Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)

Subject: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Oct 22 - 11:46 PM

Bill Sables died on Wednesday, 5 October 2022. He was Geordie, and he spoke Geordie to the point where it was impossible to understand him. He worked a career as a cameraman for BBC. He was retired when I visited him in 2002, but he was still working at his son's paintball course and as a (spooky) guide at the York Castle. He and Lorna had two neighboring row houses in Goole on the Humber, and they combined them into one residence and remodeled it into a magnificent home. They even had one room reserved for an owl they had rescued, so I got to meet the owl and feel all Harry Potterish. He took me to the British Railway Museum in York, which was like a trip to heaven for me. We ran into a security guard who was Geordie, and they started talking Geordie and I couldn't understand a word of it (and I loved it all). Geordie is absolutely the most interesting English dialect I have ever heard.
Bill and Mudcatter Allan Clark traveled all over the US to meet Mudcatters, and then Bill did the same thing in Australia.
Bill was known all over as a competent musician. His best-known song at Mudcat was "Whitby Fisherman." You can bet I'll grab the chance to sing it on Monday.
https://mudcat.org/detail_pf.cfm?messages__Message_ID=846491

Rest in peace, Bill. You were a good man. My condolences and tanks to you, Lorna.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 09 Oct 22 - 03:25 AM

He sold me my first decent concertina and took me a ride to Doncaster Station to pick up other Mudcatters during the Mudgather at the Jug pub in Chapel Haddlesey. A lovely man. RIP Bill and condolences to his family and loved ones.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: GUEST,Eric the viking
Date: 09 Oct 22 - 03:32 AM

Sad news. Announced on face book last Thursday. My sympathies to Lorna and family. He was such an accomplished player, a really knowledgeable folk artist as well as a superb leather carver and also a painter of pictures. As Joe says above.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 09 Oct 22 - 03:51 AM

We never met in the flesh but he made a wonderful personalised guitar strap for my Greek friend. I gave him rough sketches and ideas and he turned them into a work of art, still admired.
RIP Bill
RtS

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 09 Oct 22 - 04:13 AM

He taught me to use a wood lathe, and introduced me to the melodeon, and he and Lorna put me up a couple of times. I spent many happy hours with him during Whitby Folk Week, helping him with running his and Mally's stall at the Craft Fair. A man of many talents and many musical instruments, he is a great loss.
RIP Bill.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 09 Oct 22 - 04:31 AM

So sorry to hear this.Bill was around all the North East clubs when I first set out in 1966 and we met up frequently over the next four years or so before he moved.He was always welcome at The Royal Turf, Felling on Tyne which was the first club with which I was involved.
Condolences to his family; RIP Bill.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 09 Oct 22 - 07:17 AM

That is sad news. I met up with Bill quite a few times, most particularly when we travelled to and around Iceland at Skarpi's Eurogathering in 2010. A mine of information on musical matters, I was glad to have known him.

DC

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: GUEST,Roger Knowles
Date: 09 Oct 22 - 09:05 AM

Worked with him for a year or two in the ceilidh band. A great man, a good friend.
He'll be missed.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: Rex
Date: 09 Oct 22 - 02:18 PM

I had the pleasure of meeting Bill and Allan when they came through here. Was it twenty years ago? We introduced some songs and stories to each other. I have a favorite photograph of Bill I would post here if I could only figure out how to do it. Bill, thank you for sharing the music.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: MudGuard
Date: 09 Oct 22 - 03:42 PM

Sad news!

At the first Eurogathering in Münster, Germany, he suggested I should start playing the tin whistle (at that time, I was only a listener, not a musician at the gathering), as it is an instrument I could easily take with me on my bicycle tours.

On my next trip to Ireland about a year later, I really bought a penny whistle ...

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: bbc
Date: 09 Oct 22 - 08:41 PM

Thank you for your words, Joe; so appropriate. I had the privilege of hosting Bill in my home & of visiting Lorna & him in Theirs. He was a very interesting & talented man. He will be missed! My sympathies to Lorna & family.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 10 Oct 22 - 09:53 AM

Sad news. Bill was my earliest friend on Mudcat, welcoming me to the Jug session in the late 90s. We ended up bandmates in the Foolish Virgins and played many a ceilidh. My favourite song of his was the Lambton Worm (ya booger), which he recorded with Sam Pirt and Ian Stephenson for their Mudcat US tour in the early noughties. RIP Bill, love to Lorna.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: Max
Date: 12 Oct 22 - 03:50 AM

Another good man gone. Bill was my friend, and this news hit me kind of hard. Grief from the loss of him in the world mixed with my own regret for not having spent more time with him. I could have, I figure. I should have. Now I can’t. I’m gutted.

