Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)

Subject: Obit: Joan Gallimore
From: Bernard
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 12:25 PM

Joan Gallimore passed away peacefully this morning (Monday August 8th 2011). Her son Harry broke the news to Stewart Lever, asking that he should let as many of her 'folky friends' know as he could - so Stewart enlisted my help.

Joan was, until recent ill health took its toll, an active participant at a number of folk clubs in the Warrington (UK) area, including the Railway Folk Club in Heatley, now Lymm Folk Club, where I first met her.

She was the very first winner of the Fred Jordan Memorial Traditional Singer's Trophy at Saltburn Festival back in 2003, and was a highly respected performer. She had lost her husband, George, with whom she'd spent many years singing at various venues, and was determined to carry on after his death.

I'll post more details when I have them.

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore
From: nutty
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 12:35 PM

Another legend lost - although the great singaroung in the sky will welcome her with open arms and she'll soon be arguing with George as to who is singing the correct words to the songs they sang together.

Joan was a lovely lady . It was a privilege to have known her,

Condolences to her family.

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore
From: GUEST,Callingbird
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 01:16 PM

Sorry to hear this, Bernard.

I can still hear her singing Albert Berry...sang it better than anyone else I have ever heard sing it.

Condolences to all her family.

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 01:32 PM

Thanks for posting this sad news Bernard; my sympathies to her family.

Matthew

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 02:07 PM

I too am saddened to learn this news. She and George were regulars at Maghull Folk Club on Merseyside and at its annual Day Of Music. A great character, with a dry sense of humour and a stage manner that used to remind me of Emma Vickers, the singer from Burscough, also no longer with us. Condolences to friends and family.

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore
From: GUEST,Captain Farrell
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 05:51 PM

Condolences from everybody in Saddleworth

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore
From: John J
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 06:07 PM

I'm really sorry to hear this very sad news, Joan was a lovely lady who always raised a smile.

I shall miss her singing, her sense of fun...everything about her.

JJ

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)
From: Joe Nicholson
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 07:29 PM

We used to have great times at Redcar and Warwick in particular Joan and George - Jean and Jim Lea - Dez and Barbara Nicholson - Maureen and I. We could be quite nuisance when we put our minds to it. Now there's only Barbara, Maureen and I left we shall toast them all at Saltburn.

Joe Nicholson.

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)
From: GUEST,The Wooden Horse folk Club
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 10:22 PM

Joan and George were regulars at the Wooden Horse folk club, with Joan continuing to attend after George's death.
Chauffeured by her friends Alan & Betty Poole she would sit at the front of house and cast her eagle eye over our club guests, many of whom underestimated the little old lady act that she had perfected over the years, only to be savaged by our club Rottwieler when they least expected it.
The club and its members may have lost another dear friend, but the heavens have gained a new twinkling star.
Our thought are with her family and friends in this time of sadness.
Jim & Pauline Coan

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)
From: GUEST,Don & Heather Davies - Sale Folk Club
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 08:25 AM

She was a legend, along with George, and the first and well deserved Life Member of the Railway Folk Club. We always remember her singing great songs, many of them very funny, and we shall miss her very much!
Condolences to all her family.

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)
From: GUEST,old git
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 09:04 AM

Sorry to hear this news. Joan and George (and after his death..Joan solo) were stalwarts of the singarounds at Cleethorpes Folk Festival. I lost count of the number of "newcomers" who first looked shocked and then dissolved in laughter as this "frail old lady" launched so innocently into one of her "mucky" songs. She was of course also capable of bringing a tear to the eye when singing a more "sentimental" song.
A wonderful lady who will be greatly missed.
Geoff Turner

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)
From: GUEST,Stewart Lever
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 09:30 AM

Joan became a really good friend...
She was the first to welcome me when I came to the Railway Folk Club ( now Lymm Folk Club) when I came for the first time after Anne died.
Her version of "Mon Like Thee" brought tears to my eyes because my Dad used to sing it..and he'd died too, in 2001.

God I miss you Joan..I really will!!!

love
Stewart
x

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)
From: GUEST,John and Julie Astbury
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 09:43 AM

John and I were priviliged to have known Joan. She always had us in stitches. I remember her saying that a song someone had just done "wasn't folk enough" so she then became the Folk Police!!!
She was like a grandma to us all and we will miss her.
Goodnight Joan, sleep well

Love John and Julie

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)
From: GUEST,Yvonne
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 10:44 AM

So sorry to hear this news.

She was just lovely.

Condolences to all her family and close friends.

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 12:03 PM

Joan was alovely lady and I have fond memories of her at Cleethorpes and Saltburn ffs

I rememeber the cheeky songs she sang with her late husband George, a big fella, and the lengths they went to to get George singing again after a short memory loss!

and of course winning a Fred at Saltburn ff (worth summat that whoever has it!)

Ray Padgett

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)
From: Alio
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 03:15 PM

Like Nutty said, Joan was a real legend, and I also felt priviliged to know her, and spent many happy hours in singarounds with her - in Cleethorpes, Fylde, and here in Saddleworth.
The 2 songs I always associate with her are "Blowing Bubbles" and "Alice White" - you couldn't get 2 more different songs, but she did justice to those, as she did to all her performances.
A lovely lady, who will be missed by so many.
Ali xx

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)
From: GUEST,AEOLA
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 04:08 AM

I'm sorry to hear about Joan, a great singer. Met her first,with George, at Maghull FF some years ago.. The good news is that the Duo is now together again!
Condolences to all her family & friends.

