Bill Walters A Man for all Weathers.

Subject: RE: Bill Walters A Man for all Weathers.
From: GUEST,Lone Vaper Bell ringer (Christopher Walters)
Date: 16 Nov 18 - 02:24 PM

Thank you George this means so much. All the best.

Subject: RE: Bill Walters A Man for all Weathers.
From: GUEST,George Zochowski
Date: 25 Oct 18 - 01:12 PM

Hello widdershins,or is it Lone Vapor Bellringer,

I knew your father Bill in the early 1970s and used to frequent his folk club at The Crown at Colway in the forest.

When he was recovering from injuries sustained in a road accident he compiled a set of songs for me on a reel to reel tape in his sitting room. I transferred it to cassette and in the early 2000s to CD. The quality is not as good as the Youtube post. It's the quality of the man and his music that I think is important. He was a good friend and a pleasure to know and listen to.

There are 12 songs 3 of which are on your Youtube post.

If you are interested I would be glad to share his gift with you.

Regards
George


[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Bill Walters A Man for all Weathers.
From: GUEST,Learaí na Láibe
Date: 04 Oct 17 - 03:25 PM

I'm just listening to Bill Walters on youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPT-u_Rn4-U

and really enjoying his singing. I'm not very familiar with the English folk scene, but I'm surprised he hasn't got that many hits or thumbs up. An excellent singer and great selection of songs. He sings Maid of Ballinagar better than any Irishman.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. / May the Lord have mercy on his soul.

Subject: RE: Bill Walters A Man for all Weathers.
From: GUEST,Kev and Fiona Sumner
Date: 17 Apr 12 - 06:16 AM

We ran a small folk club at The Royal Spring, near Lydbrook. If it hadn't been for Bill it would have probably been a sorry affair. He supported us every week. We have some great memories of his singing and are both thrilled to see he is very much still with us, he's fans.
I've recently found he's album " One Singer One Song " on tape. I'm transferring it to Digital format and was wondering if anybody would object to my uploading one or two tracks to Soundcloud. I know there are a number of singers who would really appreciate Bill.

I would gladly give a weeks beer rations to sing the "Punch Ladle" with him one more time.

K & F

Subject: RE: Bill Walters A Man for all Weathers.
From: Merek'n'Dary
Date: 18 Mar 12 - 02:00 PM

Derek really loved harmonising with Bill in the top room at the Hop-pole in Bromyard. On one occasion they were joined by Christine Locke of Lock'dtuptogether who said that their harmonies inspired her to go for notes she had never tried before! We remember Bill fondly from the Christmas gatherings with Bev & Chris in Ruardean. A lovely man and a great singer - gone maybe but definitely not forgotten!

Subject: RE: Bill Walters A Man for all Weathers.
From: widdershins
Date: 18 Mar 12 - 01:50 PM

Hi Jan.. I am still living at the same address though i might have to re-locate shortly.. If you are still at Pennyless i will give you a call if that is OK

I am planning on putting Photos of his good self on the Videos i uploaded..I used the Walters Coat of Arms for the cover as it is eye catching and oldy worldy ..I think they call that thinking outside the Box.. Looks cool

I'll be in touch .. Take care and give my regards to your family..

My Email address is [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Bill Walters A Man for all Weathers.
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 08 Mar 12 - 12:29 AM

Have a blicky...

Listened to a little bit (don't have time to listen to the whole 40 minutes just now) and wow! What a great voice!

Subject: RE: Bill Walters A Man for all Weathers.
From: GUEST,jan
Date: 07 Mar 12 - 11:12 AM

dear Chris, Jean told me about you putting Bill on U tube and I have just been listening to it. It made me cry, I still miss him so much and so do all my family, he really was a very special man, very wise and very tolerant.I have loads of more recent photos of him so I will try to sort out some if I still have the negatives. Did I ever show you the lovely epitaph the chap from our local folk club wrote for him? If you haven't seen it I will send you a photocopy.People in the folk world still remember him, and I am so glad I still have his music,let me have your current address, take care, love Jan

Subject: RE: Bill Walters A Man for all Weathers.
From: widdershins
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 02:47 PM

You are correct Tradsinger.. My father told me there was a strong family connection to the Song Bitter withy and you are in luck as i uploaded the entire CD Bill Walters "One Singer One Song" on You Tube .. I'll post a link .. He also recorded for me "What is a Man any more than a Leaf" .. I am yet to upload that one but i am holding back so i can compile more photos and other info.. Fair play to you for finding Somers Journal.. I want to know as much of my Father that i didn't know which is quite considerable .. Thanks a Million.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPT-u_Rn4-U&feature=relmfu

Bitter Withy starts at 11.05 minutes

If you private message me with your Email address i will send all the tracks to you so you can burn them to a CD..

