Obit: Dec. 2009 John McLaughlin (M'catter Big Tim)

Subject: RE: Obit: John McLaughlin (Mudcatter Big Tim)
From: akenaton
Date: 09 Jan 11 - 01:25 PM

I'm terribly sorry to hear this news.
I live only a few miles from John and we have exchanged many PM's, but never actually met.
I've passed his house many times and thought of dropping in, but I was always in too much of a hurry....I regret that!

best wishes to all Johns family....Ake.

-----------Note that Big Tim died Dec. 2009. Still missed, of course. JoeClone--------- -----

Subject: RE: Obit: John McLaughlin (Mudcatter Big Tim)
From: GUEST,John Moulden
Date: 09 Jan 11 - 12:05 PM

I am very sorry to hear this and hope that his family will be comforted. I met him during his work on 'One Green Hill' and later reviewed it for Folk Music Journal. He was a most courteous and friendly man and devoted to fairness in research and report. In 'One Green Hill' he showed most commendable courage in looking beyond politically correct versions of Irish history to the truth, or, at least, the carefully balanced version of the truth, beyond

Subject: RE: Obit: John McLaughlin (Mudcatter Big Tim)
From: open mike
Date: 09 Jan 11 - 03:07 AM

He is with his beloved wife now...what a beautiful poem.
We were lucky to know him...thank you Alice for leading him here.

Subject: RE: Obit: John McLaughlin (Mudcatter Big Tim)
From: Brakn
Date: 19 Jan 10 - 03:08 AM

He will be missed. A great man.

Subject: RE: Obit: John McLaughlin (Mudcatter Big Tim)
From: Alice
Date: 18 Jan 10 - 11:02 PM

Jim, I was shocked to see this.
John first contacted me regarding a page of info I have on my web site about the Gartan Mother's Lullaby. I told him about Mudcat.

We used to email and pm back and forth about lyrics and history. He sent me a copy of "One Green Hill" and I sent him a print of one of my paintings. I see that he shared his book with many mudcatters.
This is very sad news.

Please tell his family and friends that John is respected and will be remembered in many parts of the world. His email to me about the Gartan Mother's Lullaby is still on my site.

http://my.montana.net/aliceflynn/gartan.html

With sadness,

Alice Flynn in Montana

Subject: RE: Obit: John McLaughlin (Mudcatter Big Tim)
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Jan 10 - 10:17 PM

Jim,

Than you for posting John's poem for his wife. It is quite touching and beautiful.

Subject: RE: Obit: John McLaughlin (Mudcatter Big Tim)
From: Big Mick
Date: 18 Jan 10 - 09:16 PM

This man was one of those Mudcatters that I wanted to meet so very much. I am saddened to think that I will not be able to do so. He sent me a signed copy of his book, One Green Hill, and it had a wonderful personal message handwrittn in it. I shall treasure it even more. His work was well done, his research impeccable, and he came across at all times as a kind man who was interested in others. His willingness to share the fruits of his study demonstrated the finest attributes of a Mudcatter. Would that certain unnamed others could follow his example.

God be good to this man. As my friend Seamus said so well, "he is missed already."

Mick

Subject: RE: Obit: John McLaughlin (Mudcatter Big Tim)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 18 Jan 10 - 08:43 PM

Sad news indeed! He sent me his book when it came out, and we were going to meet but it never worked out. I was always grateful for his sane and knowledgeable postings and learned a great deal from them. RIP, John!

Subject: RE: Obit: John McLaughlin (Mudcatter Big Tim)
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 18 Jan 10 - 08:39 PM

Oh boy..another good man gone.

I've had on- and off-forum correspondence with John, and we had arranged to meet in Edinburgh later this year when I'll be in Scotland.

We've exchanged books and recordings, an his "One Green Hill" is a well-researched trove of information.

He is already missed.

With respect.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Obit: John McLaughlin (Mudcatter Big Tim)
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 18 Jan 10 - 05:33 PM

Sorry to hear this. I always found Big Tim to be a wise Mudcatter. Yet another joins that Folk Club in the Sky. WAY too many up therre now.