Yeah, that Geordie was the darndest thing. He was the first I’d met, and for 3 days hanging out with him, I didn’t understand a word he said, woulda swore it was a whole other language, then somehow CLICK, never had trouble again and never could even figure why I had any trouble at all.

I missed him before he died. I’ll now miss him forever. Goodbye ya bugger.

Whisht! lads, haad yor gobs, Aa'll tell ye aall and aaful story,
Whisht! lads, haad yor gobs, An' Aal tell ye Bill gan doon.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: GUEST,Benny Graham
Date: 12 Oct 22 - 06:10 AM

Saddened by the news of Bill's passing...we sang together for years at Shotley Bridge and he was always there for many a friend when needed. My condolences to Lorna and all.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 12 Oct 22 - 08:33 AM

Adding my voice to the love for Bill Sables. He was very good to me, too. I also am the proud owner of a guitar strap; it has my initials and the Muscat logo, and some lovely Kells designs. I, too, got to stay at his house, and meet Lorna and his daughter and granddaughter. I will miss him.


I was culling cds a few weeks ago and came across one of his. I decided to keep it. I'm glad I did.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 13 Oct 22 - 10:52 AM

I was saddened by this news. I have added Bill to the "In Memoriam" thread and send my condolences to all those who know and love him.
RIP

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 13 Oct 22 - 02:32 PM

Condolences to the family.
I knew Bill twice over so to speak. I first met him in the Moorcock up on the Durham moors in the 60s where we played a few tunes together, Bill then on melodeon. Then a great gap and renewed acquaintance in the sessions he ran in the Jemmy Hirst in Rawcliffe, Yorkshire, c2010, 50 years later, Bill then mostly on banjo.
We also both called at dances in the area.
He will be greatly missed.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Oct 22 - 04:45 PM

So pleased to have known him In real life

Farewell Bill

Gerry (Banjo Flower)

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: GUEST,Susanne (skw) sans cookie
Date: 14 Oct 22 - 04:21 AM

Sad news! I first met Bill at the first EuroGatherings, then we lost contact till I stumbled over him (almost literally) at Hull Shanty Festival, and he invited me to stay with him and Lorna - who didn't turn a hair but welcomed me in that cheerful and generous way of hers. Bill showed me round for a day, I admired the house (mentioned above), the collections and the dolls' house they had lovingly restored. I'd wondered just recently whether they'd ever managed to emigrate to New Zealand as they were planning then. Obviously not! Sad to know I'll never meet him again anywhere. My sympathy to Lorna and their family!

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: Amergin
Date: 14 Oct 22 - 04:51 PM

DAmn...I never met him, or anything, but I remember reading about the great adventure. I was still new here, at the time, and was amazed these people would take strangers into their home like that. I understand better now.

Cheers, Bill. Enjoy the music wherever you are.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: Tiger
Date: 15 Oct 22 - 11:27 AM

I met Bill when he and Allan did their USA tour (& signed the guitar). They were hosted for a local sing-around by Mudcatter Vixen.

He was quite the fountain of knowledge, knowing a lot about a lot - a most pleasant and interesting fellow.

But, when I sang "Threescore and Ten" he launched into a near-vitriolic diatribe of how it couldn't be "Yarmouth DOWN to Scarborough" because Yarmouth was NORTH of Scarborough.

(but, maybe, the tides move that way)

We finally settled on "ROUND to Scarborough" as a compromise ... lol

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 15 Oct 22 - 12:44 PM

Is this Yarmouth,Norfolk?

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: Tiger
Date: 15 Oct 22 - 01:26 PM

Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Yes.

Subject: Make that Yarmouth SOUTH of Scarborough
From: Tiger
Date: 17 Oct 22 - 05:09 PM

LOL

I type faster than I think.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 18 Oct 22 - 01:10 AM

I did wonder.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: GUEST,Carol Lamb
Date: 18 Oct 22 - 07:13 AM

I met Bill when we lived in Rawcliffe Bridge and was lucky enough to join him in a few sessions in the area. He was a lovely person but sadly we lost touch after my husband died and I moved back to Hartlepool.Sending condolences to his family

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Oct 22 - 12:20 AM

The funeral details are as follows.

Funeral to take place at:
Pontefract Crematorium
Wakefield Road
Pontefract
WF8 4HA

On Monday the 31st October 2022, 11:40am
After the funeral, there will be a reception at:
The Masonic Hall
Powell Street
Castleford
WF10 1EL

Please let me know if you are attending the reception at [e-mail] so I can get an idea of numbers.
If you have a musical instrument, please bring it along to the reception, you know what he would have wanted.
Thank you for all of the kind comments on this page and for the cards and flowers at this difficult time.
Andy Sables

I wish I could go. Bill was the best.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Sables (1946-2022)
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 19 Oct 22 - 05:25 AM

Just caught up with this sad news. I'm very sorry to hear of Bill's passing.