2012 Obit: Steve Mayne (Manchester)

Subject: Obit: Steve Mayne
From: GUEST,Roger Dunant
Date: 25 May 13 - 07:14 AM

I occasionally come on this site as a 'lurker', and I notice that some of you have mentioned Steve Mayne in some of your posts.
I recently heard the sad news that Steve died last June. As you probably know Steve was the boss of Maynes Coaches of Manchester, a long established company that was started, I think by his father.
Steve is survived by his wife and son, who will carry on running the business.
Steve was a super singer and was well known in the Manchester area in the 60's and 70,s. He was just 62, a sad loss.
Roger

Subject: RE: Obit: Steve Mayne
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 25 May 13 - 07:33 AM

Just too sad for words. I remember Steve very well from the days when I used to live in Manchester, and used to attend Harry Boardman's club at the Unicorn. Always a gentleman and always very supportive of traditional singing, he nonetheless took lot of stick from the fact that, instead of buying a proper banjo strap, he used to use a piece of old clothesline.

"The richest folksinger in the business", Harry would say, shaking his head in disbelief.

Subject: RE: Obit: Steve Mayne
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 25 May 13 - 03:02 PM

Sorry to hear this news. I first encountered Steve at the Unicorn and was impressed by his singing of English traditional songs. I never saw him play the banjo but Harry had room to talk. Harry's banjo had an old tie as a strap. I bought it off him and I've still got the tie as a strap!!!

Subject: RE: Obit: Steve Mayne (Manchester - June 2012)
From: Paul Reade
Date: 25 May 13 - 07:25 PM

Sorry to hear about this. Steve was an old friend from the MSG days and, as Mark says, a fine traditional singer.

Subject: RE: Obit: Steve Mayne (Manchester - June 2012)
From: Brian Peters
Date: 26 May 13 - 05:32 AM

Yes, those were good days, when Steve, Harry Boardman and Joe Kerins were the 'senior team' of residents at the Unciorn. Three fine singers, Steve was the one with a penchant for the rural English tradition and the somewhat risque. I saw him at Mary Asquith's funeral three years or so ago, but he said he wasn't doing much singing at that point.

Steve had a luxurious bungalow near Warrington, and I'd sometimes go back for coffee after a gig at Warrington folk club. Steve took delight in having hosted both Ewan MacColl and Bert Lloyd there. MacColl, he said, "might have been a Marxist, but he was happy enough to use this capitalist's swimming pool!"

Another of my early influences gone. Very sad.

Subject: RE: Obit: Steve Mayne (Manchester - June 2012)
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 26 May 13 - 05:34 AM

Sad news. I remember Steve from the Bury Folk Club in the early 1970s, and at later Manchester clubs. I think I last saw him at Terry Whelan's funeral.
Derek Schofield

Subject: RE: Obit: Steve Mayne (Manchester - June 2012)
From: GUEST,Roger Dunant
Date: 26 May 13 - 08:47 AM

Just a quick update.
Steve had 2 daughters as well as his son.
I well remember him turning up at Poynton in a GINORMOUS Mercedes, getting up on the stage immaculately suited and booted and singing some great trad songs.
My wife was a teacher in Manchester at the time, and she was able to put some business Steves way. So one evening he showed up at our flat in Hazel Grove in the aforesaid limo and proceeded to wine and dine us at an Armenian restaurant somewhere in the city.
I'm a coach driver so I run across Maynes drivers quite often and I always used to ask how the big fella was doing. That's how I found out that he had died. He phoned me up out of the blue about 5 years ago 'just for a chat'.
As Harry used to say-the richest folksinger in the business.
Roger

Subject: RE: Obit: Steve Mayne (Manchester - June 2012)
From: Fran8
Date: 27 May 13 - 12:41 PM

I was very sorry to hear that Steve is gone. I last saw him at Mary's (Asquith) funeral and didn't get chance to speak to him for long. I have very happy memories of seeing him and Terry Whelan at the Songcarriers club in Manchester, and also also at Poynton Folk Club where he used to host the Wednesday night singaround in the upstairs room. He was a cheerful, friendly chap and I was always pleased to see him. I have an abiding memory of him singing Maids of Australia, with that very cheeky glint in his eye! It's very sad that he's no longer with us and I'd like to offer my sincere condolences to his family.

