Liverpool Folk Club 1970

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 03 Oct 09 - 07:52 AM

Carty's first wife?

L in C

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 03 Oct 09 - 08:10 AM

Sorry Carthy's

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: silkie UK
Date: 03 Oct 09 - 11:58 AM

Reading all these messages makes me feel 17 all over again, would that looking 17 was so easy. Many thanks John for inviting us to your Birthday Bash it was a great night. So many people I could remember and did and many I should have remembered and didn't !!

A number of posts mention Ted Owens, a few years back Brian and I tried to contact him, we drew a blank after he left YHA., so Ted if you're a secret "mudcatter" please get in touch.

A message for Rod Davies: If you keep the photo of me serving in the Moose out of circulation I'll keep the one I have of the very young Bluegrass Ramblers under wraps. Wiilie Russell also sent me a photo of a session at the Moose. The only suitable caption I can think of for it is " does your mother know you're out? " everyone looks impossibly young.

Lots of Posts about Bernie and the Parrot, amongst a million memories I have an abiding one of "Nellies" football team playing in a snow storm somewhere on the Wirral, after abandoning the game the whole team and it's supporters turned up en masse at John Gothards sisters house, the poor woman unfortunately lived nearby, She borrowed chairs,cups and mugs from her neighbours and gave us all succour until we could leave for a session which I think was in the "Travellers Rest". Harry Boardman was booked for the evening but because of the snow he couldn't make it so Bernie (with parrot) gave the performance of his life. That was a night to remember and one where I really did think dying laughing was a distinct possibilty.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 03 Oct 09 - 01:30 PM

Dorothy = the Mrs Martin Carthy of those mid-'60s times. btw, saw the Waterson Family last night at Phil. There were 9 of 'em, inc. Lal's daughter Marie and son Olly plus Mike's two daughters. A mighty sound, a good house and lotsa people ahem, 'our' age I hadn't seen in a while.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 03 Oct 09 - 01:38 PM

That football match was against The Pennyfarthing team from the folk club that met at the Traveller's Rest, Little Sutton. Bernies did a classic rendition of "This Old hat that I've go on" and "The Four Poster Bed". I thought Harry was there but I get confused.

We celebrate 40 years since it began, this November at The Boat Museum

Cheers

Les Jones

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: silkie UK
Date: 03 Oct 09 - 01:51 PM

No Les your're not confused Harry did turn up but very late due to the snow and after Bernie had given his barnstorming performance.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 03 Oct 09 - 01:54 PM

Thanks silkie, the brain cell still functions

Les

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: silkie UK
Date: 03 Oct 09 - 02:03 PM

Looking at all the posts here there's not a lot wrong with anyones brain cells, congratulations on 40 fab years and here's to the next 40 !! Silkie.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 03 Oct 09 - 02:08 PM

Well, The Pennyfarthing didn't last very long but a string of related clubs lasted until around '82

Les

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: silkie UK
Date: 03 Oct 09 - 02:26 PM

Old folk clubs never die they just find another pub and another name...

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 03 Oct 09 - 02:46 PM

true enough,

The Beech, Chorlton, Manchester, First and Third Wednesdays

Cheers

L in C

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: silkie UK
Date: 03 Oct 09 - 04:12 PM

From folk clubs to coffee shops what about the Masque, the only coffee shop where you could pay to drink coffee and then stay late and help polish the floor. I did this once and arrived home at 3am. my mothers comment was that maybe I could stay home just one night and polish ours.
Anyone else remember the fury of the customers waiting in the queue as we swanned past them up the stairs and Paddy always let us in first.
coffee at 9d a cup and an eccles cake if you were celebrating. Oh happy days !!

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: The Sandman
Date: 04 Oct 09 - 03:55 PM

Martin Carthys mother was also called Dorothy.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 06 Oct 09 - 11:03 AM

Are any members of Old Rope still about or performing. I know that Ted Barwise passed away some years ago but haven't heard from Ken Dunlop or Keith Price for ages.
Was there a group of Post Office workers who called themselves Penny Black and practiced at the main post Office. One of the group was called Steve and he played a mandolin (Mainly the tune from Magis Roundabout. He came to a party in London with us (Myself & Maggie ) and shared the back seat of my Triumph Herald with a girl called Diane Clough.

