Obit: Tam Anderson (Big Tam) - 2012

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Tam Anderson (Big Tam)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 11 Apr 12 - 04:26 AM

I have just received the following info from a former friend of Tam's re funeral arrangements for him, and been asked to disperse it.
Notices to go in the papers very soon.

Service taking place at Seafield Crematorium, Edinburgh, at 2pm Friday 20th April.   
No flowers, but a collection will be taken for The Erskine Hospital, where Tam worked voluntarily.

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Tam Anderson (Big Tam)
From: GUEST,Ged Roe
Date: 08 Apr 12 - 12:15 PM

I'll always remember the music that lifted me up so many times,I'll miss your presence RIP Tam now so many others can share what I will miss.Till we meet again.

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Tam Anderson (Big Tam)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 06 Apr 12 - 07:37 AM

Any more information? I can't find a newspaper obit or funeral announcement.

Subject: RE: Obit: Tam Anderson (Big Tam)
From: GUEST,Derek Lauder
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 06:55 AM

I first met Tam three or four years ago when he started attending Loanhead Guitar Club's Wednesday night workshops in Paddy's. He was one of those guys you meet once an then meet everywhere, always the first to come up and shake your hand and say hello. I shared a coffee with him in his caravan at Newcastleton in 2010 and he seemed very relaxed and happy with his new life.The man and his unique performance style will be sadly missed.

Subject: RE: Obit: Tam Anderson (Big Tam)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 06:05 AM

A friend has since informed me that he didn't actually make it to the charity concert at Nitten last Saturday night. Hoping to get more info tonight.

Subject: RE: Obit: Tam Anderson (Big Tam)
From: GUEST,davetnova
Date: 04 Apr 12 - 10:42 AM

Very sad to hear this. I spent a lot of time with Tam over the last few years and always enjoyed his company and his singing.

Subject: RE: Obit: Tam Anderson (Big Tam)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 04 Apr 12 - 06:55 AM

This is very sad. He'd taken a long time to get over the Falklands, but a few years back he did an adult-access-to-university course at Newbattle Abbey College that turned his life around. When I last saw him he was far healthier and happier than I'd ever seen him before.

And our cats thought he was wonderful.

Subject: RE: Obit: Tam Anderson (Big Tam)
From: gnu
Date: 04 Apr 12 - 06:48 AM

Nice post. Sounds like quite a guy. RIP

Subject: Obit: Tam Anderson (Big Tam)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 04 Apr 12 - 06:37 AM

The sad news reached me yesterday morning, of the passing of a regular Festival performer and session attender, Tam Anderson on 2nd April 2012. "Big Tam frae Musselburgh" or "Sapper QMSI" was well-known and much liked by many throughout the festival and session network in the Lothians and beyond, but especially Musselburgh, Newtongrange (Nitten), Edinburgh Folk Club, Penicuik, and Linlithgow.
As befits a former military man, his trademark was to bellow "SING" at the top of his voice at the start of any choruses, waking any snoozing sessioners up with a jump, and stopping any talkative ones in mid-sentence: and of course, his orders had to be obeyed! He cut a striking figure – "the man in white" - on the Nora Devine stage at Linlithgow Folk Festival, and his "SING" could probably be heard all the way to Edinburgh.
His wide repertoire included "My Bonnie Moorhen", "My Bonnie Yew Tree", "Ye Jacobites" and other favourite Scottish and Irish songs. You could always rely on him for great banter and lightning-fast repartee at any session. He recently appeared at Nitten in their annual charity Lesley Hale memorial concert, and, in January, with a motley crew from Nitten Folk Club as one of "The Jolly Beggars" in Burns' cantata at Balerno Folk Club.
He also wrote poetry, winning the Nitten Poetry competition in 2010 with his harrowing account of his service in the Falklands conflict, when he survived his ship being shelled, swimming through icy cold water, and then, on crawling ashore, being shot. How poignant that he should die on the 30th anniversary of the Falklands war starting. Tam was a clinical psychologist who worked at the Edinburgh Erskine Centre, helping his fellow veterans of various conflicts to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Goodbye Big Tam, RIP, there's a big hole in our hearts: get them all SINGING up there!

Link to video of The Jolly Beggars: Tam's solo at 9 mins 55 secs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxidXcDC8BY