Obit: Julie B (April 2004)

Subject: Obit: Julie B
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 05:12 AM

Julie died Monday after suffering from a long illness. I'm sorry don't have any more details at the moment.

Steve

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 05:46 AM

Oh my god, if this is true then That's such a shock! My thoughts to her family and friends. I'd met her once too, you never can tell can you! Such an awful thing to happen.

Ella

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Morticia
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 05:52 AM

this is terrible news....poor Julie,and oh, her poor family,

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 05:56 AM

sending good thoughts to her family at this sad time. When I met Julie a few years ago, she was a bubbly and lively person, a right good giggle.

sigh....

Ella

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Bassic
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 06:07 AM

Dear Steve, such terrible news. I met Julie several times on her trips to the Hull area over the last 3 or 4 years and though I didnt really know her that well we always made a point of chatting. Thank you Julie for the brief but happy meetings and my deepest sympathies to her family and friends.

Gordon

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: GUEST,KB
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 07:02 AM

Really sorry to hear this. Going by her posts, she was a really nice person, and I'm sure that all who know her will miss her terribly.
Deepest sympathies to Julie's family and friends.

Kris

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 11:02 AM

I echoe Bassic's thoughts - I met her on a couple of Hull trips- how very sad indeed. Rest in Peace Julie

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 11:10 AM

Very sad and tragic news. Like others here, I too send my best thoughts to her family and friends. She was a friend and among friends here and will be missed. Rest well......

Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 11:24 AM

This is so very sad. I really enjoyed her posts and see that we have you to thank, Steve, for encouraging her to join us.


Rest in peace, Julie and thanks for being here,

kat

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: nutty
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 11:43 AM

I didn't know Julie except from her post and from occassionaly communicating with her in Mudchat.

I'm just filled with sadness that life was so hard for her.

May she find the peace she was searching for. My thoughts are with her family.

Hazel

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Abuwood
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 12:07 PM

Julie shared her songs with me, the cd's are well produced and clearly reflect the bright tone in her voice. These will be the memories of her. We too met in Hull and shared songs together at many festivals.
Rest in Peace Julie
With condolences to the family
Alison

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 12:24 PM

Some messages were removed or edited because of a request from the family for privacy.
I hope you'll understand and respect their wishes. You may contact me by personal message if you have any questions.
Thanks.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Noreen
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 03:43 PM

Julie was intelligent, attractive, good company, sang and played well and wrote interesting, thought-provoking songs.

So sad that the negatives outweighed the positives for her at the end. I'll miss her.

Thanks Steve for letting us know.

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Chief Chaos
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 03:54 PM

Now silence about the decks -Taps, Taps, Taps

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: mooman
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 03:54 PM

Rest in Peace Dear Julie B

moo

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Les from Hull
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 06:42 PM

We've lost another good friend. I'm sure that we'll remember Julie and her singing and playing and songwriting with great fondness. Our thoughts go to her family and (other) friends. We'll miss her visits to Hull.

Les and Maggie

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Cllr
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 07:04 PM

I last saw Julie at beds folk club on the 15th at judy cook's gig. we briefly chatted and she said she would come to ampthill fc sometime soon. I still have her PEL song on Cd in the car. My deepest sympathies with her family she was a special lady Cllr

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Alba
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 07:12 PM

How terribly sad to hear this News.
My Deepest sympathy to Julie's Family and Friends.

Jude.

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 08:15 PM

Julie sang her PEL song in the informal bar session at the National in Sutton Bonington last year. It was great to meet her. Awful loss. I'm so sorry for her family.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 03:33 AM

Steve, I'm really shocked, I had no idea Julie was ill. As you know I only met her at the Stoney Stratford Mudcat Meet 2-3 years ago and she seemed a very lovely person, despite being sat next to me, she didn't flinch even when I "sang".
My sincere condolences to her family and friends.

RtS

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Ross
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 03:51 AM

Julie supported us at Barton, Beds and it was always a pleasure to see her; and hear her play and sing

It's a great loss to lose someone so young to illness - life can seem so unfair

Many thanks for sharing your music and songs with us

Rest in peace Julie

Ross

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: My guru always said
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 06:25 AM

As has been said here, this is such a shock. I too had no idea that Julie was suffering. So very sad - sending support and positive thoughts to Julie's Family and Friends.

I had been looking forward to hearing her singing her songs again & had no idea that the chance would not come again. Such vivacity and talent lost, this Lady will be missed. Julie's in our thoughts.

Hil

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: jacqui.c
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 07:15 AM

Kendall here. This is happening too damned often. I never met her, but I'll miss her posts.

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 08:22 AM

There will be a minute silence at The Friendly Earth and Fretless Acoustic Club on Monday 03/05/04 At The Bull in Barton le Clay. We will all miss you, you always seemed so happy and excited. Thoughts go out to relatives.

