In memoriam - Bruce Wilkins

Subject: In memoriam - Bruce Wilkins
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 03:16 AM

It is my very sad privilege tell you all that we've lost another one of the good ones; not just a personal friend, but a great friend of folk music in southern Ontario.

On Thursday, October 26, 2000 Bruce G. Wilkins of Ancaster, Ontario lost a year-long battle with cancer. It was a battle he faced with courage, determination and optimism.

Bruce has been a mainstay of the Hamilton Folk Club for more than a decade, as well as a frequent visitor to the Brantford, Caledonia and White Oak (Oakville) Clubs. He's been one of that small essential army of volunteers that are the heart of the folk clubs, working tirelessly behind the scenes, doing whatever needs to be done. The first impression many newcomers to the Hamilton club have are of Bruce's unfailing cheerfulness, making sure they feel welcome and at home.

Bruce helped form the group "FourMost", a quartet formed mostly just to do tunes at the Hamilton club, although the group has played St. Patrick's Day fund raisers for the Ancaster Heritage Days Committee. In addition to Bruce (vocal, rhythm guitar & banjo), his band mates were Al Lindsay (vocal, penny whistle & fiddle), Larry Aul (mandolin) and myself (vocal and bass). Fiddle wizard Steve Fuller often joined us.

As a solo performer, Bruce has traditionally been the "Number 2" man, starting off the evening after the host has opened. So much so, in fact. that when he was away from the Brantford club one evening, I got to take that spot and opened by saying, "Hi, my name is Jeremiah, and I'll be your Bruce Wilkins for the evening."

He also had this uncanny knack for choosing songs for his set that later performers had also been planning to perform (in our local clubs it's generally considered courteous to not repeat songs that have already been done on any given evening). It was not unheard of for Bruce to announce a song and then hear a quiet and cheerful "Grrr." from somewhere in the audience. (Sometimes not even from me!)

He loved the old traditional songs, a lot of contemporary stuff (Tom Paxton being a particular favourite) and had considerable familiarity with the bawdy repertoire of Oscar Brand.

It's possible Bruce will be even more widely missed in the shooting fraternity. A competitive marksman from his youth, Bruce had taken part in national championships and the Pan-American Games. Only the untimely onset of bursitis robbed him of Olympic competition, but he switched to coaching. As such, he was widely respected and accompanied the national team to several Olympic Games.

The forthcoming Hamilton Folk Club will be dedicated to Bruce. Please note that the location will be different from the usual (a lovely place, but tiny). Admission is by donation, which will go either to the nursing service that was so helpful to Bruce and his wife Bert, or to the Canadian Cancer Society.

Although billed as a concert, this is really an open stage session. "Fourmost" will be forming for one last time (with Arthur Kendric on guitar) to do a 4-song set of some of Bruce's favourite fiddle tunes and songs.

Bruce lived a full life. Please come out if you can and help us celebrate it this coming Tuesday.

A MEMORIAL CONCERT IN REMEMBRANCE OF BRUCE WILKINS
Tuesday, November 21, 2000 at 8:00 PM
Canadian National Institute for the Blind
1686 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario
(Junction of Hwy #2 and Hwy #8)

For further information please contact Don at:
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Donations will be accepted at the door.

Subject: RE: In memoriam - Bruce Wilkins
From: Naemanson
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 06:24 AM

It's always sad to miss someone you've never heard of before. How many more gems are out there like this person.

It sounds like the world has lost a good one.