Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Charley Noble
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 08:33 AM

This time tomorrow we should be at Heathrow, hopefully not meditating on where my banjo might be.

We're packing a pair of computer notebooks and should be able to update this journal as we go.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble and JudyB
Maine

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: JennyO
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 10:29 AM

Hi Charlie and Judy! I'm in the UK now with my new husband, Rob, who I met through Mudcat. I've been looking at your itinerary, and trying to see if our paths will cross anywhere. We'll be at the Wail this weekend, then Bromyard next weekend (10th-12th), then heading back up to Aberdeen where we are presently living. It looks like you might be somewhere in Yorkshire during the week, so wondering if we could catch up with you on our way back - maybe Monday 13th. We could go that way if it's possible. I'll send you a PM, tho you might already be on the plane.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Barb'ry
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 11:45 AM

Would love to meet up - can offer you both a bed near to Fleetwood if you would like to stay - perhaps we will get down to the Steamer when you're there.
Barb'ry

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: sciencegeek
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 12:21 PM

Charlie, you and Judy have a safe trip and loads of fun... as much as you can stand!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 12:26 PM

Hi Charley - the way Ron describes it you'll be around on the Wednesday evening for a general blether at The Steamer & Thursday for a wee trawl around the vicinity with Ron & Ross taking in places of interest (which are of course legion) before The Steamer on the evening. I could link up on the Thursday with Ron & Ross, with a few suggestions for places that might interest someone such as yourself, such as the old trawler hulks on the estuary (tides permitting & stout footwear an essential!) and of course Skippool Creek...

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: My guru always said
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 04:45 PM

Safe journeys & good luck at Greenwich!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Sep 10 - 07:27 AM

We are safely resident in Greenwich after a blessfully uneventful flight, and an adventurous transit via the tube from Heathrow to Greenwich. We're going to relax for the rest of the day.

We're all set for housing in Fleetwood but thanks for the offer.

JennyO- we'll get back to you via PM with regard to meeting in Yorkshire.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble and JudyB

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: stallion
Date: 01 Sep 10 - 07:54 PM

welcome to old blighty young man

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: maeve
Date: 01 Sep 10 - 08:01 PM

Have a great trip.

Maeve

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: GUEST,Charley Noble
Date: 02 Sep 10 - 04:18 AM

Not a single murder last night at our hotel. Not even a scream! However, I had the strangest set of very vivid dreams, including one in which an engineering experiment went terribly wrong and the entire lab building disappeared in a flash of light! What could it all mean?

The banjo appears to be in good shape, except someone at customs evidently retuned it.

We stepped across the street and had a couple of dark drafts at the Old Rose & Crown. The King's Arms is down the street but we haven't found the Ship yet.

The doubledecker buses are here in full force as are the Dr. Who phone booths.

The nautical gift shop from which I bought my Bob Roberts CD ten years ago no longer carries any sea music. They did have a generic rack of World Music.

We visited the site where the Cutty Sark is being rebuilt but couldn't see much through the plastic.

We had a lovely seafood and pasta dinner at the Beachcombers. Contrary to popular rumor not all sea food in the UK is deep-fat-fried. We'll probably go back there again.

I'm all signed in a the Maritime Museum for research today and should have a lovely time sifting through their C. Fox Smith collection. I only have general descriptions of what is in each box and I'm looking forward to sifting through it all.

Weather looks great for the week!

We've had our breakfast and the coffee was acceptable.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: GUEST,Ebor_fiddler
Date: 02 Sep 10 - 04:06 PM

Beware of Southern "beer"! (Pete can explain).
(Singed)

A FRIEND.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Sep 10 - 04:25 PM

So much good ale, so little time!

We did put in a full day at the Maritime Museum, sifting through their collection of C. Fox Smith material. Found some very nice contemporary reviews of her works, some photographs that I've never seen, and a few that I've only seen rendered as photocopies of photocopies. There were also a few miscellaneous poems that need to be checked out and some short stories. Alas, no personal journal.