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: black walnut
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 08:44 AM

So sorry.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 11:22 AM

What a shock Steve. As you know, Julie often came to the monthly singarounds at the St. Neots Folk Club and always transfixed us with her lovely voice, guitar and fiddle playing.

I moved up to Staffordshire 16 months ago so I didn't know that she had been ill. A great loss.

Pete

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 11:33 AM

very sorry to hear this.

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: GMT
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 12:03 PM

Steve, this is the most horrible news.

My sincerest condolences to her family and close friends.

A very sad loss. She will be missed here.

Gary.

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: The Shambles
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 12:17 PM

Goodbye Julie and thanks.

We never met but she did kindly sent me her voice. I have the CD with her PEL song on it. I feel that she would want us to keep on fighting for the right to be able to gather together and sing.

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 12:31 PM

Let's all sing the PEL song where ever we are at every Sing a Round and session. The words and chords of it can be found in back dated copies of The Unicorn Magazine. I am not sure which one but, I will find out and post it back here, if anyone wants the words PM me in a couple of days and I should have them.

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Willa
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 12:32 PM

This is just to echo Les from Hull's post. Like many others who have posted I had no idea that Julie was ill; I enjoyed her singing and playing at last year's Beverley FF fringe.

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 12:42 PM

Hello it's on page 27 of the August,September&it says October 2003, it should have been of course July, August and September 2003. Brilliant song, so let's all sing it.

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 01:25 PM

Sad sad sad, no idea that anything was amiss.
John

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 01:37 PM

Anahata and I send our sincere condolences to Julie's family. We met Julie at the National a year ago. We never knew she was suffering so much.
May she find peace at last.
Mary

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: My guru always said
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 04:09 PM

Julie's PEL song was posted on this thread. Various people have a CD copy of this song - wish I'd got one but didn't get the chance.

A worthy song to be remembered by, though I recall other wonderful songs she wrote....

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Noreen
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 04:21 PM

Julie posted the words to her PEL song in the following thread: PEL: A PEL Protest Song - Lyrics

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Ed.
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 04:31 PM

I never knew Julie, and it would be churlish to argue about PEL's and 'Happy Birthday'

I think that her last post here, talking about 'Arthur McBride' says it all:

"I too love this song and Paul Brady's version of it. I discovered it when a friend put it on a cassette tape compilation of his favourite folk music for me. I played it in the car until the tape wore out! No matter how many times I listened it still sounded fresh. Enjoyed singing it too."

Rest in peace, Julie

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: 8_Pints
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 06:17 PM

We first met her at the 'Four Fools Festival', Chorley where I asked her to accompany me - sadly the opportunity passed.

I was hoping to rectify the situation this year, but what a shock!

We shall miss her.

Bob & Sue vG

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 07:32 PM

We all sang The PEL song at The Cricketers in Redbourn (Thursday) Everybody sang along, it was lovely.

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 08:36 PM

It's always so sad to lose a member of a family but the tragedy magnifies in such circumstances. Poor Julie. At least she is at peace now. My thoughts are with her family and friends.

Rhiannon

Subject: Julie's songs
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 04:15 AM

I was always trying to persuade Julie to publish her songs here, but she was a bit shy, somehow. She made a CD with Steve Jacobs of five of her songs, as well as the one of her PEL song. I think she wouldn't mind having them published now (a separate thread, maybe?). I can't do anything until I get home, as I don't have the words here at work.

Meanwhile, I've been asked for "Potcheen & Potatoes" by someone who's leaving for a folk camp at 2.30 (British time); can anyone oblige quickly?


Thanks to everyone for all the warmth and love. I'm still trying to put my own thoughts in order, but along all her colleagues and friends here and at Bedford FC, we are shocked and saddened.
Steve

Subject: Lyr Add: POTCHEEN AND POTATOES (Julie Berrill)
From: Abuwood
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 05:12 AM

Potcheen and Potatoes – Julie Berrill

Some folk never find it, and most are still looking,
Some find it often, but they're very few.
But now that I've found it my searching is over
Yes now I've found true love and I've found it with you.

Oh you tell me we'll live on potcheen and potatoes
And we'll have a cottage on Galway's fair shore
Well I know that you're crazy I know that you're dreaming
But while I'm in your arms I believe every word

Well I thought I'd known love and I thought I'd known lovers
But nothing had ever prepared me for this.
The sound of your voice and the way that you hold me,
The look in your eyes and the love in your kiss.

CHORUS

But we can't go out courting, we can't go out walking
And no one must ever see us on our own
But our precious love although it's a dear one
Must stay as a secret and we can never be known

CHORUS

Lead Break

Well I know that you love me I know you're sincere
And to love you a lifetime will now be my fate.
But you have a wife and you've two little children,
It's sad but it's true that I found you too late.