Keep the memories coming

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 06 Oct 09 - 11:20 AM

Keith can be found at the Everyman, or the Bothy clubs on a fairly regular basis, sometimes sitting in with bands playing Irish pubs or at sessions. He keeps busy and retains that laconic wit he always had. Even he hasn't heard from Ken in ages though Kenny's still living in Liverpool but Pricey says he hasn't picked up his fiddle in years.
Penny Black? - wasn't Doug Mason from Birkenhead involved in that one?
Ah,hh Triumph Heralds - ours was E reg. (1967?) and racing green!!!!!
Stalled going up Sutton Bank on way to Whitby Fest. handbrake failed and the old thing was never the same - nor were my nerves as we slowly rolled backwards down that 1 in 3!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Passive Pancreas
Date: 06 Oct 09 - 11:32 AM

fantastic!

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 06 Oct 09 - 04:54 PM

Erm, the whole thread last poster, or my Triumph Herald tale? 'Fantastic' wouldn't be my keyword as we wrestled with the wheel and Malcolm Eyres leapt over from the back seat to lend a hand. We have never gone up that gradient since, preferring the Byland route with all the caravans!
I digress, but none of us is perfect.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 04:06 AM

Does anybody know how I can contact Bernie Davies?

Cheers

L in C

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 04:13 AM

Is this the Bernies Davis who played melodeon and sang in the 60's?

Bernie Davis?


L in C

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 04:21 AM

Well, clearly not as the link doesn't work

L in C

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 04:28 AM

Bernie Davis is living on the Wirral and still (I think) plays with Andy Kenna. Unfortunately I don't have his address, but I'll ask around and see if anybody else has it.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 04:58 AM

that link doesn't work. I have his email etc. send me an email eds.editor @ efdss.org
Derek

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 10:14 AM

Bernie Davis was one of the funniest people on the folk scene around that time.- I remember him guesting at the Pinehurst for Old Rope and singing shanties while his inflatable pigeon was flown around the room. I think the song was Rolling Home.
Clive - Give my (and Maggies ) regards to Pricey and remind him of when we were neighbours in Skem, and my role as Door Keeper for the Ols Rope club in a pub in Breck Road.
I still have the Windsor Zither banjo hich he swapped for an old melodeon although I have rebuilt it an reired the cracks he put in it when he threw it on the floor because it went out of tune during a song

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: terrier
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 04:22 PM

If you use Les' link and wait a few seconds you will redirected to the website of the Southport Visitor. Type Bernie Davis into the site search box and indeed it is the very same Bernie singing on a video clip.
I was wondering when he was going to show his face on this thread :)

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: JustBrowsing
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 06:33 PM

I manage a site related to Brian Jacques and his books, Redwall.

Some might appreciate these links:

http://redwall.wikia.com/wiki/Swallow_the_Anchor
http://redwall.wikia.com/wiki/A_Gig_wid_Brig
http://redwall.wikia.com/wiki/The_Mushroom_Folk_Sampler_LP
http://redwall.wikia.com/wiki/The_Liverpool_Fishermen

If anyone has any historical documents, photos, videos, etc related to Jacques at this time please feel free to contact me, my e-mail address is here: http://redwall.wikia.com/wiki/Contact_Us

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 05:48 AM

The memories keep flooding back. Maggie reminded me that Bernie Davis & John Howson were a duo of some sort and sang as "Oglet" a name I think they got from a stretch of the Mersey near the airport known as Oglet Banks.
Last saw Brian Jaques with Liz and Pete McGovern at St Johns School in Skelmersdale just before we left for the south in 1979.
When we lived in Skem there was a Folk Club run by the local council at the Knowle Brow Pub. They had plenty of money and were able to book some great guests. I recall seeing Tony Rose, Mike Harding and Bernard Wrigley, complete with bass concertina, there (not on the same night) and doing a couple of songs ourselves.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 10 Oct 09 - 07:18 AM

Pity if this thread runs out of steam as I am sure ther are loads more people and memories - Keep em comming
Pete & Maggie

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 10 Oct 09 - 08:14 AM

Does anyone out there remember a couple of young women that used to be very visible on the Liverpool Folk scene around 1980? They went everywhere together and I think they were both dentists or dental students. I associate them mainly with the Cross Keys club. I think one - the dark one - was called Jill. They both used to do floor spots.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 10 Oct 09 - 09:36 AM

I've just - I think - dragged out the name of the other young woman form the deep recesses of my failing memory: Judith.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 10 Oct 09 - 11:44 AM

Could Judith have been Judith Cummins? I knew her and her Mother. Guitar player. She came along to the Bothy and I'm sure she was involved in something medical. I remember her with her then boyfriend - Andrew something, who went on to playing keyboards with a cabaret/lounge band -'Panache' or summat.
If it's the same gal, she married and now lives in South Africa.