Chris Roche was working with me. So we got to check over everything twice, and had excellent conversations over lunch and dinner. Tomorrow Chris has kindly invited me for a ride over to Chatham to check out what's left of the old naval shipyard.

Saturday I may even get a chance to wander around a few old corners of Greenwich!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Sep 10 - 03:13 AM

Here are a few more notes about our Museum visit with regard to C. Fox Smith:

We now have a better photo of Cicely as a young woman, and one of her as a girl of ten or so.

We also found one likely unpublished poem of the "Billy Magee family" titled "A Meeting" which starts "In from the sea, Lone as could be, Who should I meet but Billy Magee" which doesn't seem to correlate with our existing inventory.

There were also some interesting correspondence (not as much as I would like) and many more reviews (some very interesting) and copies of short stories that were published in newspapers.

There were no manuscripts of poems on the scale of what Danny Macleod has. I was hoping for more.

We didn't go through every folder they had but probably sifted through the ones that I am primarily interested in. The other folders are primarily research materials such as ship's logs, biographical notes relating to various mariners, and a few other miscallaneous things.

No journals or diaries. Alas!

The staff at the Museum were very helpful but if you want to look at something it takes several business days for them to retrieve it from their off-site warehouse. One searches their inventory of files on-line in advance. We checked out:

FXM/14, FXM/16, FXM/17, FXM/19 and FXM/20

I was working with shantysinger Chris Roche. So we went over everything twice and both of us photographed the more interesting bits.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: stallion
Date: 03 Sep 10 - 02:42 PM

Hi Charley, Gerry called me this evening, he can't make saturday cos he is on a school field trip but he is back sunday afternoon and hopes to catch up with us at the Golden Ball, he is adamant that he is not going to ever play again, retired completely.
Pete

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Sep 10 - 02:18 PM

Judy and I just spent a nice afternoon motoring in and around Greenwich with John Hills and his wife Vera (of Elsie's Band). They both used to live around here and we revisited some of their favorite haunts: the old pub on Blackheath, Carleton Hall(?), several large parks with lovely flower beds and deer, and there was time for lots of chat about songs and singers.

Yesterday, Chris Roche drove in and picked me up for a visit to the Chatham Dockyard and we spent a splendid day climbing around the BIG SHED (testing its acoustics), climbing aboard the Ganet (a victorian metal warship), viewing the incredible rope walk (1600 feet of it), the lifeboat exhibit, and the other museum exhibits. All the while there was a running commentary, sometimes focused on what we were looking at but more often ranging around the world to other ports, ships and singers. What an amzing place, and how it must have teemed with workers in its time.

Tomorrow we take the train to Wimbledon to meet with one of Judy's friends, one she knows because of their mutual interest in watching eagle webcams. The next day we collect our rental car and head North to Stockport (just south of Manchester) where I have a spot with their folk club gathering, and where we'll be staying nearby at the Navigation Inn.

This is great fun!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: GUEST,JennyO
Date: 04 Sep 10 - 02:37 PM

Hi Charlie. It might be a couple more days before I can see your PM. I'm at the Wail and only have internet on my phone. I'm not logged in here and when i tried, it said I had the password wrong. When I get back on my laptop on Monday I should be right, cos my computer remembers it.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: GUEST,Charley Noble
Date: 05 Sep 10 - 03:51 AM

JennyO-

Probably the best time to hook up is when we're in North Yorkshire, starting Friday.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, packing up in Greenwich

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: JennyO
Date: 05 Sep 10 - 06:27 AM

Hi again Charlie. I managed to get onto the internet at the B & B we are staying at (they gave me the wrong code yesterday) so I'm logged in here now, but there's no PM from you. I did send you one a few days ago. Best day(s) for us would be just after we leave Bromyard next weekend, so Monday or Tuesday the 13th and 14th. Anyway, we can talk details in a few days.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: JennyO
Date: 06 Sep 10 - 09:50 AM

Refresssshhhh!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: gnu
Date: 06 Sep 10 - 01:19 PM

I hope you are getting some pics.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: John J
Date: 06 Sep 10 - 07:20 PM

I've just got home from Stockport Folk Club where I was delighted to meet Charley - I can report that he's alive and well, surviving on good English ale!

