Obit: RIP Den Giddens (UK, Sept 2012)

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens (UK, Sept 2012)
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 12:33 PM

Laura Mepham [nee Ward] So sorry to hear of this sad news. What a lovely, fun man We have very fond memories of Den going back 50plus years Our best wishes to all the family

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens (UK, Sept 2012)
From: vectis
Date: 22 Sep 12 - 04:44 PM

The chapel was packed for his funeral and the singing did, as you would expect, fill the venue.
Some really lovely eulegies by family members with many happy memories of a very special and loving man.
Turrah mate.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens (UK, Sept 2012)
From: GUEST,moira (flying cat)
Date: 21 Sep 12 - 06:02 PM

So sorry we couldn't make the funeral today, We are having a drink to his memory tonight.
I'm sure there will be a celebration for him at Whittlebury next weekend.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens (UK, Sept 2012)
From: GUEST,John from "Elsie`s Band"
Date: 21 Sep 12 - 11:32 AM

Den`s many years as a regular at "Elsie`s" will be fondly remebered and he will be one of our folk music fraternity characters, hard to replace.

We send his family our condolences.

"Elsie`s Band"

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens (UK, Sept 2012)
From: My guru always said
Date: 21 Sep 12 - 08:51 AM

Den and all the Family are in our thoughts and hearts. Candle lit at Old Keepers.
Hil & Richard

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens (UK, Sept 2012)
From: Richard Atkins
Date: 20 Sep 12 - 09:58 PM

Den was a true gem of a man to me . His rascal humour and wit passed on to me and I guess many others. He was some special guy. Today is a day for Den and his family as he is so much in our thoughts at this time.

Richard and Hils

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens (UK, Sept 2012)
From: vectis
Date: 16 Sep 12 - 02:55 PM

Den was a lovely, lovely man that I feel priveleged to have known and loved.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens (UK, Sept 2012)
From: doc.tom
Date: 15 Sep 12 - 12:42 PM

So sad. A real stalwart and a good laugh every time we met up - from the clubs to the Song & Ale. Really missed him there the last few years too! Can't make the 21st unfortunately. R.I.P. Den.
TomB

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens (UK, Sept 2012)
From: GUEST,Essex Girl
Date: 15 Sep 12 - 04:26 AM

I only heard of Dens passing on Thursday, but the memory of his 80th birthday will always be with me, especially the way he encouraged me to try his blackberry wine - don't remember much after that. Wendy, be very careful if you're going to drink anything of Den's!
Very sad that he has gone,I think he would have livened any care home up.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens (UK, Sept 2012)
From: Noreen
Date: 14 Sep 12 - 07:32 PM

sleepyjon- you have to have Jim McAdams as a friend on facebook first, then you'll be able to see it on his wall.

Thanks for putting it up, Jim.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens (UK, Sept 2012)
From: My guru always said
Date: 14 Sep 12 - 06:21 PM

Wish I could see those videos on Facebook, but am not a member. Still thinking about it, might take a while.

So many memories of Den. Our video of 'this old coat' has been found and is excruciatingly funny!

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens (UK, Sept 2012)
From: sleepyjon
Date: 14 Sep 12 - 05:34 PM

I remember that "Flying Trapeze" - I was holding one corner and seriously worried we might do some serious damage!

I'm a Facebook amateur - how do I find those videos? (tried searching "Den Giddens" and "Jim McAdams" with no luck)

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens
From: GUEST,Dave Giddens
Date: 14 Sep 12 - 06:41 AM

Thanks for sharing all those wonderful memories and touching thoughts of our Dad. It is amazing how many people enjoyed his friendship and were touched by his love of life.
Yes the funeral is on the 21st, but the details and venue have changed, so if you are thinking of coming then please get in touch via my facebook page

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens
From: My guru always said
Date: 14 Sep 12 - 05:55 AM

Jamie: Many thanks for posting the information about Den's funeral here, I know there are many MudCatters who would want to attend as your Grandfather was well-loved and respected. Further details will be very welcome.

Mudcatters: If you are intending to attend, it would be useful for the Family to know numbers, so if you haven't already contacted them, perhaps you could post your intention here.

Unfortunately, neither Richard nor I will be able to join you in Cornwall although we will be thinking of Den and raising a glass to him. A candle has been lit for Den at Old Keepers ever since we had the news that he had gone into hospital.

