Diz Disley - health - died 22 March 2010

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: GUEST,Nigel Denver
Date: 02 Mar 10 - 02:33 PM

Sorry to hear Diz is unwell. I remember him well from my days at the Troubador. Great Jazz man. Booked him at Lincoln Folk Club when I ran it in the sixties. Well I remember be arrived in Lincoln in a battered Rolls Royce. The next day he topped up to go back to London had to put a gallon of oil in. I think he might have had to put in more oil than petrol. Great performing monologues, especially "The Battle of Hastings".

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: GUEST,Ron Winkle { Banjoist}
Date: 02 Mar 10 - 04:20 PM

Sad to hear DIZ is so poorly. He used to come to the Swan Hotel in Stafford {Cygnet Folk Club} in the 1960s. I also used to restore Vintage cars and had a Jag XK 140. Diz fell in love with this and talked me into exchanging this for his Mini van, plus 50 quid. On another occasion he turned up in a Rolls 20/25 and ask me to coach paint it yellow. This I did as a favour, for a mere FIVER. When finished he said, "Look dear boy I need all the money I have for petrol to get back to London, I'll pay you later" O.K. I replied. Some years later I bumped into DIZ at Hazel Slade Folk Club and remined him about the Rolls, to which he replied; " Never let it be said Dizley never pays his bills " and promptly gave me a FIVER; worth by then about ten bob. { I split my sides laughing] Good old Diz. Happy Memories.

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: GUEST,Graham Bradshaw
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 05:22 AM

He tried to sell me that XK - for 25 quid!!

Only problem was, it was broken down in Newport Pagnell services, with a broken half shaft or something.

When I enquired about getting a trailer to pick it up, and the cost of repairing it, it was going to cost about 150 quid. Considering I was earning about 10 quid a week back then, it was well out of my reach.

Looking back, it would have been a good buy. They fetch upwards of 50 grand these days.

G

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: billybob
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 08:05 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: GUEST,AncientBriton
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 08:16 PM

I have one particular fond memory Of Diz. He was appearing at Cambridge Folk Festival with Stephane Grapelli and Birelli Lagrene in the late 70s or so. Pure jazz magic. He then spent the entire night wandering round the campsite sitting in with the impromptu jams, just playing along, not doing the big star thing. I still wonder how his white shirt and trousers didn't show any trace of mud/grass/beer stains!

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: Fidjit
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 03:45 AM

Quote AncientBriton
That was 1972. I was there too.

Chas

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: billybob
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 05:56 PM

Still thinking good thoughts

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: GUEST,Jeremy Riches
Date: 12 Mar 10 - 05:26 PM

I remember Diz from his early 70s folk-comedian days. I worked at a remote farm in Buckinghamshire where a folk club was held fortnightly in one of the barns and was fortunate to have made some recordings of Diz in about 1971. I have set up a website as a tribute to the farmer who ran the club - see www.turvillefolkclub.co.uk. The club was pure atmosphere even though Diz decsribed it as a 'Monument to Rentokil'! He used to drive there in his hearse even in those days. Quite the funniest act ever, and a guitarist with a talent the was second to none.

Diz did have a heart attack a few years ago and had to give up playing guitar. Wishing you well for a full recovery, Diz!

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: GUEST,Ros Glickman
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 03:03 AM

I remember those days - Johnny van Derrick, Bobby Clarke, Denny Purssord, Johnny Watkins, Keith Cooper - a hundred others and, of course. Disley.
Dear Diz - RIP.

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: GUEST,harvey andrews
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 04:51 AM

I was riding in the back of the hearse with a girlfriend of the time and Diz was driving us through rainy Birmingham. The hearse was not at its best and we were doing something like fifteen miles an hour. Standing at a bus stop was a bedraggled Donovan clone with a very obviously new guitar case. As we puttered past him Diz wound down his window, lent out and said; "Give it up dear boy, before it gets too much for you."
Card on the way.

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: GUEST,Jim Ward
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 06:06 AM

True I'm afraid. Diz passed away(apparently peacefully) Monday afternoon.

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 06:29 AM

Had a message from Bess Powell to that effect ! See Separate Obit thread