Charley gave a very good account of himself, singing songs of Cicely Fox-Smith.

I'm hoping I can get over to Bugsworth tomorrow evening to catch up with him once again before he heads over to York at the weekend.

JJ

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: AlanG
Date: 06 Sep 10 - 07:24 PM

John, I hope to make it to Bugsworth tomorrow, but if I can't make it can you get me a book or CD and I'll reimburse you when (if) I get paid.

Alam

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Sep 10 - 06:30 AM

Surfacing again!

John, it was fine to meet you and your friend as well at the Stockport Folk Club gathering at the Midway, and to hear your robust singing! It was a fine session, with quite a variety of singers. I'll provide more notes when I'm back in the States.

We had a lovely time yesterday motoring Ian Bruce's narrowboat "Moonlight Shadow" from Stockport to Buxsworth. We started out with bright sunshine, stopped to walk down the 12 locks at Marple (?) and admired the great stone viaduct, had a lovely lunch and then weathered a raging thunder and lightning storm for half an hour. I was learning how to steer the boat while Ian scrambled ashore to lift or swing bridges around before we sped through. Several small canal serpents got tangled in the prop and flotillas of ducks narrowly avoided being run down. All great fun for us and we made it to the Navigation Inn at the Busworth Basin well before dinner. We did about a half an hour of singing later in one of the public rooms and people seemed appreciative. Alas, none of our new friends from the Stockport gathering were able to join us (maybe they are still wandering the rural roads looking for the place!). We could have used some more singers, perhaps, but we were really quite ready to turn in early.

Today it's on to Fleetwood to connect with Ron Baxter and Ross Campbell at The Steamer.

We both are recovering from colds we probably collected on the flight over but we're having great fun!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble and JudyB

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Shantyfreak
Date: 08 Sep 10 - 09:05 AM

It promises to be a cracking night at The Steamer Thursday judging from the comments there over the weekend. I managed to get to a lot of sessions there over the festival week from openers to survivors.
Ron, Ross and the regulars are looking forward to your session tommorrow and I am sorry to be missing it myself.
Looking forward to Otley the following week or perhaps someplace in-between.
Jim

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 09 Sep 10 - 05:42 PM

Great set from Charley tonight, lovely songs from Judy too, all the more meaningful after a fine day around Fleetwood soaking it all in - including some hands-on maritime archaeology amongst the old hulks and a Sea-sick Shanty onboard the Jacinta. Perfect weather too!

Anyway, Charley - here's the website with more info on the hulks:

http://www.fleetwood-fishing-industry.co.uk/fleetwood-wrecks/

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: JennyO
Date: 10 Sep 10 - 06:52 AM

Hi Charlie. We are off to Bromyard Festival today, and again I may not have any internet during the weekend. As I said, the best days to meet would be Monday or Tuesday next week - preferably Monday. I'll send you a PM with my mobile number. If something can be arranged, we'll go back to Aberdeen via Yorkshire.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 Sep 10 - 02:00 PM

Surfacing again! This time we're in York at Peter's (ofTwo Black Sheep & a Stallion) house, where we'll be for a few days before shifting to Martin's house around the corner.   

It was a lovedly drive through the hills to here from Fleetwood today, fields lined with hedgerows or stone walls, ancient brick or stone barns and farm houses, sheep and cattle grazing in the fields. Rain changing to bright sunshine and back to rain.

Yesterday in and around Fleetwood was certainly great fun. Ross and Sean took us out to see the sites in town but the best for me was the walk out to the point to view the abandoned ships rusting and rotting in the marsh grass. Surreal! We would view them from afar and never seemed to get any coser to them. Eventually we found a path through the marsh, without a water hazard, and were able to examine them from a few feet away.

