2025 Obit: Bill Wilkes, Grand Union Folk Club

Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Bill Wilkes, Grand Union Folk Club
From: Acorn4
Date: 07 Sep 25 - 05:07 AM

There is a tribute to Bill Wilkes in this month's podcast including some liverecordings of him singing:-

Reynard Collective Radio podcast

Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Bill Wilkes, Grand Union Folk Club
From: The Sandman
Date: 03 Sep 25 - 02:27 AM

re

Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Bill Wilkes, Grand Union Folk Club
From: GUEST,Lyn Cooper
Date: 27 Aug 25 - 05:04 AM

A good friend and a fine singer. Difficult to imagine the local folk scene and especially Grand Union without him.

Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Bill Wilkes, Grand Union Folk Club
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 25 Aug 25 - 05:40 PM

Grand Union Folk is the next folk club down the road from Tigerfolk so there was always a lot of two way traffic between the two venues. Bill was virtually an extra resident at Tigerfolk in all of its three venues and a very welcome participant there too. He always booked exciting guests at Grand Union and it was always a pleasure to visit the club.He will be sadly missed by all on the East Midlands folk scene and far,far wider.
Condolences to Jenny from all at TATT.

Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Bill Wilkes, Grand Union Folk Club
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 25 Aug 25 - 07:13 AM

Bill was a big man in many ways and will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Many were the conversations at Whitby this last week and many asked for their thoughts and condolences to be passed on to Jenny. Bill won't be forgotten in a hurry. His memory will live on with us singing his songs

Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Bill Wilkes, Grand Union Folk Club
From: Acorn4
Date: 22 Aug 25 - 04:09 AM

Sorry , lats post was me - didn't realise I'd become uncookied.

Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Bill Wilkes, Grand Union Folk Club
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Aug 25 - 04:07 AM

We first met Bill when he used to attend a folk club we went to at The White Horse, Seagrave just after we got back into singing.

He would regularly finish the evening with a rendition of John Tamms' "Rolling Home"

One night he announced that he was going to set up his own club and this led to the Grand Union first at Barrow on Soar and later at the Horse and Trumpet Sileby.

It was an amazing success story with monthly singaround, guest night and, later, a tunes session run by Bill's wife, Jenn as well as other one off events

The guest nights were of an amazing quality and the club maintained high audience figures when others were struggling.

The club also hosted the Leicester Folk Diary set up by Pete Burnham and, of course led to the amazing GU4 which consisted of Bill, plus other club members Pete already mentioned, Karen Harris and Miggy Campbell - they played at festivals up and down the country until Pete and Miggy moved away - unfortunately only the one CD.

Bill was a great singer and organiser who put heart and soul into his passion for English traditional music - he will be much missed by us all.

I run a music podcast fot the Midlands area and will be doing a tribute to Bill in the September edition plus playing recordings of Bill singing with GU4.

Condolences to Jenny and all Bill's close friends at GU.

RIP Bill

Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Bill Wilkes, Grand Union Folk Club
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 21 Aug 25 - 08:19 AM

Amen to that, Tom - couldn't put it better meself!

Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Bill Wilkes, Grand Union Folk Club
From: GUEST,Tom Patterson
Date: 21 Aug 25 - 06:19 AM

There are folk singers and there are folk singers - Bill was a great singer with an unforgettable voice. RIP

Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Bill Wilkes, Grand Union Folk Club
From: GUEST,Roderick A Warner
Date: 14 Aug 25 - 10:14 AM

Sad news. I had the great pleasure down the years of knowing Bill Wilkes, as a singer and club organiser in various scenarios. I particularly enjoyed his participation in the quartet GU4 (spinning off the name of the pub/ folk club where that group were based originally, at the Grand Union pub in Barrow on Soar). Bill’s deep voice was the river that Pete, Karen and Miggy soared forth upon and their CD with its definitive version of ‘When I cross the bar’ shades all others imo. One of the few ‘folk’ albums I still play regularly. I missed out when the club moved to its new home in Sileby due to illness that cut short regular visits then the asinine lockdown. But I have the memories of attendance (plus somewhere a load of recordings and videos) and some acquaintance with a unique gentle man. A glass raised to his memory and condolences to Jenny and all friends…

Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Bill Wilkes, Grand Union Folk Club
From: The Sandman
Date: 13 Aug 25 - 01:06 PM

apart from being a good singer he helped to organise a singing club which had an emphasis oN booking good singers and it was a pleasure to go there and hear good strong voices joining in choruses.

Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Bill Wilkes, Grand Union Folk Club
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 13 Aug 25 - 10:53 AM

I did a search online but found no definite information I'm afraid.

I never knew Bill but it sounds as though he was well-liked in the folk clubs and beyond around the Grand Union area. My condolences to all those who know and love him as always. I have added his name to the "In Memoriam" thread. RIP Bill

Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Bill Wilkes, Grand Union Folk Club
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Aug 25 - 11:10 AM

That site Bradfordian linked to is "not secure" - my browser software doesn't want to go there. Are there any other sources of information about him?

Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Bill Wilkes, Grand Union Folk Club
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 12 Aug 25 - 09:02 AM

I too am sad to hear this. Bill was a magnificent singer and a true gentleman, indeed. RIP, Bill.

Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Bill Wilkes, Grand Union Folk Club
From: The Sandman
Date: 10 Aug 25 - 12:11 AM

Sad news, He was a fine singer.RIP

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Wilkes
From: Nick Dow
Date: 09 Aug 25 - 02:05 PM

I heard the news yesterday. Bill was a gentleman and we will miss him. He made a great contribution to the folk world and he will not be forgotten RIP Bill.
Nick and Mally

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Wilkes
From: GUEST,Bradfordian
Date: 09 Aug 25 - 12:32 PM

Bill Wilkes
GU4 website

Subject: Obit: Bill Wilkes
From: GUEST, Bradfordian
Date: 09 Aug 25 - 12:16 PM

From the GRAND UNION FOLK CLUB
“ It is with deep sadness that I inform you all of the passing of Bill Wilkes.

Bill was one of the founder members of our club - 25 years ago- and the driving force behind the Grand Union Folk Club.

He was a powerful and wonderful singer both individually and as part of GU4.

Bill had been suffering with health issues and finally succumbed on the 5th of August 2025.

He will be sadly missed by many singers and musicians throughout the country.

We send our thoughts and condolences to Jenny.”