Sad to hear this- I met him first as a fellow resident of Don Watson's excellent Red Lion club at Trimdon village in Durham, not far from his home in Fishburn. Must have been about 1972.... Some other residents were Pete Wood, Jez Lowe, Ged Foley (two thirds of Hendon Banks with a girl called Christine ?..) .but Bert was normally the highlight of the night=- including the guest.
he had a good mate from Elwick, one Denis Rowan, who sang mainly Irish songs, but also some of Bert's- Denis died a lot of years ago.
All these folk, and the Trimdon Folk Band made an LP called 'TRimdon' in 1975 which still wears well- think Don Watson still has a few hundred if you want one!
I don't remember his spoons playing at that time, more the comic songs like 'Nee netties doon the pit' and the accompanying pit humour.
Last time I saw him was at the Durham Miners' Gala 2017, onstage in his stage gear with all the Labour dignitaries, giving it rice with the Shotton Stot and the Roker Ripple on his spoons. To my knowledge (I am at a distance) he only ever lost his title once, some years back, after Marie Little spent months scheming to impress the judges with her Pelvic Thrust!
A consummate performer and all round good bloke- you'll be missed me oul pal- RIP Bert and keep yer timmer in up there