Info: Dave Hillery - singer & scholar

Subject: RE: Dave Hillery
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 21 Jan 20 - 03:02 AM

It is indeed, as are many other much-loved features of the Northern Quarter, including Piccadilly Records, Vinyl Exchange, the Pop Cafe, Matt & Phred's etc

Subject: RE: Dave Hillery
From: GUEST,James Phillips
Date: 07 Apr 21 - 09:48 PM

Nellie o’ Bob's o’t’ Crowtrees

Who is it at lives i' that cot on the lea,
    Joy o' my heart an' leet o' my ee?
    Who is that lass at's so dear unto me?
       Nelly o' Bob's o' t' Crowtrees.

    Who is it goes trippin' ower dew-spangled grass,
    Singin' so sweetly? Shoo smiles as I pass,
    Bonniest, rosy-cheek'd, gay-hearted lass!
       Nelly o' Bob's o' t' Crowtrees.

    Who is it I see i' my dreams of a neet ?
    Who lovingly whispers words tender an' sweet,
    Till I wakken to find shoo's nowheer i' t' seet?
       Nelly o' Bob's o' t' Crowtrees.

    Who is it at leads me so lively a donce,
    Yet to tawk serious ne'er gies me a chonce,
    An' niver replied when I begged on her once?
       Nelly o' Bob's o' t' Crowtrees.

    Who is it at ivery chap's hankerin' to get,
    Yet tosses her heead an' flies off in a pet,
    As mich as to say, "You've not getten me yet"?
       Nelly o' Bob's o' t' Crowtrees.

    Who is it could mak life a long summer's day,
    Whose smile would drive sorrow an' trouble away,
    An' mak t' hardest wark, if for her, seem like play?
       Nelly o' Bob's o' t' Crowtrees.

    Who is it I'll have if I've iver a wife,
    An' love her, her only, to th' end o' my life,
    An' nurse her i' sickness, an' guard her from strife?
       Nelly o' Bob's o' t' Crowtrees.

    Who is it at's promised, to-neet if it's fine,
    To meet me at t' corner o' t' mistal(1) at nine?
    Why, it's her at I've langed for so long to mak mine-
       Nelly o' Bob's o' t' Crowtrees.

Subject: RE: Dave Hillery
From: GUEST,Charis Hillery
Date: 17 Nov 24 - 09:23 AM

I'm not sure if any of the original writers on this thread will see this almost 10 years later... but David Hillery is my beloved grandpa! I've just come across this thread when looking for his PHD thesis online, and it's been so lovely reading through the comments to see how his music has been celebrated over the years. Grandpa ensured that traditional folk music was a big part of my childhood, some of my fondest memories of being little are watching him play the concertina and listening to his rich voice sing the familiar tunes.
You can find his music on Spotify, he's also on the album 'Trip to Harrogate'. My childhood favourite was his performance of The Musical Society on that album- I still adore it today :)

Grandpa turned 90 last July and we had a wonderful party with lots of music of course! He still plays and sings and has recently taught himself to play the banjo which I think is super cool and amazing.

I'll be sure to show him this thread if he hasn't seen it already, the internet can be a lovely place sometimes...

Subject: RE: Dave Hillery - singer & scholar
From: The Sandman
Date: 17 Nov 24 - 04:42 PM

chris, what a lovely post

Subject: RE: Dave Hillery - singer & scholar
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 20 Nov 24 - 05:21 PM

Charis Hillery.... lovely to hear that Dave is still singing and playing at 90. I knew him in manchester in the early 1970s when i was at uni and i used to go to the club run by Harry Boardman, Terry Whelan and your granddad. Great memories. A lovely man, please give him my kind regards. (Did you find his thesis on line?)
Derek Schofield

Subject: RE: Dave Hillery - singer & scholar
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 20 Nov 24 - 05:44 PM

Please send Dave my best wishes. Our collecting days overlapped a little at times. Good to hear he's still at it. Where is Dave living nowadays? I have a copy of the thesis. Great stuff.

Subject: RE: Info: Dave Hillery - singer & scholar
From: GUEST,garret littler
Date: 24 Sep 25 - 05:14 AM

Fascinating discussion here! I just yesterday discovered Hillery's thesis, and immediately found inspiration to sing one of the Jack Beeforth numbers in there (in my own, self-taught way). It's got me down a wonderful rabbithole for the next while. This line of research is well up my alley. I have a great passion for the preservation and unearthing of authentic and often obscure folk arts, particularly in giving new life to old, forgotten/underappreciated poetry. In this way, I personally love to recite or sing a song however speaks to me, not knowing how it is 'supposed' to sound (John Dowland's lyrics have been a great interest to me this year). Anyway, it would be a pleasure to hear the music that is attached to the thesis, but doesn't seem to have made it online (as of yet at least!). Greetings from Tbilisi, Georgia (albeit via North America).-Garret