Blessings
Rhiannon and Mick

Subject: ADD: For Jan (John McLaughlin)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 18 Jan 10 - 05:25 PM

John lost his wife, Jan, a year ago and I don't think his daughters Gillian and Carol will mind if I reproduce the poem he wrote to their Mum:

FOR JAN
(John McLaughlin)

You braes and burns and loanings, round the gardens of Benmore,
There we passed so many days; we'll go there now no more.
Where the shy red squirrel and darting deer sport 'neath redwood towers,
Where Eachaig ripples seaward, we spent contented hours.

But now, when I see a redwood tree, or walk in Massan's Glen,
I'm haunted by the fearful fact, that I'll never see you again.
No more to share your soft, sweet smile or hear your wise, warm words,
No more we'll stroll midst redwood trees, squirrels, deer and birds.

So kind and caring, so many friends; to me, you were only lent,
You disliked all that was crude or cruel, intolerant, aggressive or violent,
Your heart was gentle, generous - good: you were your parent's girl,
You could have taught the world to sing, it would be a better world.

For forty two years, our union was loyal, steadfast, honest and true,
But, sadly, when the parting came; so little time for adieu.
Though deep in my being I always knew, that all good friends must part,
That parting yet is hard to bear, like a corkscrew through my heart.

But, in every ancient Argyllshire stone, in Isla, Prosen and Clova,
I'll see your face and hear your voice, until my days are over.
And, when the wheel of my life runs out, with no sorrow left to heal,
Maybe, love, then, we'll meet again, in the lasting land o' the leal.

Glossary. loanings, paths. leal, loyal, the afterlife – 'a happy rest for the mind in this dark pilgrimage', Lady Nairne, writer of Land o' the Leal (1798).

John.
20 December 2008.

Subject: RE: Obit: John McLaughlin (Mudcatter Big Tim)
From: PoppaGator
Date: 18 Jan 10 - 03:56 PM

Sad news. I, too, traded a few off-forum PMs with "Tim"; probably never knew that his real name was John. Great guy, who will be sorely missed.

Subject: RE: Obit: John McLaughlin (Mudcatter Big Tim)
From: alanabit
Date: 18 Jan 10 - 03:18 PM

He came across as a good bloke. I am sorry we have lost him.

Subject: RE: Obit: John McLaughlin (Mudcatter Big Tim)
From: fat B****rd
Date: 18 Jan 10 - 03:17 PM

Sad news. Best thoughts to his family and friends from Charlie in Dunfermline.

Subject: RE: Obit: John McLaughlin (Mudcatter Big Tim)
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Jan 10 - 02:13 PM

So very sad.........His last post here was fittingly on another of his favorite topics, Bob Dylan.

Best thoughts to his family


Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: John McLaughlin (Mudcatter Big Tim)
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Jan 10 - 01:53 PM

We welcomed him in 2001 and now must see him off with thanks for all that he shared and for being such a gentleman, as you say. I hope wherever he is he gets to meet up with Bob Wills to play Cotton eye Joe.

In sorrow,

kat

Subject: RE: Obit: John McLaughlin (Big Tim)
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 18 Jan 10 - 01:27 PM

Very sorry indeed to hear this sad news. Thank you, Jim, for passing it on, and please do pass on my sympathy to the family.

John's very readable book 'One Green Hill' is a fascinating exploration of the stories behind some well-known Irish songs, and in it he acknowledged his debt to the Mudcat Forum for some of the research he found here.

I enjoyed exchanging a few messages with John, but we never met. I shall miss him. As Dave Allen used to say:- "May your God go with you."

Matthew

Subject: RE: Obit: John McLaughlin (Big Tim)
From: meself
Date: 18 Jan 10 - 10:10 AM

Sad news indeed. He contributed a great deal to this forum.

Subject: RE: Obit: John McLaughlin (Big Tim)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 18 Jan 10 - 05:50 AM

Oh dear... I too had several off-forum correspondences with John over the years and looked forward to meeting him on one of my occasional forays to Scotland. In the old phrase, he was "a gentleman and a scholar".

Regards

Subject: Obit: John McLaughlin (Big Tim)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 18 Jan 10 - 05:08 AM

I received a letter today from Big Tim's daughter to say that he had passed away just before Christmas, very suddenly, of a pulminary embolism. Those who knew him and his postings will remember how knowledgeable and never spiteful his postings were. I never met him although we corresponded over the years and his passing has hit me as if one of my own family has gone.