BBC Treasure Hunt

Subject: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST,Mark Dowding
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 07:19 PM

As British TV viewers may be aware, much has been made of the return to the BBC of various 'lost' programmes such as 'The Likely Lads' 'Dad's Army' 'All Gas and Gaiters' and radio episodes of 'Hancock's Half Hour' What many people probably don't realise is that The BBC has junked many hours of Folk programmes such as 'Folk on One' 'Folk on Friday' and Folk on Two' prior to 1984. If you have any programmes like the above that you've taped off air, especially if the programme contains a live concert then you may be able help to restore the archive of its lost 'Treasure' Further details are on the website of Folk North West:

www.folknorthwest.co.uk

Have a trawl through your tapes and see what you've got. If there is enough interest we can take it from there.

Good hunting

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 05 Feb 02 - 03:03 AM

Blue clicky

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: bill\sables
Date: 05 Feb 02 - 06:02 AM

I probably have a few spool to spool tapes of "Folk on Friday" and BBC Radio Durham's folk programme from the 60's and early 70's somewhere in the loft. I must look them up and let you know.
Cheers Bill

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 05 Feb 02 - 08:38 AM

I thought this thread was going to be about Anneka Rice ! Is she still bouncing around ?

Murray

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 05 Feb 02 - 12:13 PM

I might be able to locate a (BBC copy, 15in/sec, reel-reel) tape of "Folkweave" recorded about 1974 at Catford Folk Club. The main guests were Graham & Eileen Pratt, the presenter was Tony Capstick, and amongst the odd spots your's truly singing "Tam Lin" with Wendy Simon (of Walton Folk Festival fame).

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Feb 02 - 07:53 PM

Not sure what Anneka Rice is up to these days but these spools of tape hidden in various places sound promising!

Anybody else out there got anything that may be of interest?

Thanks for the response so far.

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: pavane
Date: 07 Feb 02 - 07:18 AM

I have a number of Folkweave programs somewhere, but only on ancient cassettes. I also have ?Folk on 2 at Blackmore in Essex, but that is a singers club, no guests. I will have a look when I get home at the weekend.

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 07:05 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST,swirlygirl
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 07:48 AM

You're just obsessed with women aren't you Murray?

:)

xxx

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST,Mark Dowding
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 11:51 AM

I don't think it matters what format anything is on. 15ips broadcast quality reel to reel would be ideal but I imagine most stuff is on cassette that anybody's recorded. Somebody's got some stuff that they've recorded on cassette by pointing a microphone at the radio from the days when cheap recording hardwear was in it's infancy. It all helps the cause. Singers nights can be just as interesting as guest nights with the diversity of styles that they generate. Remember I don't want a copy, just the details of what you have then I can get back to the BBC to see if they would be interested in.

Keep looking.

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: fat B****rd
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 02:39 PM

Speaking of old"folk" programmes, does anybody (UK) recall a couple of BBc 2 programmes called TV Ballads ??

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST,Mark Dowding
Date: 12 Feb 02 - 01:51 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: pavane
Date: 20 Feb 02 - 07:22 AM

I have so far unearthed Folkweave editions, introduced by Toni Arthur, featuring Muggins Fancy, Tom Tiddlers (?Ground), the Chieftains and Vin Garbutt.

I still have more cassettes to check though, both Folkweave and Folk on 2.

Has anyone looked overseas? I think I remember hearing these programs being broadcast in Dubai, when I was there.

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST,greg stephens
Date: 20 Feb 02 - 07:32 AM

i 've got loads of folkweave recordings(well, only the ones i'm on) on cassette, also various BBC tapes of the same material. i always thought folkweave was a bloody awful programme at the time, but looking back i do recall it put out a lot of traditional english folksongs: which is not the easiest stuff to find on the bbc nowadays.

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Feb 02 - 07:18 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 25 Feb 02 - 11:48 AM

Folkweave was produced by a BBC man very keen on traditional music, one Peter Pilbeam, long retired. Does anyone know if he is still alive?. I have fond memories of Folkweave because I wrote it's signature tune. Wish I had a few of those on tape. Burl

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST,Mark Dowding
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 06:01 PM

I've been back onto the BBC treasure hunt department to see what steps to take next in order to get tapes back to them. Watch this space!

