Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 04:01 PM

It was a great pleasure for me to come out of retirement for the one very special day.

Superb event, wonderful location, and honours the memory of a great singer.

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: breezy
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 06:14 AM

I feel fortunate and privileged to be able to say -

I heard and admired his singing, I met him , I sang with him , he gigged for and with me and his generous sharing caring nature humbled me.

He was full of love, praise and encouragement to all he met.

He was an icon as has been testified by the tributes and the numbers who have turned up to his funeral and his celebration

He may not receive a 'folk award' but he epitomized what 'Folk' is all about.

He truly was one of the finest examples to us all.

A real 'Good Buddy'

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: RamblinStu
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 02:59 AM

I would like to add my thanks to everyone who organised this Celebration Day and thanks to everyone who attended.

Thank you for such a wonderful day. A day full of singing, full of friendship and filled with happiness and laughter

An unforgettable day for an unforgettable man, Johnny Collins.


Stu

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: GUEST,Houston_Diamond
Date: 01 Feb 10 - 02:41 PM

AKA "Person who can't be bothered to reset their cookie on someone else's PC" :)

Just want to thank everyone for making Johnny's Celebration a day to remember.

Special thanks to Moira and Malc for taking me there and to Robert Green for bringing me back :D It was really appreciated.

So many friends I haven't seen in years and the quantity of talent throughout the venue made the day more special than any festival or club I've been to :)

Thank you Johnny for being such an inspiring man and being part of my life :)

Houston

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: GUEST,Les Sullivan
Date: 01 Feb 10 - 12:15 PM

wouldnt Johnny have loved it ! it was indeed a day to remember

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: GUEST,Scowie
Date: 01 Feb 10 - 11:56 AM

What a fabulous event, the warmth, the friendship and crack were astonishing, equaling if not surpassing, anything I have ever encountered in all my years within the Folk scene or without.
Johnny would have loved every moment, from the whole-hearted choruses to the local ale!
My heartfelt thanks to all who made this celebration possible, your reward was the great beaming smile coming down from up above to wrap us all in it's own special love, and you don't need me to tell who sent it!
Special thanks to George and the ever lovely Vanessa for their unstinting hospitality that made this event possiblr for Nick Cafferey
and myself.

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: JohnB
Date: 01 Feb 10 - 10:29 AM

Not listenin, not listenin, tell me more, more.
JohnB

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: Girl Friday
Date: 01 Feb 10 - 07:35 AM

I am glad that the two ticket applicants got in. They messaged me after I'd logged off, having to be busy with other things. It was a day that you couldn't ever forget,it was sheer magic. As more than one person said to me, Festival Organisers would give anything to have such a good show.Thanks to everyone.
Sue

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 31 Jan 10 - 07:10 PM

Absolutely historic concerts - as M. Winner might opine. And the famed 'wall of sound' was astonishing. But there was that special event in the evening when the sound guy left a CD of Johnny singing a sea shanty and the whole audience started singing along with him. Priceless.

Whilst there was many memories of Johnny singing shanties etc., there was not a lot of remembrances of him at tall ship festivals.

So I'll relate one of my enduring memories.

In 2004 we were sailing on the Norwegian full-rigged ship Christian Radich from Oslo to Brest 2004 Tall Ship Festival. We had a storm in the North Sea but this calmed down and for most of the passage down the English Channel we had calm seas and following winds. So we sunned ourselves on the deck and retired to our hammocks and bunks for our last night on board - leaving all of the sails flapping in the wind. Silly. At 2.00 am it was all 'hands on deck' - we got hit by a force 11 storm at the mouth of the Channel with 30ft. Atlantic rollers coming in at an angle. But we were in a 'safe' ship and the permanent crew climbed aloft and got the sails in, whilst everyone else tied anything and everything down with rope (actually using the safety climbing harnesses).

Now I tell you all this because Johny and a small company of sailors / singers were also out in that storm. But their ship was not quite as 'safe' - in fact it had sprung a leak!! You might know the ship from the Hornblower films. Not the large Grand Turk ship - no - Johnny was on the little one - the Julia. It has a mainly open deck and they must have been swamped in the huge waves of the storm.

Anyway both ships (generic term) arrived in Brest OK.