The session last evening at The Steamer was great. Even more impressive given that most everyone there was still burned out by the Festival. Bradfordian, one of my C. Fox Smith researchers, was there and I was able to convey my personal thanks for his amazing work on sifting through 30 years of Punch Magazines looking for poems that C. Fox Smith hadn't published in her own poetry books. "Mobile Bay" was one of his finds and I was able to sing that as part of my set. The host band Spitting on the Roast (I believe that's what they called temselves) did a brillant job. Sean and his wife led two songs with lovely harmonies and instrumentation. Ron Baxter was mecurial! And Ross Campbell did two more of Ron's songs backed up with his concertinas. Bradfornian recited two of his favorite C. Fox Smith poems. There were several others in the circle but other people will have to join in to sort them out.

Judy led "A Parting" and "Outward Bound," two C. Fox Smith songs.

I led "West Indies Blues" and "A Cowardly Act," based on a cow sinking a Japanese trawler a story which folks appeared to be familar with. My set included "Bound Away" by Bill Adams, "Mobile Bay" and "Pagoda Anchorage" by C. Fox Smith, "Clan Alpine" by Ron Baxter, and "Mid-Watches" by Burt Franklin Jenness.

We're doing supper now so I have to run but we had a great time in Fleetwood, and special thanks to our hosts John and Carol!

This evening we'll be at the regular York Folk Club Session at the Tap and Spile, 8:30 pm. Everyone is invited!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, resident in York, UK

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: My guru always said
Date: 10 Sep 10 - 05:17 PM

Sounds like you're having a fabulous time, hope all goes smoothly with the rest of your trip. Will you be back in London for a time? I've lost track of what you're intending to do!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 11 Sep 10 - 03:59 AM

Don't forget the bakery in the Shambles, Charley. For more:

The Mystery Bread Shop

The is the best bread England has to offer; world class I'd say...

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Sep 10 - 01:08 PM

Peter led us through "The Shambles" today on his guided tour of the old walled city. We had a splendid time climbing up on the ramparts, dodging into the gatehouse to avoid the oncoming storm, and then on past more old walls, the river, The Minster with all its bells ringing. We finally made it to The Swan where the boys were booked for leading some drinking songs for a beer fest. I got to lead a couple of shanties as well, and got to sample some fine Old Bear porter. Then we shifted to The Slip Yard where we sang some more drinking songs and sampled some more brew. Hard work but someone has to do it!

Last night we were at a session at The Tap & Spile but the noise level made it quite a challenge for me, still recovering from the air passage cold. There were some fine instrumentals and drinking songs. I hadn't realized that Martin was such a fine fiddler. There was a small crowd of younger folks there, archeology students, seated in the center who seemed to enjoy all the singing and joined in on the choruses. I tried out a few songs and tunes, including the American version of "Dead Dog Scrumpy" collected by Cecil Sharp in the Appalachians.

Tonight we venture out again to The Golden Fleece for a session of songs in an upper room of the tavern. I'm looking forward to a quieter evening.

Judy and I have certainly been made welcome here. It's really wonderful! And we'll be here in some form or other for another week. Do check the schedule near the beginning of this thread. I haven't a clue what happens tomorrow but it will be great fun!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 11 Sep 10 - 01:26 PM

The Golden Fleece

Ah yes, the - er Most Haunted pub in York I believe!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: stallion
Date: 11 Sep 10 - 07:08 PM

ha the most haunted pub my a**e, any way a good night had by all half a dozen short of what i expected but hey what a treat for all present and people wandering away shaking their heads in disbelief, we had the treat of Pistachio, Diad, Phill Cerny, Bradfordian, 2BS&S, John Cherry, Judy and, of course, Charlie

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: gnu
Date: 11 Sep 10 - 07:10 PM

What a great trip. Enjoying the narration here!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: My guru always said
Date: 12 Sep 10 - 02:35 AM

Just checked your Itinerary Charley, looks like our last chance to meet you & Judy this trip would be at Cecil Sharp House on the 21st. Can't make it I'm afraid but know you'll be having a Fab time. Enjoy & safe journeys!
Hils

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Noreen
Date: 12 Sep 10 - 12:56 PM

charley, check your pm's, jenny and rob trying to arrange a meeting with you!