Jill? - Gill, then Bimson - married one of the Coyne lads, Terry or Eamon but is no longer Mrs Coyne. Good singer. Of course, I could be entirely wrong here - with eiher woman!!!!

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Joyce Jennings ne Bennion
Date: 10 Oct 09 - 01:33 PM

Was she called Jane ? I rememeber a dentist marrying Eamon Coyne. Mick's wife, is/was, irish and called Miriam.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Frank Sellors
Date: 10 Oct 09 - 02:00 PM

Yes, that's got to be Gill and Judith. We once had a sort of musical trio going but could ever agree on the choice of material, the keys, or the arrangements. Gill used to introduce me as the person who taught her to play the banjo, but I'm not sure that's true. Likewise, Pete Rimmer used to intoduce me as his dad (which isn't true)or the chap who taught him to play the guitar (which, again isn't true)!

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Liberty Boy
Date: 10 Oct 09 - 02:50 PM

Jill was married to Terry Coyne, Mick, whos not too well at the moment, is married to Miriam and Eamon is married to an American lady called Sue.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Frank Sellors
Date: 10 Oct 09 - 03:07 PM

Jill (of Jill and Judith)was married to Eamon. Does anyone out there know what Jill is up to these days. I heard somewhere that she'd gone walkabout with a banjo player - sounds rather folkie and bohemian.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 10 Oct 09 - 04:00 PM

Good to have Mr Sellors on this thread! A fount of knowledge - just ask him anything about the days of yore, he's bound to know!

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Frank Sellors
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 04:19 AM

I've been reading through this thread and, as previous poster commented, it's a shame that there aren't any photos to go with all these reminiscences. What is needed is a dedicated website where photos, reminiscences and audio files could be posted.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 06:46 AM

Frank - how about setting one up. There's no doubt that there is a wealth of history about the folk movement in this thread alone.
Who was the guy who published a Folk News magazine around that time. I think he worked in a car showroom on prescott rd. I remember causing a stir when he published my article on why the Mitre closed. Tony Wilson had a go at me at Whitby about it when I stood by what I had said-The Mitre had grown complacement and we never knew from one week to the next which of the regular presenters was going to be there. It was run by John Howson, Bernie Davis & Tony Wilson at the time. I think Tony had become more interested in the Bothy at Southport.
Why did he change his name? Was it to avoid confusion with the,at least, seven other Tony Wilsons that I know of on the folk scene

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 07:25 AM

Tony changed monikers to give son Nicholas, the same name as his mother I think!!!! When born, there was no way Tony could deny parentship - flaming red hair, same features - all he needed was a beard! Pat came back from abroad and as in the best of ballads placed the young lad in Wilson's arms and said, amongst other things I'd guess, "he's yours." They were happy as a family unit for some years.
Wasn't Folk News realised by Roy Webster (husband of Sue - former member of Jack Ketch Band) and Lew Baxter? Lew was what would now be called a mover and shaker.
The Bothy absorbed Tony for a good while, until CAMRA took over. By that time, in the mid-'70s the Club was doing fine with a strong Resident panel whereas CAMRA was a fledging organisation which could, Tony felt, probably rightly, use his energies to better effect. What energies too! He is much missed.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 05:51 AM

Thanks for the info on Tony Wilson - I first knew. him when he was teacjing in St. Philomenas School in Sparrowhall Rd and it was because of him selling tickets to a folk concert to one of my nephews at the school that we really became involved in the scene at that time. You will of course remember his "Captaining" the Lancashire contingent at Whitby over several years.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 04:56 PM

I remember the Wars Of The Roses well, Banjoman. Tony's main claim to fame on that score was, I think, swallowing a twiddleywink in the "first to get a tiddler into a pint of beer" contest! Tony won and in celebration downed his pint in one, forgetting to take the bit of plastic out first. He came to no harm.
Yard Of Ale drinking, race up Abbey steps, and beach cricket umpired by Mike Harding all spring to mind, in what were surely happy times, though the rivally could get quite intense. The Liverpool/Lancs contingent used the 'Elsinore' as its base whilst the Yorkshire crowd (captain - Bob Spray) drank in the 'Star.'
Well there was nothing else to do - we had to make our own fun. The Spa evening concert, and Ceilidh, dance displays and singarounds in the Drill Hall with featured guests were all you got for your weekly ticket money. Pubs closed in the afternoon and at 10.30PM.
We're positively spoilt at Festivals now by comparison. Ah, but are we any happier? Discuss!

