Obit: Ron Barnet - Herga Folk Club / Morrismen

Subject: Obit: Ron Barnet - Herga Folk Club / Morrismen
From: Bob TB
Date: 25 Apr 06 - 04:52 PM

Co-author of the now well travelled morris mens' anthem "Wrap me up in me bells and me baldrics", bagman of the Herga Morrismen, singer and mummer, Ron Barnet of the Herga Folk Club passed away last Saturday, 22nd April, at the age of 76. I'm sure many here will remember him.

Ron has probably attended more evenings at the Herga club than anyone else having been almost every week for over 25 years, only ill health prevented him going in recent years. Back in the 70s Ron was the driving force behind the success of the Herga Morrismen and well known within the Morris Clubs of London organisastion. He also played King George with the Herga Mummers for many years.

A good friend, a kind and generous man, mentor, healer and a great character. Herga, in all its guises, will miss him.


Bob

Subject: RE: Obit: Ron Barnet - Herga Folk Club / Morrismen
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 25 Apr 06 - 05:13 PM

I can only second that. I knew Ron for the 25 or so years that I went to Herga. I've sang with him, been out on morris tours with him (him dancing, not me!) and mummed with him countless times. He did me the signal honour of coming out to me leaving do at Herga, a very rare visit for him by then.

Always interesting to talk to and with a wide range of interests, which included the poetry of John Clare, various of which he would sing to his own tunes. In younger days heavily into Wicca (he brought Maxine Sauders to Herga a few times in the 70s), Bob still has the picture from The Mail (was it?) of Ron naked, but still recognisable from behind celebrating in the woods. A man for whom the question "How are you?" was less a formality, more of an invitation to a detailed inventory.

I'll certainly miss him.

Mick

Subject: RE: Obit: Ron Barnet - Herga Folk Club / Morrismen
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 25 Apr 06 - 06:09 PM

Ron didn't just attend the Herga Folk Club - he sang in his own inimitable way, and found all sorts of interesting contributions. Including the WW1 Alphabet song from the trenches - a verse for every letter, much to Charlie Hardy's dismay.

Calligrapher, glass engraver - Ron for many years provided the Robot Nimb awards and posters idiosyncratically and ingeniously announcing the evening's entertainment at Herga, while also reminding us of anniversaries. I still treasure the poster for my guest night in October 2000, which coincided with the anniversaries of the launch of the British RN's first submarine, built by Vickers, at Barrow 1901, and the sinking of the British cruiser Curacao with the loss of 338 lives after colliding with Queen Mary off the coast of Donegal. And he gave me a copy of Ruth Tongue's Chime Child for my birthday.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Obit: Ron Barnet - Herga Folk Club / Morrismen
From: Bob TB
Date: 25 Apr 06 - 07:12 PM

Mick,

It was the Sun, centre page spread, c1977. And I did not keep a picture of his naked b*m!!

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Guest artists at Herga over the years will have seen the hand made posters at the top of the stairs with various "Today in 1798..." notes. These are much treasuered as Kitty suggests - and all Rons's work.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ron Barnet - Herga Folk Club / Morrismen
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 26 Apr 06 - 05:48 AM

Sad news indeed, but those who knew him will remember him fondly I'm sure.

During my 3'ish years attending the Herga as a regular (76-79 IIRC) the club was, IMO , at it's height; and people like Ron, with their great enthusiasm, were the reason.

I can still see him in my mind, in his usual position in the old club room, and warm memories return.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ron Barnet - Herga Folk Club / Morrismen
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 26 Apr 06 - 07:51 AM

I knew this exceptional man from my years of being a Herga guest. He will be missed. R.I.P.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ron Barnet - Herga Folk Club / Morrismen
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 26 Apr 06 - 06:21 PM

The funeral will be at St. Emmanuel's, Northwood, on Wednesday 3rd May at 2pm, 1400hrs. Northwood Cemetery at 2.45pm afterwards.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Obit: Ron Barnet - Herga Folk Club / Morrismen
From: Moses
Date: 27 Apr 06 - 07:13 AM

We sang "If it wasn't for the 'ouses in-between", one of Ron's favourites, at Herga on Monday in memory of the old fella.