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: greg stephens
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 06:08 PM

Peter Pilbeam was a very very nice man and a pal but I am 99% certain he died a few years back. If anyone knows different I would be delighted. His main claim to fame was turning down the Beatles for a radio spot in their very early days. He hought they were crap.

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: johnross
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 10:08 PM

Peter Pilbeam told me in 1977 that he had several hundred hours of Folkweave programmes on tape. I don't know whether they were his personal copies or in some BBC centre, but they did exist. If I remember correctly, FW was produced someplace outside of London, so they probably weren't lost in some mad cleanup at Broadcasting House.

Do any of the 1950's "Blues and Ballads" (or was it "Ballads and Blues"?) programmes still exist?

I have a copy of "Bold Nelson's Praise", the program that Bert Lloyd put together for the anniversary of Trafalgar. On BBC Transcription Service discs.

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST,vectis at work
Date: 13 Mar 02 - 09:54 AM

If the Catford programme is pre May 1974 I might even be on it...
Spooky, or what?????????

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: Watson
Date: 14 Mar 02 - 09:10 AM

I have a box full of old cassettes. I have no idea exactly who or what is on most them, but there are quite a few of Folk on 2 - Jim Lloyd vintage.
The last one I found had Kathryn Tickell, Bob Fox and Stu Luckley and an Irish band that I have no recollection of called Collaboration.
If they are of any use to you Mark, you're welcome to have them.

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST,Mark Dowding
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 12:49 PM

Mr Watson - please get in touch with me to discuss this further. My email address is [e-mail]. Look forward to hearing from you

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: Watson
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 01:03 PM

email winging its way to you now Mark.

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST,Mark Dowding
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 05:46 AM

Just to let people know - I've tried getting back in touch with the Treasure Hunt people at the BBC to see what they want to do with the tapes that you've unearthed but I've had no reply yet. I'll have another go at them through the [e-mail] route

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST,Mark Dowding
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 03:07 AM

OK folks, I've had a reply from BBC Info. The Treasure hunt has officially finished but tapes can still be returned to them. The gist of the reply is below:

...However, although the campaign has closed this does not mean the search has finished. BBC Archives would still be interested in hearing from members of the public who have BBC recordings of interest to offer. You can contact them at the following address:

BBC Archive Treasure Hunt PO Box 3087 London W12 6GL

If you intend to return anything, please write first and tell them what you've got before you send any tapes to them. If you get any positive response from them please let us know on this forum.

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: Lanfranc
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 06:29 PM

Off to eBay in search of a reel to reel deck to replay umpteen miles of tapes from the 60s and 70s, including some "Country meets/swamps Folk" sessions, if they are still playable, that is.

What is the archive life of recording tape?

Alan

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From:
Date: 16 Jul 02 - 06:09 AM

I am a member of a radio preservation society and am very interested to know if people, as well as Folk material, have any plays/comedy/etc. from the pre. 1985 period? There are some items we are particularly after.

If you recorded from radio onto cassette, reel or disc prior to 1985, I'd love to hear from you! We are non-profit making, but can 'whip round' to pay for reels bought etc. Copies can be made on CD too.

Many thanks, Richard. ([e-mail])

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt- calling johnross
From:
Date: 16 Jul 02 - 06:13 AM

Hi- I'd be interested in that Trafalgar programme. Maybe you can E-Mail me and we can go from there? Much apprec. Thanks, Richard.

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: greg stephens
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 02:44 PM

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 10:37 PM

Where was the Catford folk club held?

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From:
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 04:35 AM

RE: WHERE WAS THE CATFORD ~FOLK CLUB HELD? A CATFORD FOLK CLUB WAS STARTED BY A GROUP OF US IN THE ( I THINK) MID-60S) DAVE AND TONI ARTHUR, MARTIN HAZEL, THE COVEN BAND, EDDIE DUNMORE, AND DAVE??? (WHOSE SURNAME ESCAPES ME AT THIS MOMENT), IT WAS CALLED SOMETHING LIKE PHOENIX AWAKES ( I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE CALLED IT), AND IT WAS HELD AT THE RISING SUN PUBLIC HOUSE IN THE HIGH STREET, AT CATFORD. EDDIE DUNMORE, WHO WENT ON TO EDIT THE MORRIS RING MAGAZINE, WAS A PRINTER, AND PRODUCED GREAT A5 FLYERS, AND PRINTED BROADSIDES OF POPULAR CHORUS SONGS SUNG AT THE CLUB. EVENTUALLY TONI AND HAD TO PULL OUT OF THE CLUB DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF GIGS WE WERE THEN DOING AROUND THE COUNTRY, BUT THE CLUB WENT ON FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH FOR SEVERAL YEARS. There was another Catford folk club run by Tony Dean Slim Grey etc..but I think that was a bit later, although it was so long ago I could be mistaken.
DAVE ARTHUR website: davearthur.net

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 04:55 AM

In about 1970, C# House library sought permission from Jim Lloyd and producer Frances Line to keep recordings of Folk on Friday in the sound archive but were refused. Don't know if they actually obeyed...