I'm enjoying your travels, fro where i am in crete! :)

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Micca
Date: 12 Sep 10 - 02:55 PM

Charley, I will make every endeavour to be at Sharps on 21 Sept, Barring unforseen glitchs, sorrow I havent been able to catch up with you yet but "Family stuff" got in the way!!.
Micca

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Sep 10 - 03:20 PM

Here's a slight revision of our remaining schedule.

This Sunday evening Peter and I will be joining the gang at the Golden Ball at Bishophill, 8:30 pm. I dare say I'll be leading some drinking songs and some sea shanties. Monday we go up to see the coast, Scarborough and other nearby town.

Lord knows what we'll be doing the rest of the week (still recovering?) but we do have an intriguing invitation to join the Hull and District Elderly Gentlemen's Afternoon Binge Drinking Club at their regular Wednesday afternoon session in Ye Olde Black Boy on 150 High Street, 2 pm; the pub is located at the south end of the High Street (between Bishop Lane and Scale Lane) in the "Old Town" area, near the River.

We need to be at the Otley Festival on Saturday, September 18, 2:30 pm to join Jim Saville for a C. Fox Smith workshop at the Black Horse Public House (upstairs); Bob Watson is going to try to connect with us at the Festival.

Then it's back to London on Monday, September 20; turn in what's left of the rental car, and settle into the Holiday Inn Express on Finchley Road adjacent to Camden Town.

Next we join the folk music session at Cecil Sharp House on Tuesday, September 21, 8 pm. This will be my last opportunity to connect with some of the London Mudcatters.

The pace has certainly picked up since we surfaced in York. Today we had a lovely visit to Castle Howard with Peter, Ron, Martin and their families. And then we had a great country meal at a nearby restaurant. I will do better with filling in on what we got to see but I've got to run now.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 12 Sep 10 - 03:29 PM

Am trying to switch days off to join you for the afternoon in Hull rather than a mad dash after work!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Pistachio
Date: 12 Sep 10 - 03:47 PM

I certainly enjoyed a 'haunted' evening in the Golden Fleece - think it's simply the floor slope that send one all a quiver... the list is more than a few degrees from Port to Starboard and I was glad I sat looking uphill. Lovely to meet Charlie and Judy and have a chance to view his book, and grateful thanks to Peter and Jo for their hospitality and for feeding me when I arrived early!
As I left 'early' I could hear the singing as I returned to my car and couldn't resist sneaking up a lane to confirm it was the rear window, wide open, releasing tunes to the restaurant staff out the back! They were singing along!!
Hope to meet again on Wednesday (in Hull) - and a reminder to C and J that 'Cottingham Live' is on, Wed 7.30 @ 'The Back Room' Hallgate Cottingham. It is a Guest night but Hissyfit are in as 'support' for David Swann(and friends) and we promise to sing Cape Farewell if you arrive! David is well worth listening to, and writes songs of his home area, Malton and the East Coast.
Regards, Hazel.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Les from Hull
Date: 12 Sep 10 - 03:56 PM

Charley - if you can get to Hull a little earlier in the day you can visit Hull Maritime Museum (between the Rail/Bus Station and the Black Boy and it's free entry) or the Arctic Corsair which is berthed quite close to the Black Boy and Wednesday is one of the days it's open to the public. There is a small charge but it's a conducted tour. If you want either of these options I'll be happy to meet up and be an additional guide.

Les

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 13 Sep 10 - 10:57 AM

Charley... you might want to post something to the Otley Folk Festival thread about your appearance there, as people reading that thread may not necessarily be reading this one -- but would (I'm sure) be extremely interested to know that you will be there.

Cheers -- YY

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Leadfingers
Date: 14 Sep 10 - 07:04 AM

Savoy Tup , Savoy Street (North end of Waterloo Bridge , off the embanment) has a singaround early ish on Monday the 20th !! Earlyish being AFTER work before commuting home !! I should be there by about five forty five !

