Obit: Colin Matthews, Chester: Folk Orbit

Subject: Obit: Colin Matthews, Chester: Folk Orbit
From: Mr Happy
Date: 07 Oct 15 - 07:44 AM

I'm very sad to have to announce that our dear friend, Colin Matthews, died on Saturday after an illness.

He was well known in sessions & singarounds around Cheshire & North Wales & will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Colin set up many music & song seshes in the area as well as compiling & publishing the Folk Orbit magazine, still available online.

I will provide funeral details when I receive them

Subject: RE: Obit: Colin Matthews, Chester: Folk Orbit
From: Paul Burke
Date: 07 Oct 15 - 09:01 AM

A wonderful, versatile musician, a great bloke. He will be sorely missed especially in a room full of noisy punters who don't like folk or folkies much- and silencing them with some well picked rabble rouser like "500 miles", followeed by a few familiar standards.... followed by almost- respectful almost- silence for the rest of the singers.

Subject: RE: Obit: Colin Matthews, Chester: Folk Orbit
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 07 Oct 15 - 02:40 PM

Thanks for passing on this sad news, John; I came across Colin a few times at sessions and singarounds. and found his listings guide very handy on Folk Orbit. Condolences to his family.

Subject: RE: Obit: Colin Matthews, Chester: Folk Orbit
From: Mo the caller
Date: 08 Oct 15 - 11:50 AM

He was very helpful to us when we started going to sessions.

Subject: RE: Obit: Colin Matthews, Chester: Folk Orbit
From: GUEST,John and Barbara wall
Date: 10 Oct 15 - 07:24 AM

We were very saddened to hear the news about Colin and have so many fond memories which we will never forget.

Subject: RE: Obit: Colin Matthews, Chester: Folk Orbit
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 06:05 AM

Sad news. My condolences to all those who know and love him.

RIP

Peter

Subject: RE: Obit: Colin Matthews, Chester: Folk Orbit
From: Mr Happy
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 11:44 AM

11th October 2015
From Peter Matthews:

The funeral of my father, Colin Matthews, will be held at Blacon Crematorium in Chester at 10:40am on Monday 19th October, 2015. A donation plate will be available, with all proceeds going to The British Liver Trust. We are asking that flowers are brought by family only.

Colin's Funeral


A dedicated page within the Book of Memories on The British Liver Trust website has been opened, so that donations can be made to them online, in memory of Colin.

The wake will be held, as per Colin's wishes, at the St. Werburgh's Centre, in Brook Street, Chester, CH1 3DZ.

Because we're expecting a large number of people, we are asking those who wish to attend to RSVP; mainly so we can arrange catering.

Please send RSVPs to p_matthews at live.co.uk, or send me a message as soon as possible.

Musicians are welcome to bring instruments and voices, as a music and song session will be held in Colin's honour.

Donations
A dedicated page within the Book of Memories on The British Liver Trust website has been opened, so that donations can be made to them online, in memory of Colin. To donate, or leave a memory of Colin, please click the link below.

Book of Memories

Subject: RE: Obit: Colin Matthews, Chester: Folk Orbit
From: GUEST,Peter Matthews
Date: 13 Oct 15 - 03:19 PM

A JustGiving fundraising page has been set up in memory of my father, Colin Matthews; raising money for The British Liver Trust.

https://www.justgiving.com/InMemoryColinMatthews

The Folk Orbit website has been updated with a link to the page. This is as well as the dedicated page in the Book of Memories, on the British Liver Trust website.

www.folkorbit.co.uk

It's been a long time since I've used MudCat, I can't remember my handle, so I'm posting as a guest for now. Thank you so much for all your comments and support; on here, on Facebook, via the Folk Orbit website, and throught the post.

There's something about the folk community that is so heartwarming in times of hardship. I think it's something to do with the sombre lyrics in a lot of the songs. If you're used to singing about maidens dying and love going bad, it's easier to know what to say when it's needed. The response our family has had is unprecedented, and has truly made a huge difference for the better. Colin would have been very humble, and taken it all on the chin, but he would have taken each kind comment to heart, and it would have made him smile. For me especially, it has made it a lot easier to carry on, knowing there is so much overwhelming love for the man I knew as a father, a teacher, and as a friend.

As for the Folk Orbit website, I own the server it is currently hosted on, and it has just been paid up for another two years. I'm also the domain administrator, and have access to all of the source for the site. At the beginning of the year, I was starting to talk to dad about a complete overhaul of the site; keeping the true essence of the Folk Orbit, but making it much easier to manage (just View Source on the site to see what horrors he had to deal with on a day-to-day basis!). I'm unsure as to what to do now. It was his wish for me to update the site to announce his passing, and to say it will close for business when all the loose ends are tied up. I am thinking about leaving the site as it stands for posterity, as unfortunately, at the moment, I cannot dedicate the time and resources that I would need to keep it going. For now, the best I can do is say that there will be no updates for a while, and that Folk Orbit is on hiatus. In the meantime, the site will be left unchanged.

The Folk Orbit was a labour of love for Colin. He worked tirelessly ensuring the information was as accurate as possible, and that as many venues and events were included. I will be writing Colin's story soon.

Thank you again.

Subject: RE: Obit: Colin Matthews, Chester: Folk Orbit
From: Mr Happy
Date: 14 Oct 15 - 01:13 PM

Peter,

I hope you'll keep the Orbit going