2020 Obit: Jim Irvine of Marsden

Subject: JIm Irvine of Marsden
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 18 Sep 20 - 04:52 AM

Jim Irvine, MC, musician and singer during the early days of the Marsden Inn, South Shields, but much more than that, has died after 12 years with MND.
   Funeral next Tuesday but very restricted attendance due to Covid.

   Goodbye my old pal- here's to the good times......
   Thoughts are with Enid, his lovely wife, and children John and Sarah
             Jim & Francie

Subject: RE: JIm Irvine of Marsden
From: Jack Campin
Date: 18 Sep 20 - 06:20 AM

Is that jim51 from here? (lived in Liverpool, came to Edinburgh often). I had no idea he had MND.

Subject: RE: JIm Irvine of Marsden
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 18 Sep 20 - 07:40 AM

Jim Irvine lived in South Shields all his life, so no

Subject: RE: JIm Irvine of Marsden
From: GUEST,geordie boy
Date: 18 Sep 20 - 08:14 AM

Spent many a happy hour listening to you.
RIP bonny lad.

Subject: RE: JIm Irvine of Marsden
From: GUEST,Trevor Sheridan
Date: 18 Sep 20 - 10:15 AM

Good mate for many, many years.
A great bloke and amazing life

Subject: RE: Jim Irvine of Marsden
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 18 Sep 20 - 11:44 AM

In the first tribute to Jim that I read last week it was stated "that he didn't suffer fools gladly" and I was to discover that during my first three days of active participation on the North East scene. However over the next few years we were to become good friends and our club, South Tyne Folk and Blues worked very closely with The Marsden Inn folk club and Jim and I did so within the Durham County Folk Alliance. A great bloke and the best folk club MC that I have ever seen. I was planning to be in South Shields for his funeral on Tuesday but I am devastated that due to the recent restrictions I will now not be able to do so.

Subject: RE: Jim Irvine of Marsden
From: The Sandman
Date: 18 Sep 20 - 03:06 PM

Sad news.RIP

Subject: RE: Jim Irvine of Marsden
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Sep 20 - 04:06 PM

Mostly, he posted as /usersearch.cfm?who=GUEST%2CJim%20I>Guest,Jim I, and he last posted in April of 2020. His Mudcat name was Jim I. May he rest in peace.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Jim Irvine of Marsden
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 19 Sep 20 - 06:45 AM

Sorry Joe but looking at the posts that you have provided I don't think that this is our Jim Irvine. Like Jim B said above he lived all his life in the North East (South Shields) and while he was a lover of Irish music I don't recall him playing in a band of the name mentioned in those posts.

Subject: RE: Jim Irvine of Marsden
From: The Sandman
Date: 19 Sep 20 - 11:39 AM

I met him through Jim B, When he stayed with jim in west cork good musician and good company.

Subject: RE: Jim Irvine of Marsden
From: The Sandman
Date: 19 Sep 20 - 11:40 AM

Pat Forester sends his condolences

Subject: RE: Jim Irvine of Marsden
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 19 Sep 20 - 12:43 PM

Dave has it right- a different person.
Jim's bands included skiffle groups, the Marsden Rattlers, the Harvesters and Eddie Groyne and the Strains, but not any 'Irish' ones as far as I know.

He was, however, a great admirer of fiddlers he'd met, like Ted Furey, Bobby Casey, Martin Byrnes (not 'Mairtin' in those days) Michael Gorman and Tom Anderson.

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Jim Irvine of Marsden
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 20 Sep 20 - 07:53 AM

I was sorry to hear about Jim. Good Folk Club MCs are hard to come by! I have added his name to the "In Memoriam" thread and send my condolences to all those who know and love him.

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Jim Irvine of Marsden
From: GUEST,Kevin Irving
Date: 22 Sep 20 - 06:15 AM

A unique multi-instrumental talent and raconteur and superb front man for the Marsden Inn Folk Club.

Who else could have cajoled a “floor spot” from an unexpected passing superstar because the club had a huge act lined up for a sell-out night. Yes, Christy Moore filled until the beleaguered Five Hand Reel arrived in their repaired Mercedes van.

I was fortunate enough to be involved in Youth and Community Work in Jarrow and Jim became my manager. The wind-ups and appropriate sending up continued.

You made people smile!

We could have been related you know? Through an accident caused by illiteracy - my Grandfather was John Irvine.

RIP gaffer

Thinking of Enid, John and Sarah

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Jim Irvine of Marsden
From: GUEST,Fran
Date: 22 Sep 20 - 03:45 PM

I have wonderful memories going to Marsden Inn Folk Club late 60s/early70s. Some of the best days of my life.   Jim was a brilliant MC and made me laugh so much. He was the life and sole of the folk club.   Never forgot him and will always remember him with fondness. Rest In Peace.

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Jim Irvine of Marsden
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 25 Sep 20 - 12:50 PM

Some great memories here and we thank you for them.

Covid 19 has of course curtailed any celebration of his life, but I am told that when this virus is under control, there will be a major Geordie hooly in South Shields to compensate a little.

It will also commemorate the earlier loss of another Marsden resident singer, Frankie O'Neill, who passed away in June this year, under similar Covid restrictions.

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Jim Irvine of Marsden
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 25 Sep 20 - 06:03 PM

Add Barrie Dipper, also of The Davy Lamp, but a South Shields lad to that list.

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Jim Irvine of Marsden
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 27 Sep 20 - 01:34 PM

What will probably be my last entry on here will be this.

I have put an obituary/appreciation of Jim Irvine on www.mustrad.org.uk

Y don't know if blue clickys are possible for this site but you'll find it by checking the 'what's new' posting for 26.9.20.

Done on behalf of the old Marsden Rattlers Band and his old pal Ed Pickford

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Jim Irvine of Marsden
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Dec 20 - 06:38 PM

About a year ago I spoke to Bob Fox at a gig who told me Jim was not in the best of health but I just heard today that he had died. I spent many a happy evening at the Marsden Inn Folk Club run brilliantly by Jim Irvine
until I left the North East in 1973. (Ian Gardner)

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Jim Irvine of Marsden
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 14 Dec 20 - 12:21 PM

There's an excellent obituary of Jim in the current 'Living Tradition' magazine, by a former Marsden resident, Nigel Hammill.
Kevin's point about Christy Moore was interesting- Christy offered us a few words of appreciation for the above article- I'll repeat it here - it's worth repeating....

'I did my first gig with Jim Irvine on October 6, 1968. I arrived at the Marsden Inn on that Sunday night, not knowing what to expect. Jim gave me a warm welcome, and introduced me to the Marsden Rattlers.It was a unique club. The room was thronged and everyone in the room seemed to be on first name terms with everyone in the band. It was one of those clubs where the guest artist was always secondary to the resident band. Jim was a brilliant compere/front man/singer. Through Jim I got to meet so many of the clubs in the North East- the High Level Ranters, John Doonan, the Elliotts of Birtley, Bob Davenport.
It was a golden era and Jim was at the heart of it'
                            Christy Moore