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 05:20 AM

Hi Dave Arthur

Would the other Dave have been Dave Cooper, who ran the Catford Club at the Rising Sun when I went a few times, it was after your and Toni's involvement certainly.

Cheers

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 02:27 PM

I've only just picked up this discussion. I have a number of tapes and cassettes which I'm currently transferring to minidisc. Most of them are parts of folk music programmes covering featured topics. I have a number of such. They include three series from Folkweave by Sam Richards and one I did myself or four programmes called "The Price of Progress".
Just before Folkweave was taken off air I'd done a series of eight programmes with Peter Pilbeam called "Heroes All". I've no copies of this stuff so any help on if it exists would be welcome.

More to the point is anyone interested in these pogrammes and features I have?. I'm quite happy to copy them or hand over the originals to a bona-fide archive. Apart from the Folkweave recording I've quite a lot of other folk music related material I recorded during the later 1960s and early 1970s.

Ian M Parr

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: Megan L
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 04:26 PM

Alan if you have no luck with ebay try your local library, if it has an archive. I spent a year in our local archive cataloging our local BBC programmes (those we could find after spending several hours rummaging in cupboards, attics etc) we had a revox, wouldnt think our librabry archive was unique.

Subject: Catford Folk Club
From: GUEST,Dave Arthur
Date: 05 Sep 04 - 07:31 PM

Hi Kevin - Yes, of course, it was Dave Cooper, he was one of the orginal founding members and hung in long after Toni and I left the club. Dave's surname eluded me for the moment when I wrote the original note re Catford Folk Club. Sorry Dave!!
Best wishes, Dave Arthur
davearthur.net

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST,John Pilbeam
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 06:54 PM

Not sure if this is still running, but Peter Pilbeam is my dad and he still lives in Manchester, where Folkweave was produced. I also thought Folkweave was crap (but then again, at the time I thought Folk was crap, full stop), apart from those programmes with recordings made whilst I was holding the microphone during school holidays (Wassailing in Bodmin is a particular favourite memory - aged about 10 - standing in a circle with about 10 pissed blokes wearing top hats and tails, all peeing into the centre spot of Bodmin [rugby] pitch around 2.00am The reference to the Beatles is inaccurate - dad auditioned them in 1962 and thought they were great - he gave them their first 6 broadcasts on national radio. The faux pas was that the audition sheet gave vocalist John Lennon the thumbs up, but Paul McCartney the thumbs down. Oh well...

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST,JOHN of ELSIE`S BAND
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 12:07 PM

Dear Dave Arthur,
                You are spot on. Dave Watts, Robin "Slim" Grey, myself and Mike and John Hutchison were the people who ran the "Railway Tavern" at Catford. We have pleasant memories of your bookings with Toni and doing clubbs with you in the SE.

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST,milk monitor
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 12:43 PM

Both the Railway Tavern and Rising Sun are still standing....albeit with a few changes at both.
I think the Railway is now The Copperfield, but it still shakes to the 4.20 to Hayes.
And The Rising Sun has had a few changes since a particularly nasty incident in the alley next to it a few years back, it is now West Indian run and does excellent grub.
Aaaaah Catford! Must pay it a visit soon, if only to gaze lovingly at the black and white cat.