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Sep 10 - 05:17 PM

Surfacing again after a day of just wondering around old York. It's a lovely old city with wonderful architecture. I do swear to describe what we're experiencing here later in more detail, and the various sessions we attended. We do really appreciate the welcome we have received and the hospitality.

Yesterday Peter and Jo drove us down to Scarborough, then up the coast to Robin Hood's Bay (a lovely walk up and down to the boat landing) and then up to Whitby.

Tomorrow Martin is traveling with us by train to Hull where we'll arrive about 11 am and wander about viewing the harbour, the museum and the pubs. Looking forward to meeting Les, Linda and others at The Olde Black Boy at 2 pm. We're not sure when we're returning but the train schedule seems to have a lot of options.

I'll see if I can find the Otley thread to post some info about our C. Fox Smith workshop.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, in York

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Leadfingers
Date: 14 Sep 10 - 07:54 PM

York has LONG been my favourite City to walk round , especially as you can walk round most of it on the walls

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 15 Sep 10 - 03:29 AM

Looking forward to seng you later on today Charley.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: stallion
Date: 15 Sep 10 - 08:07 AM

Charlie the new hub works a treat and much faster!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 15 Sep 10 - 02:39 PM

So the chances of getting Charley to Herga next Monday are getting slimmer....

Kitty

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Sep 10 - 05:46 PM

Kitty-

Slim indeed! We are really having a whole lot of fun but it's easy to overextend ourselves.

Today Martin, Judy and I took the train from York to Hull to join the crowd at The Olde Black Boy. It was an interesting trip down, a totally different landscape of flat fields, irrigation ditches, and huge complexes of coal-burning generators. Then we paralleled the Humber River and slid into Hull.

No sooner had we disembarked from the train when we were met by Les (how did he figure out who we were? Maybe the banjo case gave me away!) who guided us over to the Maritime Museum where there were floors of exhibits: whaling, merchant marine, Naval, dock yards, marine art, ship models and a whole lot more.

Then we wandered down the docks to the Minerva Tavern (what a great space for singing!) where we had lunch and something to drink.

Next we dashed over to the session at the Black Boy where there was another fine room for singing, and filled with singers. I can't begin to list all who were there but included were Jim Saville (my partner on the C. Fox Smith Project), Jake who also has done some biographical research on C. Fox Smith, Hissyfit (Linda and Hazel), Les, and I'd really like to know the names of the others. The acoustics were superb and choruses and refrains were robust, even with unfamiliar songs.

I could certainly enjoy spending quite a bit of time swapping songs in Hull, and exploring other parts of the waterfront.

Afterward, Jim kindly escorted us to the train station (Martin had to leave earlier) and we caught the 7 pm train back to York. We're getting quite good at finding our way back to our home neighborhood.

Looks like we'll be spending the next two days doing more exploration in and around York. Saturday, we'll go out to the Otley Festival early.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, resident in York

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Les from Hull
Date: 16 Sep 10 - 07:55 AM

Yes, an excellent afternoon. The missing names were mudcatters Ossonflags and Bassic and non 'catters Dave and Rich. The redoubtable Mr Flags (Mick McGarry) should be at Otley at the weekend so you may have the pleasure of his company there.

I presume you've sampled the pleasures of York's museums (esp National Rail Museum and the Castle Museum) or perhaps you'll be museumed out by now!

Cheers, Les

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to UK September 2010
From: Les from Hull
Date: 16 Sep 10 - 02:03 PM

I had a look at the Roll and Go website and I didn't realise that you were from Richmond, Maine. You could always pop over to the original Richmond, North Yorks and pay homage. Richmond still prides itself on being the original Richmond and the mother town of the many other Richmonds around the world. It's got a nice castle, market square and other attractions but I like it 'cos it's the birthplace of the lovely Maggie (my girlfriend).

If you go try to visit what used to be the railway station, now a great cafe / art gallery / film theatre. There might be a folk singaround session in the Black Lion Friday evening.