Subject: RE: Bill Walters A Man for all Weathers.
From: Tradsinger
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 04:06 PM

What do you know. The carol was in fact "The Bitter Withy" and the tune was published in the Somers Journal in 1989, with the following note:

"Bill Waters from the Forest of Dean has kindly given us his grandmother's tune for Bitter Withy. Bill tells us that his granmother came from Worcester, She would always sing it at Christmas. After her death, Bill didn't have her words so he used those of Peter Bellamy (who tells us they came from A L LLoyd/trad: several versions collected in Glos and Worcs). Bill checked with his father who said they were very similar."

Is there a recording of this carol sung by Bill?

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: Bill Walters A Man for all Weathers.
From: Tradsinger
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 03:31 PM

I only met Bill once and wish I'd known him better. Is is right that he knew a version of "The Cherry Tree" carol learnt in his family? I would love to know if this is true as it rings a bell in the back of my mind, and if so, did he ever record it?

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: Bill Walters A Man for all Weathers.
From: widdershins
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 11:47 AM

He was a Man of great knowledge .. I must've known every Bird call by name before i was out of Nappies and "Fishing??" He was gifted ..He didn't need all the fancy gear and state of art Fishing gear ,,he had his trusty hand built Bruce and Walker and Mitchell 300 reel and off we would go .. The River Frome was teeming with Brown Trout and Grayling and many Sundays we would have a Hearty meal by mid morning.. There were things he taught us that only Country Folk would know like making chewing gum from Ears of Wheat.. Here's what you do..You take a handful of Wheat and rub then blow off the Chaff ,next you crunch the Wheat making sure not to swallow and after a while it turns into chewing gum.. He taught us about campanology too.. He was a great man for the outdoors and he sold the TV for our own good but we still had the old Valve Radio which we would listen to Steptoe and Son and the Goon Show.. He liked the slapstick style comedy of Sellers et al and that was even evident during the Comic strip era of the 80's and the writings of Ben Elton .. He had an appreciation for well written comedy and would use some of it in his own material..

Your right about Rolf Harris .. We would go Swimming in Gloucester and the kids would just stare ..There was a TV commercial on at the time with Rolf recalling his childhood when he nearly drowned. It still makes me laugh .. I remember the day my Dad shaved his beard off ..There was a knock at the door and this clean shaven person was asking me if my Father was home ..I literally did not recognize my Father without his Beard and i said "No" and slammed the door.

Subject: RE: Bill Walters A Man for all Weathers.
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Feb 12 - 04:35 AM

I knew Bill from when I was around 9 yrs old and I am now 63. My first and lasting impressions of him was that he was the spitting image of Rolf Harris and had exactly the same humour but a better singing voice. He would show me the Hereford countryside, introduced me to Hereford Cathedral and when I was 11, taught me every word of the song 'Right said Fred' which was very popular in around 1960. He was a keen biker at the time and had a passion for local history and the folklore of Herefordshire. You are indeed blessed to have had such a talented and interesting father Christy - and I know he's still with us in spirit.

Subject: Bill Walters A Man for all Weathers.
From: widdershins
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 09:35 PM

I have created this thread for people who knew my Father to share stories, I titled it A man for all Weathers because that is an accurate description for come rain or shine Wind and Snow he was always ready and willing to share a Song or tell an old story or three.. It would be easy for me to say i have an advantage because i grew up with my fathers stories but sadly as a young boy chap growing up my mind was set on more selfish pursuits so in light of that fact i am at a distinct disadvantage.. I can honestly say that i can remember every Festival and Folk Club he took me to but alas i was always too afraid to get up and sing but that all changed when i moved to Ireland ,,Maybe i felt safer in a more spontaneous environment like an Irish Pub where they would lock you in after the time Bell call.. Ahh Emmett Spiceland gave me an whole new lease of life..

If anyone has recordings of my Father or Photos or absolutely anything they would like to share Songs and Stories as i am trying build a bigger picture of my father which i can then piece together and share.. Thanks a Million.