Skiffle Group

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: GUEST,Guest TF.
Date: 26 Jun 22 - 08:49 PM

My brain is becoming more confused. Sadly Shirley Bland departed in Holland on 4th May 2022. Condolences Jimmie.

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 22 Jun 22 - 06:23 PM

Good news to know Jimmie is still around. I had the pleasure of working with him and Robin while he lived in London.

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: GUEST,Guest TF
Date: 22 Jun 22 - 05:45 PM

Jimmie recently celebrated his 90th birthday. Sadly his ex-wife Shirley Bland left us some years ago.

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: beachcomber
Date: 21 Jun 22 - 07:16 PM

I'd love to know if Jimmie McGregor and Shirley Bland are still with us ?

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: GUEST,Russell Thompson
Date: 21 Jun 22 - 02:07 PM

Stewart Beveridge - if you're still following this thread (after six years!), I'd love to chat to you sometime about your Braintree skiffle group...

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 14 Jul 16 - 05:31 AM

BTW Tony Donegan Jr (billed as Lonnie Jr) and his band are playing Camberly, Surrey tomorrow night. Join the rest of us wrinklies.
RtS

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: GUEST,Stewart Beveridge
Date: 13 Jul 16 - 11:45 PM

1958. I was working in Braintree, Essex one Friday night my pal John Mirkam and I went on my motor cycle into the Skiffle Club in Soho. I dropped him off at the door and ant to park the bike. On return, John had managed to fend-off an elderly pro who tried to pick him up, so we went inside. The City Ramblers weren't playing but it was a good group and I remember 'Hand me down' and 'Grey Goose' which we incorporated into our own repertoire. We had a small group in Braintree which we called 'Les Charlie's' in homage to 'Les Hobeaux' and were usually announced as 'Les Charles's Skiffle Group'.
From memory Henrik Johanssen was in the City Ramblers as visiting guest from Denmark and featured in track on their EP (which I subsequently have lost).
We only went in once as a change from 'The Old Red Lion' in Leytonstowe which was closer to hear Eric Silk and his Southern Jazz Band on Friday nights.
Seems a long time ago now.

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 Dec 13 - 06:38 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 19 Dec 13 - 06:35 PM

In interests of accuracy ~~ Sing magazine was published by the WMA, & the editor was Eric Winter, not John Hasted: tho John was indeed one of the prime influences on the beginning of the skiffle/folk revival.

~M~

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: The Sandman
Date: 19 Dec 13 - 04:00 PM

doesnt john pilgrim live near sowerby bridge, joe stead would know if he was still around

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: GUEST,Norman Mapletoft
Date: 19 Dec 13 - 07:16 AM

The first City Ramblers were a group people who started as a rather left wing outfit who went around factories playing to the workers. Not all were musicians.It was said to have been started by John Hasted who produced a magazine called "Sing" He liked to be known as "The father of Skiffle" The regular members when I knew them were John Comely who was best friends with Ken Colyer singers Hilda Sims and Judith Silver(real name Judith Gold) Jean Vanderbosch played doublebass who went with others to form the Vipers.It was a rather fluid scene and people like Red Sullivan may have done a few gigs with them as I remember him at rehearsals.The person who would know everything about the scene ,if he is still alive would be John Pilgrim who later played with the Vipers. He was then a journalist and had a vast knowledge of skiffle and jazz.

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 06:37 AM

ah, memories...

RtS

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: GUEST,josh sutton
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 06:21 PM

Hello there, I'm looking for images of the City Ramblers up to 1956. My Dad Alan 'Little Bear' Sutton played washboard before Shirley took over. Little Bear is still alive and kicking, as is Bo Bo Bouquet (my uncle Tony Edwards) drop me a line if anyone has any images [e-mail]
Cheers

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: GUEST,ellen van der zwart
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 12:16 PM

I am proud to say that my dear friend is SHIRLEY BLAND,,she just celebrated her 79th birthday,,still a very active sporty woman she lives in numansdorp,,if anyone would like to send her some post as she has no computer or laptop,her adress is
SHIRLEY BLAND
TUINDORP
GEMEENTE CROM STRIJEN CV
NUMANSDORP
HOLLAND
it would be really great for her to recieve post from people who has admired and appreciated her good and talented vocal voice
your sincerly ellen van der zwart
my email [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 08 Sep 10 - 05:45 PM

ah, yes, the photo with john Foreman, Sheila Finn etc ... I was thinking of an archival photo!