Hilary Ward

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens
From: GUEST,Jamie Giddens
Date: 13 Sep 12 - 04:29 PM

So lovely to read all your posts. So happy to have spent so many wonder filled fun times with Grandad, who shared such joyful moments with so many.

Funeral is fri 21st at st Martin church TR13 Cornwall with a drink and a sing after nr Camborne, I'll find out some more times, details + repost. Jamie

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Sep 12 - 09:53 AM

What a man and what a life! His love of people and singing and his wonderful sense of humour should be an example of us all.

Lynne

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens
From: Gavin Atkin
Date: 10 Sep 12 - 09:23 AM

Another link to the past gone but not forgotten - you couldn't forget a man with such a big sense of fun.

I've just had a peek at the photo at the Gathering website. As Den's performance progressed, I remember vaguely wondering if Den and by extension us organisers might be transgressing some statute or other.

After the Prince Harry episode, I'm now pretty sure the world is good and ready for Den's video...

Gavin

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens
From: billybob
Date: 10 Sep 12 - 07:59 AM

RIP Den, thank you for all the laughs and fond memories, we still have a rather scarey bottle of something you brewed in our shed,may have to raise a toast and drink it!
Wendy

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens
From: My guru always said
Date: 10 Sep 12 - 05:29 AM

Richard Atkins has a video of Den performing 'This old coat' from Frittenden in 2008. (thanks for mentioning that George!) We're not on Facebook but we might be able to get it onto my YouTube page. It's a bit of a learning curve......

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens
From: nutty
Date: 10 Sep 12 - 05:24 AM

Such sad news. I also met Den at Whittlebury and once seen - never forgotten.

RIP Den

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens
From: GUEST,moira(flyingcat)
Date: 10 Sep 12 - 04:25 AM

can you imagine if there was a video of him doing "This old coat that I got on"!! I expect it would be banned!!

Moira

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 10 Sep 12 - 03:59 AM

A wonderful man. He told some amazing jokes which I never heard from anyone else. The one about the woman with the chihuahua and the hair remover caused me serious internal damage.

Jim McAdams has put videos on Facebook of Den doing The Flying Trapeze and Gimme That Old Time Religion (with The Denettes, Pat Langridge, Steph King, Lynne Heraud, Jan Wilson, Liz Randall, Hils Ward and Mary Barr).

Valmai (Lewes)

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens
From: GUEST,George Frampton
Date: 10 Sep 12 - 03:45 AM

I'm very sad to hear this indeed. I heard from Liz Randall that he had been poorly earlier this year following a fall, and didn't care for life in a Care Home.
Wildgoose Records put out a CD of a concert of Den nearly ten years ago, but consensus has it that Den had to be seen in performance rather than on CD.
I'll always cherish him for the help he gave me in supporting and exploring 'The Tradition' in West Kent, and suppress a smile thinking of Den performing (and animating!) 'This Old Coat That I Got On' at Frittenden back in 2008 at the Kent Gathering of Traditional Music. (Google on the last five words, and you'll see photographs to portray that experience!)

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens
From: Noreen
Date: 09 Sep 12 - 08:00 PM

Night night Den- many happy memories of companionable singing.

...gimme that- old time religion...

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens
From: Acorn4
Date: 09 Sep 12 - 07:15 PM

The star of Sussex Song and Ale as I remember just a few years back.

R.I.P Den

Dave and Julia

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens
From: Girl Friday
Date: 09 Sep 12 - 07:12 PM

We got the news from Pete Collins at Lewes last night. I hadn't seen Den for many years, but remember his hilarious performances. We had him, with Terry King at Orpington Friday Folk once or twice.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Den Giddens
From: My guru always said
Date: 09 Sep 12 - 05:08 PM

We were so very sorry to hear of Den's passing, another fine Folkie gone to the Fold. Many fond memories of Den and we were glad to have been able to visit him earlier this year. Keeping candle lit.

Many thanks for posting this Jude!

Subject: Obit: RIP Den Giddens
From: JudeL
Date: 09 Sep 12 - 10:36 AM

Have just learnt of the sad news thatanother wonderful person has died. Moira Craig posted this on facebook "We've just heard that our dear friend Den Giddens died yesterday in hospital.he had been taken with an infection and unfortunatley he developed major organ failure and could not recover. One of my enduring memories of Den will be at Whittlebury where he sang "the man on the flying trapeze" complete with visual display. What a man,he'll be missed by all who knew him. RIP Den"