CHORUS x2

Just typed this in, a bit quickly but I think it's right
I have the CD and can copy if anyone would like it PM me.

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: GUEST,Sally M
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 07:17 AM

Such a shock and such a sad, sad loss. We shall miss Julie dreadfully at the many weekly sessions we have round here in South Beds/North Bucks that she so often came to. We had a minutes silence for her last night at the Slapton session.
May she now be in peace from all her troubles.

Sally

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 02:33 PM

Minute silence at The Bull in Barton le Clay on Monday and then lot's of happy sing a long songs, the way she would have liked to be remembered. Has Steve Parkes had suggested.

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 05 May 04 - 04:14 AM

Next Tuesday (11 May) is the a capella session at the Fox & Hounds, Stony Stratford. We'd like to see (and hear) as many as possible to give Julie a good send-off.

Steve

Subject: Funeral details
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 05 May 04 - 05:34 AM

The funeral service celebrating the life of Julie is to be held at Crownhill Crematorium on Tuesday 11th May at 10.45am.

Casual colourful dress is welcomed.

The service is to be followed by a gathering of friends and family at The Bell, Beachampton.

Those wishing to send flowers may do so, or donations made payable to Riverside First School may be sent to :-

H.W. Mason & Sons
9 High Street
Newport Pagnell
MK16 8AR

Julie had a great love of writing and performing music. All money collected shall be shared between Riverside First School and Lovat Middle School, Newport Pagnell. It will be used to purchase music, musical instruments and accessories for the benefit of young children.


(Crownhill is in Milton Keynes, and Beachampton is nearby. You can find maps of the crematorium and the Bell on the Internet.)

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: GUEST,Lindswidder
Date: 05 May 04 - 06:42 AM

I didn't know Julie B but while living in Northamptonshire in the 70s I may have known some members of her family. Was she related to a Policeman, probably retired now, Called Bob Berrill, or a Northampton motorcycle dealer (probably also retired!) called Mick Berrill?

The mention of Beachampton brought back some lovely memories for me when some 15 years ago I helped a lady from Perth, Australia, find her relatives who came from Beachampton some 200+ years ago - she was so impressed that I had taken the trouble to reply to a letter she had written in a Buckinghamshire newspaper asking for help, and I was the only person to respond, that she hopped on a plane and came over. We visited the village together, had a tiptoe around the tombstones, collecting lots of her family names, then we had lunch in the Bell and met Beachampton's oldest resident (I forget his name now but there was a First World War photograph of him with his horse, which hangs in the pub) anyway this old gentleman told us that he had once bought some land from the lady's great-grandfather and built a house. It kind of brought the family "to life" for her.

After lunch we went into Winslow to a Solicitor's office (he had at one time been Buckingham's Coroner) and he had managed to gather together a huge pile of Parish Registers for us to look at. It was a great success....!

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: SallyM
Date: 05 May 04 - 06:52 AM

Steve,
I think there may be some confusion about where to go after the service. Some of us had understood that folkies were going to go on to The Cock in Stony Stratford - as given at in the announcement at the bottom of Pete Robert's website of Milton Keynes sessions:- www.session.musician.org.uk.
??
Sally M

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 05 May 04 - 08:13 AM

It's certainly confusing to me, Sally.Is anyone in touch with Pete to find out where he had his information from? My post re The Bell is verbatim from Julie's family last night. Perhaps The Cock was the original venue, but it has been changed?

Steve

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 05 May 04 - 08:37 AM

We had a minute silence on Monday at The Bull, then we sung The PEL Song, and after that Chris Fleck sung his Happy Song.

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: a gud ole bwoy
Date: 06 May 04 - 05:01 AM

Streetmap doesn't know where Crownhill is or for that matter Danstead Way when you do the search for them, but then, hey presto, when you bring up the MK map there they are, and I thought Streetmap Search was updated regularly. Crownhill, for those like me, travelling from somewhere else, is bordered partly by Danstead Way and the Watling Sreet.
Cor blimy, that ent arf bin ard work evin to do it in propur inglish.

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 06 May 04 - 05:42 AM

"Dansteed" with two Es! Try this link (click in the circle to get larger-scale maps).

Steve

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: a gud ole bwoy
Date: 07 May 04 - 04:10 AM

Oops, Yellow pages has a typo in the crematorium address no wonder Streetmap couldn't find it.

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 May 04 - 04:11 AM

People are funny.

Not every one who is feeling pain inside displays it on the outside. Some put on an external happy act, but sometimes the cloud of blackness can suddenly overwhelm.

