Obit: RIP Julian Pilling (Morris Dancer, UK) 2012

Subject: RIP Julian Pilling
From: Gin Crewe
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 03:52 PM

Sad to discover that Julian Pilling died on 1st November. There's a lot of memories, music, dancing and discussions to recollect. Rest in peace, my respected friend.

Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: Jack Campin
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 05:20 PM

The only person of that name Google tells me about is a property developer. Was there another one?

Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 05:26 PM

Julian was a member of Manchester Morris Men, then left them to form the Colne Royal Morris. He did some collecting in and around Colne and Nelson in Lancashire - social dances as well as morris. He also had a folk dance band and was respected for his research into historical dance. He passionately believed that the north-west morris should be danced in the NW and by men, rather than women. Not always a popular stance to take! He died a few days before his 90th birthday.
Derek

Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: GUEST,chris cole
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 05:33 PM

Bizzare as it may sound, Julian was supportive of the aims of Gorton MM, and had the same views about NW morris as us-RIP, Julian.

Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: Gin Crewe
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 05:50 PM

Thank you, Derek: just so.I was a lady (Ok, female!) morris dancer all the years I played in his Moon and Castle band and he was always a gentleman in avoiding disagreeable conversations! He a provided a wealth of information and folk resources and always knew where to get information in pre-Internet and pre Google days.

Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: The Sandman
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 07:05 AM

julian pilling was not[s far as i am aware a property developer], jack campin, for god sake think before you post, people are upset about the loss of one of their friends and your post is the height of insensitivity.

---

It's a good lesson - we are a worldwide forum; so it's important to be aware of that when you post, and post so that everyone will know what you're talking about. To fail to do that, is even higher insensitivity.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: GUEST,Seayaker
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 12:11 PM

I don't see the problem with J C's post.

If you were not familar with the NW morris scene of a few years ago yuo would be unlikely to have heard the name.

It's not unreasonable to ask.

Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 01:04 PM

More than a few years ago.

Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: The Sandman
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 01:28 PM

listen, you just dont need to say anything, in an obit column,if you dont know the person
its unlikely in a music forum that the obit would be for a property developer, its just fecking insensitive, and if you cant see that than you are feckin insensitive.

Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 02:13 PM

Ding, ding round ................

Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: GUEST,Seayaker
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 05:00 PM

Whilst I didn't know Julian Pilling personally, I was dancing in a NW morris side in Lancashire that was headed by an ex Colne Royal man in the late 1970s (perhaps more than a few years ago; time flies)

We very rarely danced outside our area which was a policy that I wasn't too happy with. I thought it was like saying that you shouldn't play Irish music outside Ireland for example.

Reading the posts above there only seems to be one person displaying insensitivity

Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: John J
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 05:52 PM

I'm sorry to hear of Julian's passing. When I was dancing in the 70s and 80s Julian's name often cropped up in conversation - he had a high profile amongst NW sides and he'll be missed.

RIP Julian.

JJ

Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: GUEST,chris cole
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 06:46 PM

There are certain indivuals who didn't know Julian(neither did I), but he was supportive of Gorton, who like the man himself, tried to uphold the traditions of North West Morris. Read the books (I have), before you embark on a PC crusade.

Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling (Morris Dancer, UK)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 07:09 PM

Searching "julian pilling morris dance" gets better information than the bare name, but no obituary as yet.

A property developer with an interest in ecologically responsible re-use of old buildings seemed to be exactly the sort of person who might join a morris side, and I doubt I was the first or the last to mix the two of them up.

Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling (Morris Dancer, UK)
From: Gin Crewe
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 05:26 AM

In his later years he was not well, I understand and so had a low public profile. His work and research was pre-Internet times. I only found out about his demise by accident- there will be something in the EFDSS mag next issue, I gather.

Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling (Morris Dancer, UK)
From: Gin Crewe
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 05:26 AM

By the by, he was s econdary school teacher!

Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling (Morris Dancer, UK)
From: RTim
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 09:51 AM

Julian and I crossed swords a number of times in the past. There were some things we did not agree about, however this was all before we actually met.
Once I gave a paper at a conference on The Future of Morris, he and some of his team were there and we spoke afterwards. He agreed with almost everything I said and we got on very well - he even invited me to join his team, if I ever moved to Cheshire!!
He was a passionate man with strong beliefs, and I respect anyone like that - even when I don't agree exactly with their views.

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling (Morris Dancer, UK)
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 12:24 PM

Lancashire surely Tim - never Cheshire! Colne is determindly in Lancashire.
Derek
who lives in Cheshire!

Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling (Morris Dancer, UK)
From: RTim
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 02:25 PM

Derek - it's all "Up North" to me!!

Best - Tim

Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling (Morris Dancer, UK)
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 05:11 PM

Tim ... surely you mean it's all in the east! .... Derek

Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling (Morris Dancer, UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 09:03 PM

Thank you for your kind words regarding Julian's passing. It is also wise for people to note that nothing posted on the internent is private. Julian did have strong opinions regarding morris. He was a traditionalist not always favoured by some. However he went to great lengths collecting, authenticating and arranging the dancers of 'Colne', only for some people to come along and pick his brains and go off and dance what they had learnt from him. I know that 1975 copyright of the dances and tunes were on the agenda for discussion and I may look into seeing if that was the case. I can only say he would be turning in his grave if he knew that a ladies side and a mixed team were dancing 'Colne'. Imogen Gumede (daughter)