He was there with his book of bawdy verses (I don't know if thats what it was called but it seemed to be full of suspect ditties) when I re-joined Herga in the early 90s and he was welcoming and encouraging to me.

I seem to remember him bringing Kitty a gift back from one of his holidays - a kitty in a bag, wasn't it? And several of us benefited from small gifts of song-books that he had found in 2nd hand bookshops.

And there was the time he told us all he'd learned to play the fiddle and proceded to entertain us "playing" this instrument which was a fiddle-shaped musical box if I remember rightly.

He will be sadly missed

Christine

Subject: RE: Obit: Ron Barnet - Herga Folk Club / Morrismen
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 02:33 AM

I posted the funeral info in a hurry, as sent to me by George. "St Emmanuel's" should of course have been Emmanuel Church, High Street, Northwood, Niddx HA6 1AS.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Obit: Ron Barnet - Herga Folk Club / Morrismen
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 02:28 PM

Or Middx even. As in "Here's to the fair sex of Middlesex" and Ron Barnett's wonderful renditions thereof.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Obit: Ron Barnet - Herga Folk Club / Morrismen
From: Zorg
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 02:42 PM

I shall remember Ron with great fondness for all the reasons already mentioned and as the last Herga member to see and be in regular contact through his last months. And I sang the 'Ouses in between' for him with a feeling of great loss. And I have made the mistake of asking "How are you Ron" I shall miss his dulcet tones at Herga. George.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ron Barnet - Herga Folk Club / Morrismen
From: Zorg
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 03:19 PM

Lest we forget

Subject: RE: Obit: Ron Barnet - Herga Folk Club / Morrismen
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 12:18 PM

It was when I rang and asked how he was, and received a short reply, that I realised how poorly he really was.

I'll never forget wossisname, and will think of him every 5 July.

Kitty

PS The letters "TBA" should have appeared after "afterwards" at the end of my 26 April 6.21 post.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ron Barnet - Herga Folk Club / Morrismen
From: GUEST
Date: 01 May 06 - 05:13 PM

until Wednesday

Subject: RE: Obit: Ron Barnet - Herga Folk Club / Morrismen
From: Zorg
Date: 02 May 06 - 02:40 PM

The reception aterwards will be at The Tudor Lodge Hotel, Field End Road. George

Subject: RE: Obit: Ron Barnet - Herga Folk Club / Morrismen
From: Zorg
Date: 03 May 06 - 02:37 PM

The funeral took place today at Emmanuel Church Northwood, it was well attended by family and friends, plus many friends from Herga Folk Club and Herga Morris Men. the service ended with the singing of 'The Farewell Shanty as people prosessed out of the church. at the reception afterwards his long time friend Johnny Collins sang 'A Parting Song'(Dave Webber) and The Farewell Shanty. A fitting send off for a much missed mate. bye Ron old mucker. ---                                                       George

Subject: RE: Obit: Ron Barnet - Herga Folk Club / Morrismen
From: GUEST
Date: 04 May 06 - 02:21 PM

This is a bit weird!

I've just had an accordion lesson and my teacher, Dave, gave me two new pieces of music to learn. One of them is a ceilidh verson of a song called 'Down The Road'. When I took them home Mick told me that Ron used sing this song. What a strange coincidence.

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Obit: Ron Barnet - Herga Folk Club / Morrismen
From: GUEST,Zany Mouse
Date: 04 May 06 - 02:23 PM

Last post was from me. Mudcat won't let me log in and I've mislaid my cookie.

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Obit: Ron Barnet - Herga Folk Club / Morrismen
From: Bob TB
Date: 04 May 06 - 02:41 PM

As George says, a fitting send off, and well attended. The procession out of the church with everyone from Herga singing the Farewell Shanty was very moving.

Those that didn't know him can never know what a unique character he was.


"...His time it was good boys, he had a fair part,
And from our kind company he sadly departs..."


Bye Ron,
Bob