The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #156132   Message #3680502
Posted By: GUEST,jim & francie bainbridge
27-Nov-14 - 11:00 AM
Thread Name: Birtley Folk Club to close
Subject: RE: Birtley Folk Club to close
I'd like to add my thanks to the Elliotts who set up that amazing club over 50 years ago- an inspiration to us all, as Doreen & Bryan are still.
I wasn't there at the beginning but about 1964/65, the club ran a monthly 'ceili' dance in the 'Three Tuns'- the three local bands played in turn, the High Level Ranters, John Doonan's Tara Ceil Band and us- the 'Marsden Rattlers'- great times, the Rattlers travelled over from South Shields in Jim Irvine's Ford Prefect before he moved up to a mini.
Would love to be at the closing party especially for the face-to-face singing competition (!) but am otherwise engaged in Ireland- the end of the club is sad but inevitable really- we will both be there in spirit