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 03:25 AM

Hi John - Thanks for the contribution and good to know your dad's still with us. Would you be able to tell us if he has copies of any of his programmes? I know that Stan Ambrose who produces Folkscene on BBC Merseyside along with Geoff Speed has loads of his old programmes on reel to reel including a programme where he talks to Brian Peters about Harry Boardman. He kindly lent this tape to myself and Chris Pollington to make a copy of it for our archive of material featuring Harry. Talking of Chris, I was round at his house last night where he's recovering from a broken back after falling off a ladder and we were listening to some of his old cassette recordings he made of "Fine Folk" from the early days of BBC Radio Blackburn (now Radio Lancashire) where he was featured with his group Knight's Anthem (I think) - pre Strawhead days - about 1972. The programmes was presented by John Mills (not THE John Mills) who sounded awfully posh for a programme broadcast in Lancashire - but then they all did in those days! He also had some other recordings of a programme called Music in Schools which featured his school Jazz band and considering the age of the pupils was about 13, the standard of playing was excellent. The past is out there - it just needs looking for!
Thanks to an appeal I made on another thread regarding the TV programme "Ballad of the Northwest", I now have about ten audio recordings of the programme which is otherwise missing. Whilst they aren't the best quality considering they were done by pointing a microphone at the TV speaker, they are at least listenable to and very interesting they are as well.


Cheers
Mark

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: pavane
Date: 03 Oct 04 - 11:23 AM

Just unearthed a cassette copy of Folk Song Cellar (Robin Hall & Jimmy McGregor) featuring The Young Tradition, Isla Cameron (with Martin Carthy on Guitar) and Roy & Val Bailey.

Is that likely to be of interest? There are some songs I have never heard elsewhere (e.g. Yellow Hose)

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST,Guido
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 10:08 AM

I have a set of 13LP's from the Folk Song Cellar on BBC Transcription Disc. Anyone has an idea about the value? They are all in Mint condition and with the original papers.

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST,Patrick Gallacher
Date: 29 Nov 04 - 03:05 AM

I have a Question:

Are there any Lost Episodes of Steptoe and Son or do they all exist?

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 29 Nov 04 - 03:48 AM

Yes they do in one form or another.

The early series (1962-65) were recorded on 405 line videotape for transmission and transferred to 16mm black and white film for overseas sales purposes (it's easier to sell film abroad rather than video as different companies have different standards but film can be put through a telecine machine which converts the signals to the standard required. The original video tapes were wiped to use again but the film recordings survive.

The later series (1970-74) were made and recorded on 625 line colour videotape. These were not transferred to film as far as I know but the tapes of the earlier (70-71) series were wiped. It was later discovered that Galton and Simpson had made off air recordings on a very early domestic reel to reel video recorder and these were discovered in Ray Galton's garage in the 1990s. The rest of the programmes survived on the original 2" video tapes.

Many of the programmes were released on VHS in the late 80s-90s and the first series from 1962 has been released on DVD although disappointingly there has been no attempt at restoring the pictures using modern technology. There is a process available that restores the more "live" look of video as opposed to the more jerky appearance of film which has been used on restoration of early Dr Who programmes as they are released on DVD and the first series and what's left of the second series of Dad's Army to great effect.

More info about TV archives HERE

and Steptoe and Son HERE

Cheers
Mark

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST,John Pierson
Date: 11 Mar 05 - 09:36 PM

Greetings from across the pond. I dont know if anyone is still searching this site, but I was wondering if anyone can steer me in the right direction. I am looking at trying to put together a listing of BBC In Concert and the Americcan equivilent BBC Rock Hour. Is there anywhere I can look to get a chronilogical order by airdate? I collect live radio concerts, and the BBC programs are the hardest to come by, especially pre-1980. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Please feel free to e-mail me at [e-mail].

Thank you for any help.

John Pierson

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST,Folkiefrank
Date: 11 Mar 05 - 10:42 PM

Guido, where the heck did you get those from? I heard those programmes in Singapore in '69-'71 and they were Fab to use the expression of the era. The sad bit about it was that the BFBS people were told to destroy the LPs as soon as they had been broadcast. It seems there were some who realised their worth. As I remember, the LPs were one sided, and of one hour in length. Is this the case with yours?

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST,folkiefrank
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 09:11 PM

OK Guido, how much do you think they're worth...let the bidding begin!I'll put the first one up....£50.

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST,folkiefrank
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 09:54 PM

Come on Guido, are you interested or not?

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: Snuffy
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 08:57 AM

Guido posted back in November and got no response at all on this thread for over 2 weeks, and no reply to his question for 4 months. Perhaps he gave up and won't come back.

Subject: RE: BBC Treasure Hunt
From: GUEST,folkiefrank
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 09:42 AM

Guess you're right Snuffy...hadn't realised the time factor! Doh!