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01 Mar 12 - 01:21 PM (#3315698) Subject: Obit: Maria Cunningham 2012 From: SussexCarole We are devastated to hear that Maria, a wonderful friend and fine songwriter from Sussex, lost her fight against cancer last night. She leaves behind so many great songs and memories. Our thoughts are with her husband Len and daughter Jenny. Carole & Andrew |
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01 Mar 12 - 01:34 PM (#3315708) Subject: RE: Obit: Maria Cunningham 2012 From: Vic Smith A lovely singer and a lovely person. She contributed a great deal to the Sussex folk scene. |
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01 Mar 12 - 01:43 PM (#3315714) Subject: RE: Obit: Maria Cunningham 2012 From: My guru always said Very sorry to hear this news, candle lit! |
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01 Mar 12 - 02:06 PM (#3315725) Subject: RE: Obit: Maria Cunningham 2012 From: rumanci I'm stunned. I am so sorry to hear this news. My thoughts are with Maria, her family and some wonderful friends. A huge loss. rum |
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01 Mar 12 - 02:11 PM (#3315729) Subject: RE: Obit: Maria Cunningham 2012 From: TheSnail Will be sadly missed. I was told that she spent the last two days in St Peter & St James Hospice and felt no pain. She was positive and peaceful to the end. Commiserations to Len and Jenny. Bryan |
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01 Mar 12 - 02:39 PM (#3315744) Subject: RE: Obit: Maria Cunningham 2012 From: Kit Griffiths I am so sorry. Maria had 'phoned me up out of the blue a few weeks ago (after Sussex Carole had passed on my address). We chatted for a long time -there was a lot to catch up on after 30 years -and she sent me copies of her 2 CDs. I had meant to write back earlier, but put it off until yesterday. As she will not read it, I hope no-one minds if I post a copy here, as a tribute and with my love. Leapday 2012 First, my apologies that this is typerotten –my handwriting is so bad these days that even I can't read it sometimes. It really was great to talk to you the other week; spoilt only by the news of your illness. However, I have the utmost confidence that you will beat the bugger, and as I'm sure that you must be fed up hearing platitudes, however well-meant, I will offer no more, except to say that you are in my prayers. (Before you wince, my prayers are strictly non-formal, and consist of a running conversation between me and my aspect of God. I say conversation, but it's really a monologue: if you talk to God you're religious: if s/he talks to you, you're psychotic!) Thanks also for the CDs –I loved them both in different ways. The first was a well-rounded overall showcase, but the second was absolutely dominated by the quality of your songwriting. I think that the songs are amongst the finest "modern traditional" I have ever come across, and, I am sure, will become part of the oral tradition. They are REAL folk music –but then, you have always been a real folksinger, right from the start. It's very hard to catch up on what must be over 30 years worth of news in a 'phone-call and a letter, so I won't even attempt it. On the other hand, most of it has been pretty uneventful –I was tax manager with Auker Hutton in Sevenoaks for 25 years or so, Jill and I have been married for coming up to 31 years, my sons from my first marriage (whom I still call "the boys"!) are 39 this year, my grand-daughter will be 18 this August, and we've lived in this house for just under 25 years. Retirement is wonderful, and because of my heart attack my pension is merely small instead of derisory. (State pension doesn't kick in for another 2 and a bit years –assuming that they haven't abolished it by then.) It has become a cliché that nostalgia isn't what it used to be, and that furthermore it never was, but I do often think back to the Man of Kent days. As is the way with these things, all negative aspects are forgotten, and the good times are distilled into an archetype: a summer evening, good music, good beer, and after closing time a few of us adjourning to your place, and carrying on singing while your parents listened. Of such is the kingdom of heaven. Life, love & peace, as we used to say in the sixties. (Well, I did, anyway). |
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02 Mar 12 - 04:12 AM (#3315996) Subject: RE: Obit: Maria Cunningham 2012 From: nutty So very sorry to hear this news. Maria was a very talented singer/songwriter and I have always had great pleasure from listening to her 1st CD which I bought from her at Four Fools FF. Reddich, many years ago. Sadly our paths have rarely crossed since then. My thoughts are with her friends and family Hazel Bolton |
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02 Mar 12 - 07:30 AM (#3316047) Subject: RE: Obit: Maria Cunningham 2012 From: The Sandman sad news. |
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02 Mar 12 - 11:32 AM (#3316134) Subject: RE: Obit: Maria Cunningham 2012 From: Girl Friday Very sad to hear this news. Maria played at my club some years ago, and I was moved to buy a recording. |
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02 Mar 12 - 11:38 AM (#3316137) Subject: RE: Obit: Maria Cunningham 2012 From: gnu My condolences. |
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02 Mar 12 - 12:46 PM (#3316179) Subject: RE: Obit: Maria Cunningham 2012 From: open mike Does anyone have any of her music you can post? It would be great to hear or see her to know what her music was like. Sorry she is gone, but glad there are c.d.'s so we can still hear her. |
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02 Mar 12 - 01:12 PM (#3316193) Subject: RE: Obit: Maria Cunningham 2012 From: MoorleyMan So sorry to hear this news. Maria was such a talented songwriter, and I too was introduced to her work by Sussex Carole, tho' sadly I never actually got to meet Maria myself. My deepest sympathies. |
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02 Mar 12 - 03:03 PM (#3316244) Subject: RE: Obit: Maria Cunningham 2012 From: Mrs Scarecrow I too was introduced to her songs by Carole and can only say that such talent will be sadly missed |
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02 Mar 12 - 04:24 PM (#3316264) Subject: RE: Obit: Maria Cunningham 2012 From: Dave Earl Very sad to hear this. I had been told of her illness a short while ago and had been meaning to make contact but, as is the way of things, hadn't got round to it. Really enjoyed Maria's songs and singing over the years of my aquaitance with her. Might even learn one or two of her songs to keep my memory of her alive. Keep singing for us Maria now that you are with all those others that had to leave us. Found some "Sloe Gin" to raise a glass to the candle with. R.I.P. Dave |
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03 Mar 12 - 04:33 PM (#3316798) Subject: RE: Obit: Maria Cunningham 2012 From: vectis Maria has frequently been in my thoughts since I heard that she was so ill. I hoped that she would be able to slip gently into the next great adventure and I am very pleased that she wasn't in pain or fear at the end. Like many I will continue to sing some of her songs and count myself lucky to have known her. |
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05 Mar 12 - 09:47 AM (#3317618) Subject: RE: Obit: Maria Cunningham 2012 From: GUEST Refresh for anyone who hasn't yet heard the news. |
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12 Mar 12 - 02:37 PM (#3321827) Subject: RE: Obit: Maria Cunningham 2012 From: GUEST,Pete Laity I was deeply saddened to hear of Maria's passing. We had first met some 35 years ago, on the folk circuit around Sevenoaks, in Kent. I still have many happy memories of those club nights - and the impromptu sessions at her parent's house afterwards! Our paths crossed all too infrequently, through the subsequent years: just the occasional letters, Christmas cards and a couple of recording sessions. Nevertheless, I will miss Maria as a friend and regret that we will not meet again. |
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01 Dec 13 - 12:14 PM (#3580434) Subject: RE: Obit: Maria Cunningham 2012 From: GUEST,Mark Stevens Blimey, I didn't know this !! She was a good singer, I remember her from Tenterden Festi, and JITG .. :-( |
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01 Dec 13 - 03:25 PM (#3580483) Subject: RE: Obit: Maria Cunningham 2012 From: The Sandman r. i. p.thanks fr refrshing this thread |