And the next day wondering around the dockside we came upon the Julia - and who was there but Johnny Collins holding fort on the deck. It was low tide so we were peering down at him. He looked up and he immediately recognised us ex-Reading Cloggies because the 'Singing Chef' with Joyce and Bob used to do the catering for our Annual Festival. We'd not seen him since the Festivals folded yet he still recognised us. No problem. He immediately invited us on board for a look around and a drink where we stayed for quite a few increasingly happy hours. And I think that the ship was still leaking at the time!! And that was the last time we saw him. My real regret is that we never asked him to sing at our Festivals - but every year he did provide great food for all of the cloggies.

But I now have one of Johnny's Sea Shanty CDs from the weekend which I shall certainly play on our next tall ship voyage on Tenacious in a few weeks. And whilst on the duty night watch at 2.00 in the morning I shall look up and imagine that one of the millions of stars up there is Johnny himself making sure that we really do have calm seas and following winds.

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: double stopping
Date: 31 Jan 10 - 04:37 PM

Absolutely brilliant! Wish I could have bottled the sound of all those voices singing the choruses. The large photos of Johnny were fantastic especially the colour one on the stage . I still couldn't help expecting to hear his voice and turn round to see his twinkling eyes. How he would have loved it. Thank you to everyone who helped to organise and run the day. I drove home with one of Johnny's CDs playing and sang along - I didn't want to lose the magic of the day.

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: Hovering Bob
Date: 31 Jan 10 - 03:26 PM

Yes, a truly wonderful day - but then no more than th great man deserved. It will be long remembered.
BobH

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jan 10 - 01:35 PM

wow, what a wonderful day! Thank you so much to everyone who helped to make it happen. The sound of everyone in the hall singing will stay with me for a long time.

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: Jess A
Date: 31 Jan 10 - 12:55 PM

A truly stunning event. I wouldn't have missed it for the world, and am sitting here with 'when all men sing' going round my head. A wonderful tribute to the great man and I feel truly honoured to have been able to take part. Thanks so much to those who made it happen. Oh, and Lucy says thankyou to all her babysitters and new friends :)

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 31 Jan 10 - 10:16 AM

Keep the reports coming!

Happy to hear things went so well.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 31 Jan 10 - 08:34 AM

Two superb concerts , missed the sing as I was in the Tunes Session which was small but very neatly formed .
The atmosphere , as previously stated could not be faulted - We could even laugh about the beer running out !
Again , thanks to all who helped celebrate Johnny's life !

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: GUEST,moira(flying cat)
Date: 31 Jan 10 - 06:42 AM

As everyone has already said.It was a great day. Silvia and Keith are right, you could feel the love and joy from everyone. What a great day to celebrate Johnny's life. M&M

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: SylviaN
Date: 31 Jan 10 - 05:59 AM

Absolutely magnificent! The warmth and friendship could be felt in every corner of the building. It really disapponted us that we couldn't stay until the end.

Sylvia and Keith

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 31 Jan 10 - 05:42 AM

Words cannot describe the day for me - stunned. Johnny would have been SO proud!

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 30 Jan 10 - 05:55 PM

What a day!

Johnny really would have loved it. So many of his friends, wonderful memories and fabulous singing.

Huge thanks to everyone who made it happen and run so smoothly, especially Joyce and family, Dave, Anni, Jim, Graeme, Mike and Jenny Sparks and all the Haddenham ceilidh and festival combined taskforces - it just seemed so fitting that the first person I saw on arrival was Dave the Hat organising the carparking....

Kitty

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 03:28 PM

OK - thanks everyone - I now have one!! But I know two others who'd like tickets. Cheers - Chris B.

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: GUEST,Chris J Brady
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 02:52 PM

Hi - would love to purchase said tickets. Reference 'Hovering Bob.' please can you respond here or text 07947036046. I need one, two or three. Many thanks - Chris J Brady ([e-mail])

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: Girl Friday
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 02:08 PM

There's been no p.ms so far and I have to go out soon to run my club.
If I leave my ticket on the door, then a couple could get in.

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: bazza
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 01:58 PM

I also have a spare ticket let me know if you want it ,I can leave it at the door to collect on Sat

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 10:21 AM

I am on the bill for this event but alas I won't be there. I've had to pull out as a result of injuring my back while doing some furniture moving at home. Matters got worse when I sufered a bad reaction to some prescribed painkillers. At the moment I am just about able to rise from a chair without assistance and walk around (very slowly) for a few minutes at a time. So I'll have to be content with being there 'in spirit'.
The cast list is terrific so my absence won't make a lot of difference, but with a full house and all the goodwill there is for Johnny I forsee a memorable event.Have a great time everybody. Sing a chorus for me. ROY.

