2018 Obit: Stuart Reed Brighton (29 June 18)

Subject: Obit: Stuart Reed Brighton (29 June 18)
From: Vic Smith
Date: 29 Jun 18 - 04:18 PM

STUART REED R.I.P.
It was with great sadness that I heard that Stuart had died this morning in the Martlets Hospice in Hove.
Stuart had been one of the central pillars of the folk scene in Sussex since he was at College of Education in Brighton in the mid-1960s. He was one of the organisers of the college folk club and it was there with two fellow students, Andy Tunmer and Pete Cartlidge that he formed the hugely popular trio, The Brighton Taverners. Stuart’s death now means that all three of them have been taken from us before their time. The group had an eclectic taste in folk song but always performed with heart and soul; their real strength was their three excellent voices, especially noticeable when they were singing in harmony. As well as being guest performers at a wide range of venues both in and outside the folk scene, they run their own weekly events in various pubs with large rooms on Brighton sea front. In the days when Brighton was inundated each summer with foreign students and English language schools, these evenings always attracted capacity audiences. The Taverners recorded four excellent albums.
Stuart also performed in pubs and clubs as a solo singer and in the last 20 years or so this was the usual way he was heard; he was widely regarded as one of the best and most communicative performers on the local scene. As well as being a performer in his own right, Stuart was always a keen supporter of other concerts, clubs and sessions in the area. He was a keen listener and gave great encouragement to other performers, particularly new and younger ones. His delight when his singing and guitar playing was accompanied by his daughter, Amy’s fiddle was palpable.
He also became a folk club organiser later in life and developed the monthly Brighton Acoustic Sessions at the Nelson in Trafalgar Street from being a small singaround to being a guest booking venue where a high standard from all performers became the norm.
On a personal level, I have lost a close and supportive friend. Paticularly, I remember Stuart singing at the very last night of the folk club that Tina and I ran at the Royal Oak in Lewes. The kind words of thanks for us before he sang on that occasion have come back to me today.
My sympathy goes out to his wife and two daughters.

Click here to see a photo of him

Subject: RE: Obit: Stuart Reed Brighton (29 June 18)
From: Vic Smith
Date: 29 Jun 18 - 04:33 PM

Apparently his last message to his many friends was "Keep singing!"

Subject: RE: Obit: Stuart Reed Brighton (29 June 18)
From: Will Fly
Date: 30 Jun 18 - 04:05 AM

Sad news indeed, Vic.

Like you, I remember the Taverners, whom I first heard when I came down to Sussex over 40 years ago. Their Monday nights in the back room of the old Concorde Bar accross from the Palace Pier were memorable. They would sing in all languages for the tourists who flocked to hear them, and performed marvellously in the local clubs. In later years, when I got to know Stuart personally, we played gigs in local Brighton pubs, either as a duo, or as a trio with Chris Wolferstan - amplified, of course, and with a mix of folk, blues, rock'n roll and country music on the agenda. Stuart had a wonderful bass-baritone voice, and was always in demand for Johnny Cash numbers. I recall one evening at the Great Eastern when a "cool dude" came up to him and said, "Hey man, my girl wants to hear you sing more of that deep-voiced shit." For ever after that, to Chris and I, Stuart was always "Stuart Reed, DVS." :-)

For some years, until the early part of 2017, Stuart asked me to help run the Brighton Acoustic Session - him doing the booking and dealing with the artists - while I did the MC'ing. The standard he set for the floor singers and guests made it the best venue for acoustic music in Brighton - Tom Paley, Paul Downes, Tim Broadbent, Dave Arthur were just a few of the names that played to a packed back room at the Lord Nelson. And he was a regular attendee at the monthly sessions in Ditchling and Henfield.

All of us who knew him will miss him deeply - in clubs, pubs and sessions, and as a good friend. RIP

Subject: RE: Obit: Stuart Reed Brighton (29 June 18)
From: Will Fly
Date: 30 Jun 18 - 04:13 AM

Stuart Reed: Rolling Home To Caledonia

Subject: RE: Obit: Stuart Reed Brighton (29 June 18)
From: Vic Smith
Date: 30 Jun 18 - 04:53 AM

In the midst of all these worthy tributes to Stuart, I need to say something very important. People can do silly things when they hear bad news and I have been particularly stupid.
I did not hear the news from Stuart's family but from another source. My first instinct was to write the tribute that I posted above and I did this without consulting his wife. This meant that it was posted here before the family had had a chance to inform people in their own way and time. In doing so I have caused additional unnecessary pain. I am very sorry and would like to apologise for my thoughtless action.

