Info: Bill Feeley - Lancs Singer & Int. Brigader

Subject: RE: Info:Ralph Bates - writer & Int. Brigader
From: Felipa
Date: 14 Nov 21 - 06:20 PM

The Ralph Bates project can now be accessed at https://sites.google.com/site/theralphbatesproject/

Subject: RE: Info: Bill Feeley - Lancs Singer & Int. Brigader
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 04 Apr 17 - 07:01 PM

Thank you Jim . I did not know about Ralph Bates. Here is your link as a " blue clicky" in case anyone else wants to lok at it quickly.

http://www.theralphbatesproject.co.uk/

Subject: RE: Info: Bill Feeley - Lancs Singer & Int. Brigader
From: GUEST,John Feeley
Date: 03 Apr 17 - 11:42 PM

Hi Geoff.
It was a car park in St Helens named after Bill.(My Uncle)

Subject: RE: Info: Bill Feeley - Lancs Singer & Int. Brigader
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 24 Feb 17 - 04:30 AM

Hi Geoff
Thanks for that
I wonder do you know about Mike Yates's small book on Ralph Bates, "Swindon's "unknown" author"
Bates was a political activist who lived in Spain, fought on the Republican side in the Civil War, wrote novels and short stories, and a semi-autobiographical account of his early life in North Wiltshire.
Mike announced that he was setting up a web-site, "The Ralph Bates Project", on which he intends to "expand on Ralph's story"
Best
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Info: Bill Feeley - Lancs Singer & Int. Brigader
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 24 Feb 17 - 02:05 AM

IBMT Report of a Street in St Helens named after Bill Feeley.

http://www.international-brigades.org.uk/content/st-helens-0

Subject: RE: Info: Bill Feeley - Lancs Singer & Int. Brigader
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 30 Mar 16 - 02:56 PM

" Si me quieres escribir"
I agree
My father learned it in prison in Spain and sang it at home when I was younger
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Info: Bill Feeley - Lancs Singer & Int. Brigader
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 30 Mar 16 - 02:24 PM

I listened again to the recording of Bill Feeley which is in the British Audio Library and for which I gave a link in post eight above. The Library describes what he is singing as an " unknown song"but I now think he is singing the Spanish Civil War song " Si me quieres escribir" .The quality of the recording makes it hard to be certain . ??????????

Subject: RE: Info: Bill Feeley - Lancs Singer & Int. Brigader
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Nov 15 - 10:24 PM

Hi Peter.
You wont remember me, but I am your Mum's cousin John.
We moved to New Zealand in 1981.
I have been reading all these posts on this website about Uncle Bill and people seem to be a little confused about the real Bill Feeley.
If I am reading them correctly there is one guy who is not sure if Bill is his father.
I am assuming that your Dad, (George) is still alive, and please give him my best regards. The last time I saw him and your Mum was the night before we flew out here.
Just thought I would touch base after seeing your comments.
Regards
John (Feeley)
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Info: Bill Feeley - Lancs Singer & Int. Brigader
From: GUEST,John Feeley
Date: 21 Nov 15 - 08:28 PM

Hi Steve
I am Bill's nephew. My dad, John (Jack) was his older brother.
I spent a lot of social time with my Dad and uncle Bill until his death in Aug 77. Bill was such a lovely man, and was like another Father to me.
I am intrigued to hear that you are related to him and would love to know in what capacity.
I have now lived in New Zealand for 34 years and my E Mail address is [e-mail]

PS.
I would also be interested to find a path to the TV interview in the 70's from the workers museum in Salford.

Subject: RE: Info: Bill Feeley - Lancs Singer & Int. Brigader
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 12 Sep 15 - 07:53 AM

This is some information about the above recording:

Duration 00:01:57
Recording date- 1976 [?] Is part of Roy Palmer collection
Recording locations - unknown
Performers -Feely, Bill (singer, male / guitar)
Recordist- Palmer, Roy
Description, Performer notes- Spanish Civil War veteran.
Recording notes- Extremely low volume level; words of song are barely audible. Appears to be at least a second generation copy.

Anyone recognise the song Bill Feeley was singing? In Spanish I think.

Subject: RE: Info: Bill Feeley - Lancs Singer & Int. Brigader
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 11 Sep 15 - 01:42 PM

HERE is a link to Bill Feeley playing the guitar, as recorded by the late Roy Palmer and lodged in the British Audio Library

Subject: RE: Info: Bill Feeley - Lancs Singer & Int. Brigader
From: GUEST,Peter Norris
Date: 07 Aug 15 - 06:32 PM

Bill was my great uncle on my mother's side. She was a Feeley/Martindale and revered Bill, who fought in Spain, and her dad (Ted) and uncles (Jack and Jim) who served in WW2 in the Royal Engineers, Navy, and Royal Marines, respectively. I was 12 when Bill died and remember him from when I was a kid. If you have any internet links to his work, I'd love to listen.

Bill's brother-in-law, my grandad Ted Martindale, is the fellow on the right of the thumbnail for this YouTube video from Dunkirk, also seen at the right of the picture at 3:32 in the video lighting the cigarette.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdAaZFpxdLM

Thanks,

Peter

Subject: RE: Info: Bill Feeley - Lancs Singer & Int. Brigader
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Apr 14 - 02:47 PM

Hi
All I can do is try to edit the interview I have. As for the lyrics, much of them are in Spanish from that era! I'll see what I can do, though it may take some time.
Steve

P.S. What do you do?

Subject: RE: Info: Bill Feeley - Lancs Singer & Int. Brigader
From: Leadfingers
Date: 09 Apr 14 - 10:11 PM

GUEST,Steve Massey - If you have lyrics and melody , it would be of interest to some of us .

Subject: RE: BILL FEELEY,Lancs Singer&Int. Brigader
From: GUEST,Steve Massey
Date: 09 Apr 14 - 12:37 PM

Hi
He was a relative of mine and I tracked down a recording of a TV interview from the 70s at The workers Museum in Salford.
My email is [e-mail]

Subject: RE: BILL FEELEY,Lancs Singer&Int. Brigader
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 07:05 PM

I have discovered that another of his songs is called RETURN TO SPAIN or alternatively MANY YEARS HAVE PASSED BEHIND US.
Does anyone know this song?

Subject: RE: BILL FEELEY,Lancs Singer&Int. Brigader
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 07:37 AM

One of his songs was called Honorary Membership Talking Blues

Subject: BILL FEELEY,Lancs Singer&Int. Brigader
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 01:43 PM

Does anyone have any information about Bill Feeley a Lancashire singer who lived in St Helens, Lancashire before he died in 1977? I think he played the guitar and also wrote songs. He had fought as a machine gunner with the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. He was a steel erector by trade and he started the St Helens branch of the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers(Construction Section). At one time there was a hall named in his honour by St Helens Borough Council but that no longer exists.
Did anyone ever hear him perform? Does anyone know about songs that he wrote?
Regards, Geoff Lawes