Robin

Subject: Musicians at the funeral
From: GUEST,Steve at home
Date: 09 May 04 - 06:19 AM

Some of Julie's folk club friends will be accompanying the songs at the funeral. If any of you who knew Julie from the music sessions wish to play, we'll be arriving at Crownhill early to tune up and quickly run through everything. As the funeral starts at 10.45, we should get there about 10.15.

Obviously, we need to keep the number of musicians to a manageable level. If you'd like to play, can you let me know through this thread, or if the Mudcat is down, email me at [e-mail].

Steve

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: My guru always said
Date: 09 May 04 - 03:54 PM

Sorry I won't be able to get to the funeral, but I'll be thinking of Julie at that time. May we always have music.
Hil

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 09 May 04 - 06:48 PM

What time are they meeting at The Fox and Hounds?

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 10 May 04 - 03:56 AM

Martin, the usual starting time is 8.30. See you there.

Steve

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Ross
Date: 16 May 04 - 10:24 AM

Just like to thank Steve, Mike Blair and all the musicians/singers for paying such a fitting and memorable homage/tribute to Julie at the service

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 17 May 04 - 06:31 AM

Sorry I did not make it Steve. See you soon.

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Abuwood
Date: 17 May 04 - 12:13 PM

Sorry I was unable to join you all - would yoiu be able to post here how much was raised for the school?

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 18 May 04 - 09:28 AM

I don't know how much has been donated in total, but the Stony Stratford A Capella session last Tuesday raised £63.60 and Bedford FC last Thursday raised £100. It will be a week or two before the final total is made known, and I'll try and let everyone know then.

Steve

Subject: Julie: a brief candle
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 18 May 04 - 10:02 AM

I've been trying to put my thoughts together; it's been more difficult than I'd imagined. Towards the end of 1999 I'd mentioned to a few colleagues that I was looking for a singer to team up with. I already knew Julie to say hello to, but it was a surprise when she came up and volunteered; I had no idea she sang. Hearing her sing was even more astonishing: she had such a clear, bright voice.

We only had time for a single appearance together when she was forced to spend several months off work with what was then thought to be repetetive strain injury (RSI), brought on by using a computer keyboard. People kept asking me "where's the lady with the lovely voice?"

Eventually she returned, and Julie began joining me at Bedford Folk Club. There she discovered a love of traditional music: she dug out her old fiddle, bought a new recorder and a new guitar, and started going to music sessions; she even helped found the lunchtime weekly Folk Club here at the Open University. I'm no great shakes as a musician, so I never saw her at any of the sessions. Well, my loss was everyone else's gain, and I was really very happy to know my erstwhile protegée doing so well.

I'll let others fill in the other details; I'll just say that she made friends everwhere she went, and dazzled everyone with her warmth, charm and exuberance. She was known and loved in almost every folk club and session in Buckinghamshire and the surrounding counties, not to mention Hull and Beverly, where she was a familiar face -- and voice -- at festivals.

Recently she'd been off work again. This time, her illness was recognised as lupus, an autoimmune disease which tends to attack the joints and lead to arthritis-like symptoms. But right up to the last, she was her old cheerful self. It sounds trite, I know, but she really did light up the hearts of all those she met. God bless you, Julie.

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 20 May 04 - 04:34 AM

Thanks for the update, Steve. Very sad, what a waste.

RtS

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 May 04 - 11:08 AM

Thanks for sharing your friend with us, Steve. I think I can see her now. On behalf of friends everywhere, thank you for being a good friend, and for seeing her so clearly.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: Escamillo
Date: 20 May 04 - 12:42 PM

Another farewell, and another reason to make every minute of our lives worthwhile for someone, as she evidently did.

Un abrazo,
Andrés

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: GUEST,Steve Parkes
Date: 06 May 05 - 05:42 AM

It's been a year since Julie went from us. A couple of weeks ago, I unexpectedly found myself at the place where she died. I'm sure you'd like to know there was no unhappy feeling there, no spirit longing for release: I believe Julie's spirit is at peace. I came away feeling so much happier.

Steve

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B
From: My guru always said
Date: 06 May 05 - 06:11 AM

Thanks for sharing that Steve. I've thought of Julie many times over the last year. I'm sure she's at peace now. Thoughts are with family & friends.

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B (April 2004)
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 06 May 05 - 06:03 PM

Still think of her at The Bull in Barton. Cheers Steve. MFB

Subject: RE: Obit: Julie B (April 2004)
From: Abuwood
Date: 10 May 05 - 03:08 AM

The collection in Julie's name raised £800 and was divided between Riverside First School who bought a selection of small instruments and Lovat Middle school who bought 2 keyboards.
When I last heard her Mum was still trying to trace a donation from a couple called J & J something so she could send the thankyou letter. I wondered if this might be Joan & Jim from up North, if anyone has an address for these people perhaps they could PM me and I can pass them Julie's Mum's phone number.