Dave Bryant

Subject: Dave Bryant
From: Tito2
Date: 01 Jun 25 - 06:21 AM

Hello Folks, I am trying to collect up any information on the Late Dave Bryant who used to frequent these pages before his demise 20 years ago. I realise many of his cohort will sadly also have departed from these pages too.

If anyone has any pictures, sound recordings or dare say it even Video of David it would be greatly appreciated if they could get in touch as a family member i have very little to connect to him and would like to try to build a better picture while i can .

Many thanks

Subject: RE: Dave Bryant
From: Nick Dow
Date: 01 Jun 25 - 06:31 AM

Might be worth contacting Sheila Finn Details are on line.

Subject: RE: Dave Bryant
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 01 Jun 25 - 07:38 AM

There are quite a few shots of Dave at the 2004 Eurogather in
Barrow on Humber, either in the background or performing with Linda (part 8) and performing alone (part 11)

Photos of the 2004 Eurogather at Barrow on Humber

DC

Subject: RE: Dave Bryant
From: Tito2
Date: 01 Jun 25 - 07:52 AM

Thanks Nick and Doug most appreciated

Subject: RE: Dave Bryant
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jun 25 - 10:33 AM

Dave Bryant posts logged on and a Google search on Dave Bryant + Mudcat.org

Subject: RE: Dave Bryant
From: The Sandman
Date: 02 Jun 25 - 12:43 AM

Dave used to call himsel;f jokingly, The Tito Gobbi of the Balls Pond
Road.
He was very good at getting sing songs going in pubs, etc, The mudcat member Billybob is another who sang with him and would possibly have info.

Subject: RE: Dave Bryant
From: The Sandman
Date: 02 Jun 25 - 01:09 AM

Dave was a Gilbert and Sullivan fan, I remember him singingI live in Trafalgar Square


Today I've been busy removing
And I'm all of a fidgety-fidge
My last digs were on the Embankment
The third seat from Waterloo Bridge
But the cooking and, oh! The attendance
Didn't happen to suit me so well
So I ordered my man to pack up, and
Look out for another hotel
He did, and the new place is 'extra', I vow
Just wait till I tell you where I'm staying now

I live in Trafalgar Square
With four lions to guard me
Fountains and statues all over the place
And the 'Metropole' staring me right in the face
I'll own it's a trifle draughty
But I look at it this way you see
If it's good enough for Nelson
It's quite good enough for me

The beds ain't so soft as they might be
Still the temperature's never too high
And it's nice to see swells who are passing
Look on you with envious eye
And when you wake in the morning
To have a good walk for your breakfast
And the same for your dinner and tea
There's many a swell up in Park Lane tonight
Who'd be glad if he only had my appetite


When I think of those unlucky bounders
The Morgans and Clarence de Clares
Who are forced to put up at the 'Cecil'
My tenderest sympathy's theirs
And to show I'm not selfish or greedy
I just tell each aristocrat
That I don't mind exchanging apartments
Now, I can't say fairer than that
But the softheaded sillies won't hear what I say
They still go on suffering, while I'm all O.K.

Written by CW Murphy in 1902, and performed around that time by Morny Cash in 1908, this song later appeared in the repertoire of Stanley Holloway in the late 1950s.

Sources:

Subject: RE: Dave Bryant
From: Tito2
Date: 02 Jun 25 - 06:14 AM

Thanks Sandman,

Someone did mentioned the Tito Gobbi nickname a while ago to me and I had spotted Billybob clue somewhere too.

Now you have put that Trafalgar square song in my head for the first time in a long time, it'll be going around all day now i expect. I can't quite recall the tune to the verse though i'm sure i can find it , the Chorus i remember well.

Subject: RE: Dave Bryant
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 02 Jun 25 - 05:10 PM

I don’t have any pictures or recordings to share, but we hosted him at our folk club regularly in the 1980s and he was always great value - lively, engaging, with good sense of humour and great fund of songs to draw on. He and a few of us started an impromptu session the day after the Tenterden Folk Day years many back, and thereafter it officially morphed into a weekend festival, or so I like to recall. But yes, Sheila Finn is the one to contact.

Subject: RE: Dave Bryant
From: Noreen
Date: 02 Jun 25 - 06:05 PM

mudgather barrow2004

Doug’s link above doesn’t seem to work- wonder if my rusty html works?

Subject: RE: Dave Bryant
From: Noreen
Date: 02 Jun 25 - 06:24 PM

: )
What memories, eh?

It must be time for a Mudgather reunion!

Subject: RE: Dave Bryant
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 02 Jun 25 - 06:57 PM

Doug’s link above doesn’t seem to work- wonder if my rusty html works?

Both my link and Noreen's work for me on my current tablet. I tried them on an older one that I replaced at the end of last year but only Noreen's link worked on that one.

Hi Noreen. Great memories indeed.

DC

Subject: RE: Dave Bryant
From: Tito2
Date: 02 Jun 25 - 06:59 PM

I found both links worked on my computer thanks

Subject: RE: Dave Bryant
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 03 Jun 25 - 06:58 AM

Bingo! spotted the differences: Doug's link lacks a leading "https://", so some browsers default to adding "http://" unless instructed otherwise. There's also a leading "www.", which was deemed Old News and untrustworthy by the MudElves. Try this version instead, Noreen:

https://mudcat.org/photos/events_page.cfm?file_name_sent=2004eurobarrow&part_sent=2

Hope this helps.

Subject: RE: Dave Bryant
From: GUEST,James E
Date: 03 Jun 25 - 07:47 AM

Dave Bryant was also the editor of Folk London magazine from some time in the late 1970s till the mid-late 80s, when Sheila Finn took over. I can find out the exact dates if it's of interest.

The Vaughan Williams Memorial Library at Cecil Sharp House has an archive of the magazines. I'm working at putting some of them online but don't hold your breath…

Subject: RE: Dave Bryant
From: Tito2
Date: 03 Jun 25 - 08:21 AM

Thanks, I am in contact with Sheila

Subject: RE: Dave Bryant
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 03 Jun 25 - 02:55 PM

I only know him from Sidmouth Folk Festival and The Middle Bar Singers. Apart from G & S, I do recall him doing a very rousing rendition of Sweeney Todd the Barber. And I think he wrote the parody of the Beatles’ Yesterday, which I think is on this site somewhere.
I do have a couple of photos of him, so will pm the OP.

Subject: RE: Dave Bryant
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jun 25 - 04:59 PM

Yes Tattie there are a couple on the middle bar singers Facebook page