Shirley Collins MBE

Subject: Shirley Collins MBE
From: Folkiedave
Date: 29 Dec 06 - 07:41 PM

In the New Year's Honours list.

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: Emma B
Date: 29 Dec 06 - 07:54 PM

Fantastic! and not before time IMHO

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Dec 06 - 08:27 PM

I suppose this is meaningful to those who believe the awarding of imperial medals is important to a musician's legacy.

Other than that, it's all pretty much rot, innit?

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: Hawker
Date: 29 Dec 06 - 08:36 PM

Good for her I say!
Cheers, Lucy

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 04:16 AM

She really ought to have been made a Dame.

eric

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: Peace
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 04:17 AM

She is a dame whether they say so or not. And a classy dame at that.

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: Peace
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 04:20 AM

Pic here.

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: Chris Amos
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 04:39 AM

I suppose that we will now have the usual discussion that we have at times like these, my angle is that it is a shame that the UK has a monarch that acts as the cornerstone supporting a system of unfair privilege for the few. However I think that it is excellent that people such as Shirley Collins and Martin Carthy get the recognition that they deserve for the contribution they have made and I think that it is correct that they should accept them.

Chris

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 05:00 AM

Unreservedly brilliant.
Here's a voice of our tradition quietly promoting our corner with no razmamtazz, glitter or hype.
A very well deserved award.
If you want to knock the system that presents these awards go somewhere else, here we should be celebrating "Our Shirley"

Andy

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 05:16 AM

I certainly believe that Shirley Collins deserves recognition for her achievements. I've always been impressed by her decision to promote English Traditional song at a very early age. I imagine that when Ms Collins was young, English Trad. song was as unfashionable as it is now, but she recognised and identified with its unique qualities and actually succeeded in making a career from it.

Unreserved congratulations, Shirley, you are one of the greats!

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 06:05 AM

Well how curmudgeonly to remove the gilt from Shirley's gingerbread by using this good news as a political platform.
Perhaps Chris Amos and his like would prefer the country to be run by someone like Augusto Pinochet, with bank accounts in Switzerland containing large chunks of their country's wealth.

Congratulations Shirley on receiving the recognition you deserve.
Giok.

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: Chris Amos
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 06:24 AM

I just remember that when Martin Carthy got his reward a few years back we went through all the arguments about should he accept, showing support for a system etc and I wanted to get that out the way so as not to distract from the celebration of a long and excellent career.

Shirley has been a huge influence on a whole generation of people and deserves this award.

Politics should be discussed in the BS forum, sorry if I opened a can of worms, that was not my intention.

Chris

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 06:29 AM

Honours conferred by the Head of State of a country don't lose (or gain) value dependent on whether the country has a monarchy or a president or a dictator. Politics should have nothing to do with the recognition of someone's contribution.

And politics has indeed nothing to do with Shirley's contribution and her well-deserved recognition. Well earned, Shirley Collins, and congratulations!

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: Gervase
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 06:36 AM

Agreed George - but it would be nice if the UK could have something akin to the Legion d'Honneur or L'Order des Arts et Lettres, which were given by the nation rather than the monarch.

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 07:39 AM

No argument there Gervase, it would improve the separation from politics and be more meaningful.

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: Surreysinger
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 08:53 AM

A very well deserved recognition of all the love and enthusiasm she has poured into her music for many years - and for the inspiration for others that she has provided, and still continues to do (self included!). Many congratulations and best wishes Shirley!

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: melodeonboy
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 08:53 AM

Congratulations to Shirley; I'm very pleased for her.

Many of us probably have some reservations about the validity or significance of the honours system. However, I confess to being genuinely excited that such a modest lady who has done so much for English traditional music has been publicly honoured.

Three cheers!

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: Cats
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 10:06 AM

Well deserved. Great news

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: vectis
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 11:10 AM

'Bout Bloody time too.
Good on yer Shirley.
Mary

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: Lanfranc
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 12:02 PM

I am delighted that Shirley Collins, a lady and a singer that I have revered for many years has received this recognition.

Not only well-deserved, but also long overdue.

Alan

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: balladeer
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 12:14 PM

As a young folksinger, largely raised in Canada and firmly ensconced in the North American folk revival, I returned to England, the country of my birth, searching for my deeper roots. I happily lived and worked there through 1964 and 65. Shirley Collins was one of the wonderful singers who befriended me at that time, and from her I learned you didn't have to jazz up a song to get people to listen. You just had to get out of the way and let the story unfold. Thank you, Shirley, and congratulations on the well-deserved recognition.

Joanne (Hindley-Smith) Crabtree

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: Mr Yellow
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 01:07 PM

Well the lady herself had to accept before it went public - so if it is good for her it certainly is good for Folk.

I tipped my hat to Martin Carthy soon after he got his and he took it in good humour - and he recieved the congrats with gravitas. Which is how it should be.

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 03:21 PM

Definitely well deserved and about time!

Long, long overdue.

Linn

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 03:30 PM

Yes, about time!

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: fat B****rd
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 03:39 PM

Congratulations to Shirley.
btw The Queen might give the honours but who (especially in the case of music people) nominates/approves them ?

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: JohnB
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 04:39 PM

Hem hem hem Oh Ms Collins you certainly look different now than you did when you were in "Dynasty" Why am I giving you a medal for singing by the way?
Yes she picks them ALL by herself!
Congrats to the REAL Ms Collins as opposed to the FAKE one.
JohnB

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 06:33 PM

To discuss the politics of the award, doesn't mean you are slagging the artist.

It's a gong, like any other. No different than the Beeb awards or whatever. Except you have to tell them if you'll accept it in advance so you can't...you know, be political with the award.

Which is rather...oh, I dunno...political, perhaps?

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: 8_Pints
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 07:41 PM

Excellent!

Due recognition well deserved.

Bob vG

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: Little Robyn
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 01:19 AM

Yes, what Bob said.
Congratulations.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: sapper82
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 05:33 AM

Excellent news and well deserved.

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 06:29 AM

Fantastic news - so well deserved.

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 09:32 AM

I am delighted that at last the nation ( in the person of whoever proposed Shirley Collins' name) has recognised what an immense contribution this lady has made to our heritage. She perpetuated the songs of her family and learnt songs from traditional sources and recorded them so we could enjoy them and carry them on in our own ways.
She is one of the great performers of my generation and is continuing to give delight to her audiences through her audio-visual work in collaboration with Vic & Tina Smith of Lewes.
Many congratulations Shirley, and not before time too!
Mary

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: GUEST,John Kydd
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 05:52 AM

I was really thrilled to hear about Shirley's MBE. She is such an inspiration to so many people. It was Shirley's singing which kick started my enthusiasm for traditional English music and song. The award couldn't have gone to a better person.

John Kydd

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 07:37 AM

I still think that she deserves it even though I can't stand her voice!
There's a huge amount of work and inspiration to others being rewarded by this award.

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: Lighter
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 09:29 AM

People with far worse voices have made zillions. Shirley Collins is one of the greatest singers of English trad songs and richly deserves this award.

Subject: RE: Shirley Collins MBE
From: balladeer
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 06:56 AM

Is it not a wonderful thing when someone who has devoted her/his life to keeping a valuable tradition alive is acknowledged in this way?