dove for him. He was a lovely man and made a great contribution to the British folk scene through his songs, performances and running Fylde festival for so many years. Deepest sympathies to Christine and their family and friends.

Kitty

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: vectis
Date: 29 Apr 19 - 12:12 AM

I had the pleasure of meeting Alan a few times. He was a lovely man.

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: GUEST,JHW
Date: 29 Apr 19 - 05:57 AM

A very nice man. I don't suppose he knew me by name but would always share a few words.

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: GUEST,Some bloke
Date: 29 Apr 19 - 06:41 AM

Last saw him at Whitby the other year. When Ray Padgett told us of his death last Saturday I was saddened.

Always the good ‘uns.

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: GUEST,bernie & red
Date: 29 Apr 19 - 12:44 PM

Never met him or saw him perform, but have sung his songs for years. A great songwriter, condolences to family & friends.

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: GUEST,George Frampton
Date: 29 Apr 19 - 03:16 PM

I'm sorry to hear this. I, and all of us at The Volunteer at Sidmouth will miss his company.

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 29 Apr 19 - 03:36 PM

Another admirer of his songs, and had been to a few of his presentations at Sidmouth and Whitby, and spoken to him in person. Pulled out my copy of his songbook tonight, I My Homeland (which he had signed for me), and will do one his songs at a gig tomorrow: the Wagon Driving Man, which he wrote for one of our local worthies, Jack McCaig, whom Alan had met on his travels. Jack passed on a few years back, and this song was played at his funeral.

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 29 Apr 19 - 06:35 PM

Roisin White sang Alan Bell's "Here's to you and our time together" at the Glenfarne song session, Leitrim, yesterday evening. All present knew of Alan and his songs, sad news for some of the company just learning of his passing.

I have known Alan and Christine for the best part of fifty years. Unmissable nights at Blackpool Folk Club with the Taverners led on to unmissable years of the Fylde Folk Festival. Both institutions brought singers, groups, bands and dancers to this area, an extraordinarily rich variety of folk and traditional music virtually on my doorstep, for which I will be eternally grateful.

Others have mentioned the long-term and long-distance friendships initiated and re-inforced at Fylde Folk Festivals over the years, in no small part due to the friendly atmosphere appreciated by new and returning visitors, an atmosphere carefully nurtured by Alan.

Working with Alan was a privilege and a pleasure. It was an honour for me to have been involved with the festival over so many years, and in various projects that Alan originated or generously assisted with, or the many Fleetwood Folk Club/Ron Baxter/Red Duster/Earthbound projects which he always made room for in the festival programme. Younger hands are getting involved in his Folkus folk arts project and hopefully Alan's legacy of encouraging and enthusing newcomers to folk music will long continue.

Here's to you, Alan.

Condolences to Christine and Jamie.

Ross

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: Gurney
Date: 29 Apr 19 - 10:25 PM

He was very gracious when we finally met him at the Auckland Folk Festival some years ago. Another good man gone.

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 30 Apr 19 - 07:07 AM

Ross has said everything I feel about Alan - I was honoured to MC concerts at Fylde Festivals for some 25 years. Always gracious, always cordial and I don't think I ever saw him ruffled in stressful situations and there were plenty of those at Fylde! His contribution to the music we all love was immeasurable. I shall miss him dreadfully. There weren't/aren't many like Alan Bell.

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: GUEST,Verna (Ireland)
Date: 30 Apr 19 - 11:24 AM

Found this obit by accident as I am not often on line (too stupid) and also very bad internet connections in rural Ireland.
So very sad to read the news.
My thoughts are with you Christine. I have so very many happy memories of time spent with Alan, yourself and the Band over the years. The enduring one is of Alan just appearing quite unexpectedly to join Ray and myself for our wedding. That really made our day!
Here's to you Alan and the times we all had together at so many festivals all over the country. I treasure your songs, music and laughter.
Rest in Peace      
Verna

Subject: RE: 2019 Obit: Alan Bell (Apr 25)
From: GUEST,Mick & Celia Peat - Derbyshire
Date: 03 May 19 - 07:15 AM

Alan enriched our lives with his friendship and songs; his meaningful song “Here’s To You” was our finishing song for many years when I was a Ripley Wayfarer. A highly respected gentleman who ran one of the best Festivals on the British Folk scene and did a vast amount of work to enhance our music.
Our thoughts are with Christine and his Family.