Info about Wendy Bonington (died 2014)

Subject: Wendy Bonington
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 21 Sep 20 - 03:47 PM

Just finished Chris Bonington's book "The Next Horizon" and in it be mentions that in the 60's his wife Wendy was a folk singer. Tragically they lost their young son in an accident and I think it stopped Wendy in her tracks. She sadly passed away a few years back too. Did anyone ever hear Wendy? Quite possibly in the lake district in the early 60's?

Subject: RE: Info about Wendy Bonington
From: Richard Hardaker
Date: 23 Sep 20 - 05:59 PM

I moved from Yorkshire to Cumbria in 1975, and on the recommendation of friends from the Harrogate folk scene, Les & Jan Hewitt, who were friends of the Boningtons, sought out the session at the Sun Inn in Ireby. Neville Marchant, Wendy Bonington's brother, played fiddle there, and his wife, Angie was a well known singer on the Cumbria folk circuit. However, we didn't see much of Wendy at that time, since Chris was forever away on expeditions or lecture tours. I remember Wendy & Chris turning up once when the session had moved to the other pub in Ireby, the Black Lion. I later asked Angie Marchant if we were likely to hear more of Wendy, and being told she was too busy commiserating with widows; there were several fatalities at the top end of British mountaineering at that time.
    Wendy died of motor neurone disease in 2014, and is buried in Caldbeck where the Boningtons lived for many years.

Subject: RE: Info about Wendy Bonington
From: GUEST,Joe Bonington
Date: 31 Oct 21 - 03:41 PM

Mum, Never really recovered from Conrads death, she played and sang but was never as prolific as prior to that.
She did play at The Sun Inn though, along side Ange and Nev, I can remember being there for sessions as a small child.
She then also teamed up with Dave Goulder and some other musicians and started to get back into it. I can't remember what the name of the band or if they were actually a named band or just a collective who played together, but they were playing regularly in the late 70's very early 80s. Dave then moved up to the Highlands with his family, SHe played once or twice in the pub at Rosehall when we went up to visit them but she essentially stopped playing out after that, she'd still practice and sing at home. I can still hear her voice. There was a sadness in it that lent itself to folk songs of sadness, tragedy, loss and woe of which she had experienced a lot.

Subject: RE: Info about Wendy Bonington
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 01 May 22 - 11:56 PM

Is there any videos online anywhere to hear Wendy Bonington sing? Either solo or with another singer or group? I tried looking on Youtube by just typing her name in but could not find any videos. Perhaps there is a video but under a different singer's name or group that she sang with but not under her name.
If anyone knows if there is any online video to hear her singing, please post how I can find it.
Thank you.

Subject: RE: Info about Wendy Bonington (died 2014)
From: GUEST,Sue Allan
Date: 02 May 22 - 06:13 AM

No videos but I have something of her singing - just couple of songs - on cassette. She was a regular at the Friday folk sessions at the Sun Inn in Ireby in the early 1970s. Sent copy of recording to Chris after Wendy’s death. I also noted words of one or two of songs she sang in my then song book. Lovely singer, with a fabulous, large American Stella guitar. Lovely lady too, who became a very good Alexander Technique teacher. I did some sessions with her in late 1990s.

Subject: RE: Info about Wendy Bonington (died 2014)
From: GUEST,Min ago
Date: 03 May 22 - 12:55 AM

Hello Sue Allan,

Would there be any chance you could send a copy of the songs from the 1970s to me? I would pay for the cost and shipping to USA of course. Thank you, Lin P.S. Are the sessions you did together in the late 1990's also on cassette. .

Subject: RE: Info about Wendy Bonington (died 2014)
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 03 May 22 - 01:02 AM

Hello again Sue Allan,
On previous message I sent, please excuse typo on line where my name is.
Should read Lin (not Min ago)
Ha, ha. I don't know how "ago" got there.
I am sooo tired right now and hard to type.

Subject: RE: Info about Wendy Bonington (died 2014)
From: Sue Allan
Date: 11 May 22 - 02:54 PM

Hi Lin, sorry for delay in replying... don't check out Mudcat very often. I digitised Wendy singing two songs 1972 so could easily email you them if you let me have your email address. (maybe in a direct message if you're a Mudcat member? I've just reset my cookies so I can receive messages again). Sue

Subject: RE: Info about Wendy Bonington (died 2014)
From: GUEST, Lin
Date: 13 May 22 - 01:15 AM

Hi Sue Allan,
Thanks for getting back to me.
You can send me an email as follows,

[e-mail]

Thanks so much.

Lin

Subject: RE: Info about Wendy Bonington (died 2014)
From: Sue Allan
Date: 14 May 22 - 03:00 PM

OK Lin, will do it tomorrow when back on computer :-)

Subject: RE: Info about Wendy Bonington (died 2014)
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 16 May 22 - 11:05 PM

Thank you so much Sue Allan. I look forward to hearing it.
I am in California. And you?

Subject: RE: Info about Wendy Bonington (died 2014)
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 21 May 22 - 08:57 PM

Hi Sue Allen,

I never received the songs you were going to send.
Just wanted to check back with you to be sure you have my email. Here it is,
[e-mail]

I checked in my Spam to see if it might have been there but not there.
Perhaps you have just been very busy, so no worries.
Just send when you have the time.
Thanks,
Lin

Subject: RE: Info about Wendy Bonington (died 2014)
From: GUEST,Joe (Daniel) Bonington
Date: 20 Mar 24 - 03:53 PM

Hi Sue, I hope your well.
Not sure if you remember me and my brother Rupert. This is Daniel Wendy's eldest son. Would it be possible to hear mums tapes as well, if you have digital copies? It would be amazing to hear her sing again. My email address is [e-mail].
My cousin Anna , Angie and Nevs daughter may have more as well. I've sent her a message.
Thanks