Subject: RE: Obit: Steve Mayne (Manchester - June 2012)
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 28 May 13 - 03:15 AM

I have a number of tapes that I made when I was at the Unicorn in the early 80s which are becoming increasingly poignant because of the people I recorded not being with us anymore - Harry Boardman, Joe Kerrins, Tony Hill, Paul Connor, and now Steve Mayne. All great singers/performers/writers in their own right and part of a collective that you probably wouldn't have found anywhere else in the country at the time. I must get them digitised.

Subject: RE: Obit: Steve Mayne (Manchester - June 2012)
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 01 Jun 13 - 10:51 AM

Do that Mark.
Steve was a schoolboy at Cheadle Hulme School when I first met him. He used to come to song sessions even then.
He worked so hard at his singing and it was a shame he bowed out of the music scene so early. He did some programmes with Harry on the BBC many years ago - I think you have copies of most of them.

Subject: RE: Obit: Steve Mayne (Manchester - June 2012)
From: GUEST,Dave Roberts
Date: 07 Jul 13 - 06:52 AM

I was just listening to "A Mon Like Harry" (good job Mark) and was transported back in time to The Unicorn on a Saturday night. I wondered what had happened to Steve and so googled "steve mayne singer" and was saddened that he is no longer with us. He was indeed a fine singer and I particularly remember him singing The Shearer's Dream with great gusto. Another favourite of mine was the Lover's Ghost which he sang so well. Beautiful song.
Steve used to get a ribbing from Harry especially when he went down to the bar. I remember Harry once calling him a bloated plutocrat but it was only in fun. Great times now long passed.

Subject: RE: Obit: Steve Mayne (Manchester - June 2012)
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 07 Jul 13 - 07:31 AM

I first met Steve in the early 70s when he was a resident singer at 'The Song Carriers' club in (what is now called) 'The Northern Quarter' of Manchester city centre. I remember that we all used to go to Rusholme, after the club, for a curry. I had just arrived in Manchester and everyone at that club, including Steve, were so kind and welcoming.

Steve was a fine person - he had a great sense of humour and was an excellent, expressive singer. He is much missed.

Subject: RE: Obit: Steve Mayne (Manchester - June 2012)
From: GUEST,Guest (Barry)
Date: 27 Jul 14 - 05:18 AM

Only just come across this because I'm not a regular follower. Not much to add only Steve and self went back a long, long way, via the various Manchester folk clubs. Great man, we argued like hell about politics but always stayed friends. He took me down to London when I moved there first in 1969 - had a great a great weekend, with a visit to the Singers Club - and a football match at Highbury (and he didn't like football!).

Subject: RE: Obit: Steve Mayne (Manchester - June 2012)
From: The Sandman
Date: 27 Jul 14 - 06:04 AM

I used to do the occasional gig at the Unicorn, I remember Steve well , a fine singer

Subject: RE: Obit: Steve Mayne (Manchester - June 2012)
From: GUEST,Martin Gill
Date: 24 Apr 18 - 06:31 PM

Ah, sad news to hear of Steve's passing. As a young new singer at the Millstone pub and Songcariers in Manchester Steve and Terry Whelan would often help us to work on producing a good sound. Following Ewan McColl's lead a purist love of the unnacompanied lone voice singing to the crowd was encouraged. We had a real sense of being part of a cultured sub-culture. I still love to sing and whenever I do i draw on those early experience and connectedness to how the singer carries the song for everyone. Thank you Steve for the gift of your kindness and support. Martin

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Steve Mayne (Manchester)
From: GUEST,peter crompton
Date: 21 Jan 20 - 03:42 AM

I remember Stephen Mayne, he passed his PSV test about the same time as me in 1971, we all had badges then and the new 6 figure numbers were being issued and Stephens was very near to my number. Last time I saw him was about 25 years ago but when I used to pass the garage on Ashton New Rd I remember a car always parked there I think the reg was SJM 9 and I thought that was his.   anyone wanting to liase with me it is [e-mail]