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Grog
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 05:36 PM

Surprised not to see more mention of the Top Locks Club at the Waterloo in Runcorn. Run by John Kaneen,Willie Russell and Jim Peden. Many a happy Sunday night spent there in the 70's. Barbara Dickson, Archie Fisher, Bert Lloyd (I even think that somewhere I've still got the cassette I recorded that night),Carthy, Nic Jones and many others that the years and too many pints of Greenalls have consigned to the memory bank that's now firmly locked. However, I still cringe at the thought of some of my floor spots there.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 05:59 PM

Tony and the tiddleywink: I remember that happening - 1971 - I know because I only went to Whitby once in the 70s and that was it. He was so jubilant that he'd got the tiddleywink in the pint ... it's not as easy as it looks! That was also the year when someone dropped a contact lens in the road late one night. Amazingly, Mike Harding found it ... we said it was because he was closer to the ground than most people! In fact, I got to Whitby that year thanks to Mike. I hitched from manchester, and got as far as York when he stopped to give me a lift. He had a VW beetle, plus wife, 2 children, sister in law and Paul Graney .. then me as well. How did we all get in? Perhaps I've counted too many people.... we couldn't ALL have got in.
Back to Tony Wilson - he was also a train fanatic. One Sunday evening at the Brunswick pub in Crewe when the folk club was upstairs, Tony was standing in the bar ... been on some railway trip (this WAS Crewe...) and had called in for a drink before going home to Liverpool. Must have been mid-ish 70s.
Derek

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 19 Oct 09 - 05:59 AM

How long can this thread go on - We went to the Top Lock Club on many occasions and saw some great guests there. Willy Russel agreed to open the Pinehurst Club for Old Rope and was about that time I think beginning to write plays.
How many remember the Clubship Landfall? Maggie had her Hen Night there and it was a loss to the character of the city when it went. I think it was about to sink in the end?

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: scouse
Date: 19 Oct 09 - 06:20 AM


Can anyone give me the latest news on how Mick is?? Stuck over here in dear "Clogland as I am.. I don't get to hear a lot of news. I met Mick up at the Tonder Festival more than once when he came along with Ron Kavana. What a Craic those weekends where.
As Aye,
Phil.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 19 Oct 09 - 09:17 AM

Clive Pownceby. "Pubs closed in the afternoon and at 10.30PM."

That didn't stop Pete Rowley getting stoned out of his skull one year, to the extent that he couldn't remember where his lodgings were, and could barely stand upright. We steered him all over Whitby, not an easy task with someone the size of Pete, while he kept shouting, "I'll fall in the harbour".

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Joyce Jennings ne Bennion
Date: 19 Oct 09 - 12:54 PM

I remember the club ship landfall. Any one remember Gordon's club, next door to the Customs House? We went there on a Saturday after the sing around at the Customs House and came out just as dawn was breaking. Some right dodgey people in there. The other club was up by Ye Olde Cracke. Forgotten what it was called.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 19 Oct 09 - 05:57 PM

keep the stories coming ... then Clive can edit them all into a book!
Good to see an enthusiastic audience at the Phil - side room, not the main hall - for Jackie oates on Saturday.
Derek

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Liberty Boy
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 02:13 AM

I was talking to Ron Kavanagh at the weekend and he has been to see Mick and says he's improving!

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 07:46 AM

I remember seeing Southport Swords at Whitby when they had forgotten to bring their swords and persuaded a local DIY shop to "Loan" some rolls of wallpaper which they used. Suffice to say that the car park they danced on was knee deep in paper by the end.
Does anyone remember Rev. K. Loveless refusing to begin his workshop on Carols until I and several others had extinguished our fags.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 08:13 AM

I remember Rev, KL going on at some length in one of his own workshops, at Whitby, about the lack of musicianship amongst those of us who enjoyed singing folk songs. One of the audience was Willy Scott, the Border Shepherd, who finally given a chance sang a parody of The Bonny Bonny Banks of Loch Lommond.

L in C