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 09:59 AM

I understand that arrangements to record at least the two concerts are in place

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: JohnB
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 09:49 AM

Love to have it, love to be there but can't be.
I guess I will just have to sit here and have a beer inside while it's
-20c Outside. Say Hi to Bev and Griff from Toronto for me, they are really good friends, also the one's who introduced me to JC.
Please though don't start any threads saying how GREAT it was :)
Are there any plans to record any/all of it, at least for posterity, it should be a blast.
JohnB.

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 09:20 AM

If someone wants Sue's spare ticket, please PM her or mention it here, and we can arrange the transfer

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: Girl Friday
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 09:00 AM

Just found out that we have a spare ticket.

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: Girl Friday
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 08:45 AM

Thanks George. Looking forward to it!

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 07:32 AM

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This event is now SOLD OUT. Please, please, do not travel to it without a ticket, or having made arrangements for one.

It should be an absolute corker! How Johnny would have loved it!

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: RamblinStu
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 03:47 AM

Tomorrow it is the, see you there

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 05:36 PM

No problem there, Sue, there'll be plenty of seats in the main hall and also in the Walter Rose room (singarounds & sessions) and main foyer (ditto)

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: Girl Friday
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 05:26 PM

I hope that there are going to be seats for that many. We will need them if we have to walk a long way.

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 11:35 AM

There is parking for about 20 cars max on the Library & Village Hall grounds. That will not even accomodate the artists and organisers. With 320-350 attendees on the day, one can take it for granted that there will not be room.

But one can park in the street outside, for quite a long way.

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 08:23 AM

There are obviously going to be lots of people there - I just wondered what the car parking was like, is there lots of space?

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: Hamish
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 04:01 AM

Hupsa-daisy!

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: Singing Referee
Date: 25 Jan 10 - 06:56 PM

Sorry I won't be there as I'm off to Oz tomorrow on business. Be thinking of you all though.

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 25 Jan 10 - 06:31 PM

Ticket sales now up to about 300 (it's a big hall, luckily) but there are still some available. It will be a grand day, and evening!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 24 Jan 10 - 06:40 PM

Looking forward to seeing and hearing lots of you next Saturday.

Kitty
xx

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 24 Jan 10 - 05:40 PM

Scowie, look out for my friends Bev and Griff from Canada. GrifF is big into C Fox Smith books, so I told him to look out for you.
JohnB.

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: GUEST,scowie
Date: 24 Jan 10 - 08:15 AM

The big day approaches, and I have been saving up all week in order to salute the great mans memory in our customary manner.Hurry on the day.....this drought interminable!
Be wonderful to meet and greet so many old friends, and all in Johnnies name,

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: double stopping
Date: 23 Jan 10 - 02:43 PM

only a week to go!

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: breezy
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 05:13 AM

that's better

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: Girl Friday
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 03:42 PM

er!

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: breezy
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 06:29 AM

oo !

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 20 Jan 10 - 06:30 PM

I stand corrected.
Better than bending over to be corrected...

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 20 Jan 10 - 05:48 PM

Food organised by Joyce, courtesy of the Singing Chef.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 20 Jan 10 - 05:22 PM

Food and bar organised by the same people that run the Haddenham Ceilidhs in the same venue.

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: sleepyjon
Date: 20 Jan 10 - 04:58 PM

Any plans for food etc? (I guess that big bloke with the huge beard and even huger voice will be lurking somewhere making pancakes - what was his name again?)

SJ

Subject: RE: Johnny Collins Celebration Day (UK)
From: GUEST,GUEST, George Papavgeris sans cookie
Date: 20 Jan 10 - 02:22 PM

With 10 days to go just a handful of tickets still left. More importantly, the lineup now looks as follows:

Roy Harris * Tom Lewis * Dave Webber & Anni Fentiman * Hilary Spencer * Bob Walser and Julie Young * Jim Mageean * Graeme Knights * George Papavgeris * Pete Watkinson * Sara Grey & Kieron Means (US)* Richard & Jess Arrowsmith * Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer * Nanne Kalma & Ankie Van De Meer (NL) * Derek Gifford * Malcolm Gurnham & Gill Gilsenan * Shanty Jack * Roger Watson * Hans Weehuizen (NL) *
Capstan Full Strength * Shanty Crew

PROGRAMME:
2pm Doors Open
2:30pm Aftenoon Concert
(2:45pm Singaround in Walter Rose Room TBC)
4:15pm Big Sing (Lounge/Bar)
4:15pm Musicians' Session in Walter Rose Room
7:45pm Evening Concert

(all times, events, artists etc subject to change)