Chas McDevitt's book on skiffle:
City Ramblers: Russel Q, Antony Bo-Bo Buquet, Henrik Johansen, Jack Elliott, Hylda Sims, Chris Bateson. Alan Little Bear Sutton (1956 recording in Copenhagen, with some of the above just there for the tour (eg Jack Elliott)/recording).

Then:
Russell, Hylda, Pete maynard, Chris bateson, Shirley Bland, Jimmie MacGregor.

Then:
Russell, Jimmie, Hylda, Shirley, Chris, plus Vic Pitt, Eric Bunyan.

But I bet it was more fluid than that!

Derek

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: Leadfingers
Date: 08 Sep 10 - 03:43 PM

Sorry ! I Missed that ! Just that at the Diz Memorial they had a 'New' City Ramblers with Hilda , and the inference then was she was the only original member still with us ! Always nice to get the facts right - Thanks

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Sep 10 - 02:19 PM

The City Ramblers c. 1957
Jimmie MacGregror, lead guitar & vocals, Bobbie Taylor, blueblower, Russell Quaye, vocals quattro & kazoo, Vic Pitt, bass, Eric Bunyan, fiddle, Hylda Sims, guitar & vocals, Shirley Bland, washboard & vocals

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 08 Sep 10 - 12:04 PM

In 1957, according to Hylda's website.

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: Leadfingers
Date: 08 Sep 10 - 11:25 AM

When was Jimmy McGregor in the Cit Ramblers ??

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: Old Vermin
Date: 08 Sep 10 - 10:37 AM

At a festival this summer there were at least three skiffle groups playing. Is this purely local or has there been A General Skiffle Revival?

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: GUEST,bigJ
Date: 08 Sep 10 - 10:29 AM

I seem to remember a photo in the library with - among others - John Foreman. Or perhaps I'm dreaming.

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 08 Sep 10 - 07:19 AM

can't remember a pic of Hylda in a recent issue - how recent? there was an article on Russell Quaye in Dave Arthur's time as editor .... back in the 80s!
Derek

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: GUEST,bigJ
Date: 08 Sep 10 - 06:55 AM

Ah, how did I come to miss the credits?
Thanks Derek.
Wasn't there a photograph of Hylda - with others - in a recent !English Dance and Song'?

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: The Sandman
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 03:47 PM

gold star for derek schofield, dunces corner for Leadfingers.

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 03:18 PM

Jimmie MacGregor's still alive!
Derek

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: Leadfingers
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 02:10 PM

Hilda is the only one of The Ramblers who is still with us !

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 01:32 PM

the credits at the end of that film said music by the Rory McEwen skiffle group.
Derek

Subject: RE: Skiffle Group
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 09:35 AM

Definitely Jimmie MacGregor on guitar, Shirley Bland on washboard and Rory McEwen on guitar. I didn't spot the tea chest bass only catching a quick look. I'll have to try and catch the repeat.
I don't recall Red playing a tea chest bass and if it was The City Ramblers then I guess that Russell Quaye being the leader would have been up front doing the vocals and playing guitar. Were't Hilda Simms and Eric Bunyan also members of the City Ramblers? didn't see them either.

Hoot

Subject: Skiffle Group
From: GUEST,bigJ
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 05:11 AM

I was watching the "Home Movies" programme on BBC 2 TV last night (Monday) at about midnight when there was shown Michael Winner's first (not really "home") film called "The Square", it was about 20 minutes long.
Its leading – and only – actor was the eccentric A.E. Mathews who was living in a broken-down post-war building which was due for demolition. At the end of the film there was a party in the square with dancing to a skiffle group who played and sang "It Takes a Worried Man". So far as I could make out, among the members of the skiffle group were Jimmy MacGregor – guitar, Shirley Bland – washboard, Russell Quaye or Red Sullivan – tea-chest bass and possibly Rory McEwen – guitar.
I think that the group may possibly have been The City Ramblers – anybody see it or have any other information to add?
The programme is being shown again late on Wednesday night.