EFDSS Gold Badge for Beryl Marriott

Subject: EFDSS Gold Badge for Beryl Marriott
From: johnadams
Date: 17 Dec 08 - 12:41 PM

PRESS RELEASE: 17th Dec 2008


The EFDSS is pleased to announce that dance musician Beryl Marriott has
been awarded the society's Gold Badge in recognition of a lifetime
contribution to folk music.

In a career which spans the whole of the post-war folk revival and straddles
the Atlantic, she has been involved in festivals, clubs, workshops,
broadcasts and recordings. As a teacher her experience and top class
musicianship have supported and inspired new generations, and her
collaborations with Charles Parker (of Radio Ballads fame), with fiddlers
Kay Graham, Dave Swarbrick, and latterly Chris Leslie and American Richard
Greene plus many other musicians have created a fine musical legacy.

On behalf of the Chairman of the EFDSS

Subject: RE: EFDSS Gold Badge for Beryl Marriott
From: The Sandman
Date: 17 Dec 08 - 12:45 PM

I agree she deserves to be honoured.
but why does EFDSS hand out gold badges,they are in my opinion ALMOST as naff,as the Comhaltas Prize trinkets.

Subject: RE: EFDSS Gold Badge for Beryl Marriott
From: Folkiedave
Date: 17 Dec 08 - 04:21 PM

Thanks for letting us know Johnny, richly deserved I am sure.

I have been to a number of presentations of gold badges Dick and all of the people receiving them really appreciated it. And I know a number of people who wear theirs with great pride.

Can't comment on Comhaltas.

Subject: RE: EFDSS Gold Badge for Beryl Marriott
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 17 Dec 08 - 04:23 PM

I remember Francis Shergold showing his off last year at Bampton...

Subject: RE: EFDSS Gold Badge for Beryl Marriott
From: The Sandman
Date: 17 Dec 08 - 05:01 PM

I didnt mean to be offensive,and I am glad they have been appreciated,
If it was me[which it wont be].
I think I would rather be presented with a mini sculpture of a morris dancer,or folk musician,or in my case some one playing the concertina etc.

Subject: RE: EFDSS Gold Badge for Beryl Marriott
From: Folkiedave
Date: 17 Dec 08 - 05:11 PM

With all due respect Dick, you would look daft with a statue of a morris dancer or a folk musician or someone playing a concertina on your jacket lapel. :-)

Subject: RE: EFDSS Gold Badge for Beryl Marriott
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 17 Dec 08 - 05:16 PM

In any case, best wishes to Beryl.

Subject: RE: EFDSS Gold Badge for Beryl Marriott
From: Dave (Bridge)
Date: 17 Dec 08 - 05:34 PM

Louis Killen, Ray Fisher and Colin Ross also got one, or were supposed to, I believe.

Subject: RE: EFDSS Gold Badge for Beryl Marriott
From: BB
Date: 17 Dec 08 - 05:35 PM

Most deserved! (And I can think of several where I haven't felt that.) Beryl was a fantastic musician (I don't think she does much these days), who spanned generations from working with the earlier EFDSS-style dance bands through Swarb to Chris Leslie and other Fairport members - always bang up-to-date in style. An incredibly talented pianist, both up front and as an accompanist. I miss hearing her, except in recordings. Brilliant news - and I'm sure she will be more than happy to accept the honour.

Barbara

Subject: RE: EFDSS Gold Badge for Beryl Marriott
From: The Sandman
Date: 17 Dec 08 - 05:39 PM

no Dave ,I did not mean that, I meant a mini statue,one that is quite small.,which had some relevance to the persons acheivement instead of a badge., or perhaps a mini portrait,small watercolour/oil painting of the award winner.
I echo Ruths sentiments ,best wishes to Beryl.

Subject: RE: EFDSS Gold Badge for Beryl Marriott
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 17 Dec 08 - 05:45 PM

I think Beryl Marriott might well settle for her health being restored as I understand she's not been too well lately. A fantastic pianist and accompanist. Long may she wear her gold badge.

Subject: RE: EFDSS Gold Badge for Beryl Marriott
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 17 Dec 08 - 07:18 PM

Louis Killen, Ray Fisher and Colin Ross received their Gold Badges a few weeks ago at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Bridge Hotel Folk Club in Newcastle. And John Heydon received his at Haddenham Festival a fortnight ago.
Diane is right in saying that Beryl has not been at all well recently, so congratulations on the award and best wishes for her recovery.
Derek

Subject: RE: EFDSS Gold Badge for Beryl Marriott
From: johnadams
Date: 17 Dec 08 - 07:52 PM

Beryl is very ill in hospital and although we all pray that she will come out safely and enjoy a few more years it is not guaranteed. Normally, her award would have been considered later but it is sometimes necessary to react to circumstances.

Her nomination came from two Gold Badge holders - Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick - and I think we can agree that she is a worthy recipient. This will be borne out when her citation is published.

The Gold Badge is a modest award - no cash attached, and just a brooch in the shape of a sword lock. Nevertheless, it represents a small but significant thank you to people who have dedicated a large part of their lives to the inspiring and enabling of others in the folk sphere, whether entertainers, teachers, researchers, publishers, organisers, whatever.
Whatever anybody thinks of awards and honours, they're just tokens - small recognitions for hours, days, months and years of dedication to the needs of others. Very occasionally they're misplaced but that doesn't nullify the ones that are deserved.

There are far more people who deserve a Gold Badge (or equivalent) than will ever get one but that's life.

Tony Barrand is about to be given a lifetime achievement award by the CDSS.
Martin Carthy has just been awarded a Gold Badge by the Musicians Union.
I'm sure the Comhaltas award is just as relevant to these and the EFDSS badge.

The EFDSS award has been bestowed on a range of people, many of whom will not be household names. A folk 'star' will be honoured alongside someone who put in several anonymous years on a committee. I don't believe that there is anything 'naff' about this. Credit where credit is due and sorry that absolutely every potential deserving recipient can't be recognised.

List of previous GB awards

Subject: RE: EFDSS Gold Badge for Beryl Marriott
From: The Sandman
Date: 18 Dec 08 - 03:31 AM

John,if I had known Beryl was ill,I wouldnt have volunteered my opinion on the badge.
I agree she is a fine musician and derserves to be honoured,as I said in my original post.
John,I was comparing them to the medal that Comhaltas give out to winners at fleadhs.
my opinion is this,I would not want to receive an EFDSS badge,neither would I want to receive an MBE .
that doesnt alter the fact that all the people you mentioned deserve an award.
I agree credit where credit is due, but I dont think a gold badge is the best way of showing that appreciation.
if it was me I would prefer something else.

Subject: RE: EFDSS Gold Badge for Beryl Marriott
From: johnadams
Date: 18 Dec 08 - 05:42 AM

Dick, I'm sure there was no ill intended and there's no offence taken.

The Gold Badge award for service is obviously different from an award signifying that a competing musician was the best on that particular day.

Whatever people's attitude to awards in general, the efdss award is usually well received by the recipients, who appreciate recognition of their sustained efforts. Many of them wear the badge on special occasions. As to replacing it with a statuette or whatever, I can't see the point. It's been a badge since 1922 so I guess it's a 'tradition' now. And we're not the Oscars or the Emmys.

Subject: RE: EFDSS Gold Badge for Beryl Marriott
From: The Sandman
Date: 18 Dec 08 - 09:01 AM

point taken,John.