Subject: RE: Obit: Stuart Reed Brighton (29 June 18)
From: GUEST,Nick Murrell
Date: 03 Jul 18 - 06:31 AM

It was with deep sadness to learn of the passing of Stuart, I got to know Stuart, Andy and Pete as The Brighton Taveners back in 1972 when working with another local group down at the local venue on the seafront. As we had a PA system they asked if I would be happy to do the sound for them on their weekly performance down in the basement.
I worked with them for 5 years and enjoyed every session with them. Alas I left Brighton to move to another part of the country. All three of them had great personalities each of them with their own unique sounds which blended exceedingly well (hence their success on the folk scene), and had a pleasure to work with each them.
Now the final member of the Taveners has left us,
However (as I said on a previous message) The family have lost a great Dad, Grand father, Uncle etc. We have lost a great singer with a very distinctive voice. Our Loss will be Heavens gain as the Taveners will sing again together.

Subject: RE: Obit: Stuart Reed Brighton (29 June 18)
From: GUEST,Steve Redshaw
Date: 12 Jul 18 - 04:51 PM

Stuart was my English teacher at Tideway Secondary School in Newhaven in the early 1970s. He was truly inspiring, an enthusiastic, engaging teacher who brought our study texts to life. He captivated and motivated our GCE and A-level classes and, together with his colleague, Mr Martin, inspired me to become a teacher. Through listening to him playing and singing in school assemblies, he also inspired me to take up the guitar - I just loved the sound he produced on his acoustic jumbo. Acoustic and folk music has been a passion of mine throughout my life. I owe Stuart a great deal..... Thank you Mr Reed.

Subject: RE: Obit: Stuart Reed Brighton (29 June 18)
From: GUEST,Vanessa Denyer
Date: 13 Jul 18 - 07:08 AM

What sad news.
Memories of the 1970s and Tuesday nights in the basement at the Buccaneer come flooding back. As an 18 year old, I was introduced to folk music via The Taverners. Myself and friends, many who were nurses working locally at the Children's hospital and RSCH would meet there. Many new friendships were forged and long after the The Buccaneer days we would reunite at The Taverner's Christmas party every year.
Stuart had an wonderful voice. It was lovely to hear him talk as well as sing and he always had a story to tell.

Subject: RE: Obit: Stuart Reed Brighton (29 June 18)
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 13 Jul 18 - 07:49 AM

What sad news.

I knew him through the monthly Ditchling sessions. I saw him at other venues here and there, but it was at Ditchling where I had the chance to talk to him a bit, as well as enjoying his excellent performances.

Last time I saw him, he was fascinated to learn that his rendition of the song "D Day Dodgers" ( in sunny Italy)at the previous Ditchling session had reawakened my interest in my dad's war service. It had led to me finding out from the date of the casualty list I found in Kew Records Office that he hadn't been wounded at Monte Cassino, as the family had always thought, but at the first battle of Monte Camino in early November 1943. Further research through the Italy Star Association let to me not only finding out the battle plan for the Guards Brigade assault, but pretty well pinpointing the exact location of the pill box containing the Spandau machine gun that had wounded him.

If it hadn't been for hearing Stuart sing that song again, I don't think I would have had the impetus to re-visit my dad's war record. I'm now planning a battlefield visit to the location next year.....all thanks to Stuart. RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: Stuart Reed Brighton (29 June 18)
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 13 Jul 18 - 07:58 AM

D Day Dodgers - Stuart Reed

Subject: RE: Obit: Stuart Reed Brighton (29 June 18)
From: GUEST,Annelene Scherbaum
Date: 23 Oct 18 - 04:30 PM

What a great sadness to hear this news.
I have been one of his foreign students from Berlin in 1977. Years later we have been in contact. The Taverners played in Berlin (1978,1979,1980) in the famous (former) Folkpub.
The last contact we had in 2012 and my great hope was, to see him once again in Germany.
This wonderful and great voice I never will forget. Thank you Stuart! RIP

Subject: RE: 2018 Obit: Stuart Reed Brighton (29 June 18)
From: GUEST,Guest, Cheryl Felix.
Date: 02 Jan 20 - 06:22 AM

Used to love their Christmas concerts at Saltdean Primary. Haven't heard the like since. Very sad to hear he'd passed.