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)
From: GUEST,Geoff Speed
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 05:47 AM

Joan (and earlier on George) appeared on Radio Merseyside's
Folkscene programme some years ago.I recorded them both at
their home and eventually at their retirement home at Hancock
Court in Warrington.What a delight to know they both were.
Every time that we met he offerred to swap Joan
for my wife but the exchange never took place.
Assuming that the tapes of them do re-appear they will be
heard on the 25th of August at 21.OO hrs.BBC Radio Merseyside.

Geoff.

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)
From: GUEST,Ruth and Michael
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 02:03 PM

I have fond memories of Joan, our Rotweiller. Nobody's fool but the sweetest person, as was George. I remember her for her kindness to my Mum, when we all went away together over New Year with the Wooden Horse Folk Club. I particulerly remember the "Plague Hostel" when, one by one, the rest of us went down with flu. They sat together healthy through it all. After all they'd had their flu jab! For several years she wrote to my mother because she understood how lonely life on your own can be.
Enjoy your well deserved rest, Joan. We will all miss you so much.                     Ruth

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 02:47 PM

Tony Gibbons and Kate Bradbury. Last night at Maghull Folk Club Sid sang " The Voyage ", unaware that it was one of George and Joan's favourite songs. Well she's on her final voyage now and leaves us all with wonderful memories of both her and George. They spent their lives being themselves and enriching everyone who came into contact with them. We were privileged to have known them. The cassette that Joan recorded is one of my favourite possessions, equal to all the top ' professional ' people in my collection. Whatever nice things other people and Folk Clubs have said in tribute I can only repeat a hundred-fold.

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)
From: GUEST,Folk at the Prospect
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 03:48 PM

Another great loss to the region's folk scene. Joan was a much loved visitor to the Prospect, and previously with George at the old Castle Folk Club. Our condolences to her family.    Roger

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)
From: GUEST,old git
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 04:09 PM

Has anyone had news of funeral arrangements?

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)
From: Bernard
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 04:41 PM

Not yet - I'll post details as soon as I have them.

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)
From: Bernard
Date: 11 Aug 11 - 08:59 AM

Mike Bartram has just emailed the details to me:

Walton Lea Crematorium at 1.40pm on Wednesday 17th August, led by Mike at Joan's request (or rather, command!).

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)
From: Bernard
Date: 12 Aug 11 - 05:52 AM

...and afterwards at the Saracen's Head, Wilderspool Causeway, Warrington.

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)
From: Bernard
Date: 12 Aug 11 - 06:18 AM

For those unfamiliar with the area:

Walton Lea Crematorium, Chester Road, Walton, Warrington. WA4 6TB.

Easiest access if you're not in the Warrington Area is probably via M56 Junction 11 (Daresbury Park) and head towards Warrington on the A56 Chester Road (steep uphill dual carriageway), passing through Daresbury/Runcorn Expressway traffic lights (changes to single carriageway). Walton is the next set of lights - turn RIGHT into Old Chester Road (Moore is to the left), which leads to Walton Lea Road. There's a fairly large car park within easy walking distance.

Saracen's Head, 381 Wilderspool Causeway, Warrington WA4 6RS.
Easiest is probably to follow everyone else!

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)
From: Alio
Date: 13 Aug 11 - 04:53 PM

On Monday's Sounds of Folk programme we'll be doing our celebration of Joan and her music. She came into the studio a few years ago, did 3 interviews with me, and 3 live songs. Bernard's going to edit the whole thing, so that we'll hear her both talk and sing - it's going to be a very emotional 10 minutes. If you want to listen, it's live across the Manchester area from 7 - 8p.m. on 99.7FM; it's also online - just Google Oldham Community Radio.
Ali x

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)
From: Bernard
Date: 14 Aug 11 - 01:16 AM

It would seem she opted not to sing live on that occasion - the songs were taken from the 'Lancashire Voices Volume 1' cassette (Cock Robin Music), which I'd transferred to CD.

Don't worry if you aren't able to listen live - we do have a 'Listen Again' feature these days (link).

The two songs I've included are 'No Use For Him' (Eric Bogle), which was her winning entry in the Fred Jordan competition (see above), and 'Alice White' (Alan Bell), which was the song she'd intended to sing until someone beat her to it!

Subject: RE: Obit: Joan Gallimore (8 Aug 2011)
From: Bernard
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 12:19 AM

I'm just back from the celebration of Joan's life at Walton Lea, so ably led by Mike Bartram. Quartz sang the two songs Joan had instructed (!) them to do - 'Only Remembered' and 'Good Friends' - with representatives of the Wooden Horse, Lymm and Maghull folk clubs sharing their memories, too.

It was heartwarming to see such a good turnout! There were a few spare seats, but not many - and afterwards, the pub must have wondered what hit them! Well done to the staff for making sure we were all adequately fed and watered!