Obit: Jacqueline (Jacqui) Walker (11 May 2003)

Subject: RE: Obit: Jacqueline (Jacqui) Walker
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 May 03 - 01:59 PM

What an admirable job you have done, Richard, in pulling this together and including so many. I am very sorry to hear of your and Jaqui's family's loss.

kat

Subject: RE: Obit: Jacqueline (Jacqui) Walker
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 22 May 03 - 12:43 PM

Thank you for that Hille.

I have some more details of Jacqui's life now (thanks to those who have obliged) and will go over them with Barry some time and post. If you have guilty secrets from the 60s South London Music scene, watch this space.

The Wake is now definite at the Canopus, Hill Road, Rochester. 6 pm Sat 31st May.



JACQUI'S WAKE
JACQUI WALKER 10th March 1945 – 11th May 2003

31st MAY 2003

The Canopus
Hill Road
Rochester

6pm til closing
Singaround starts at 8pm

Join us,
         With your instruments,
         your friends,
         and your smile.
No black, no sad songs and no sorry for your self.

All are welcome to sing her out
in the way she knew and loved.

Vectis, you are invited.

Essex Girl, you are invited.

Anyone else who knew her is invited.

The pub is laying on food, and laying in xtra beer - the IPA there is good.

THe pub was even going to get the piano tuned, but alas oiks have wrecked it (and also it was not a concert pitch instrument, being old) but I think one keyboard player may be bringing a keyboard to put up if there is room, so if you need a keyboard to play that night and ask him nicely....

If you need a map PM me with your email (it's a big file) or snailmail address.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jacqueline (Jacqui) Walker
From: Nemesis
Date: 20 May 03 - 05:48 AM

Dear Richard,

So sorry to hear of your tragic loss - the Observer this Sunday just gone (18th) carried an article with addresses for alternative DIY funeral arrangers .. (does any one still have the paper and can check please?)

Just done a quick search - you might want to give this organisation a call?
The Natural Death Centre
6 Blackstock Mews, Blackstock Road, London N4 2BT
Tel +44 [0]20 7359 8391; fax +44 [0]20 7354 3831

It's a charity set up to help people arrange lo-cost DIY funerals (woodland/ eco-interments etc)
Hope they can help or help with info?
Best wishes
Hille

Subject: RE: Obit: Jacqueline (Jacqui) Walker
From: GUEST,John Barden
Date: 20 May 03 - 05:28 AM

Sorry Jo - in my haste I had left you and Dominic out. My thoughts of course also go out to you and Dominic at this awful time. Your Mum will be missed by us Kent Folkies I can tell you. When I last saw her at Rochester Sweeps she was on top of her form and really seemed to be enjoying herself both at the 'George Vaults' and at the 'Gordon Hotel', so I was utterly shocked when I got home from Greece to the e-mails from Richard. It's a great loss.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jacqueline (Jacqui) Walker
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 May 03 - 02:13 AM

Others have told me that they wish to post here in memoriam but cannot find the thread. I am, therefore, refreshing it.

I should also be grateful if any UK (particularly South Eastern UK) Catters could tell me of any funeral directors who they know will carry out a funeral as required by the deceased, rahter than as one of one of the standard packages (complete with forced lines of extras).

Jacqui wanted the very minimum funerary arrangements possible - the simplest possible cremation, with no ceremony at all (the wake will be for that) and I want the ashes back to scatter. That's all. But all the funeral directors we have tried so far plan to charge at least £700 to get the body cremated and leave the ashes at the crematorium to be collected (plus, of course, the doctors, and crematorium fees). This is not what Jacqui wanted. I don't think I can handle a completely DIY arrangement (moving the coffin in my estate car). How do I get funeral directors to do less (and charge less) rather than more?

Finally (for the moment), the wake.

It is now definitely (barring an earthquake or similar) at 6 pm, music starts 8 pm and the Canopus (pub), Hill Road, Rochester, Kent. Food provided by the brewery (many thanks). No-host drinks. Pub not closed (folk is the music of the people) but signs on the doors to indicate it is a celebration of Jacqui's life, or similar. Keep watching here in case of changes.

I am still trying to collect stories of Jacqui's life in music.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jacqueline (Jacqui) Walker
From: GUEST,Jo Musto
Date: 17 May 03 - 02:44 PM

Hey John - don't forget about us! Mum also had another daughter (me) and our brother Dominic.

Richard will be mailing details of our "folk wake" very soon - hopefully see you there.

Kind regards and thanks for your support
Jo

Subject: RE: Obit: Jacqueline (Jacqui) Walker
From: GUEST,John Barden
Date: 17 May 03 - 02:17 PM

Terrible news.

So sorry to hear this on my return from abroad, and my heart goes out to you Richard, and to young Rachel. Jacqui will be sorely missed. Count me in for anything you want to do to commemorate her life.

John

Subject: RE: Obit: Jacqueline (Jacqui) Walker
From: GUEST,Andy Castellari
Date: 15 May 03 - 06:14 PM

Richard,
I was very saddened to hear of Jacqui's death - my condolences go out to Jacqui and your families. It was a shock to hear the news after seeing you both at the Sweeps in the Gordon Hotel when you were having such as good time. I remember particularly a magical Sunday evening at the Fighting Cocks last year when you hosted the Folk Club in the bar instead of the restaurant. It was one of those perfect nights of playing, singing and that lovely feeling of being part of a community - a feeling that is so rare nowadays in our society.

I hope I can make it to one of the wakes - my e-mail is [e-mail].
    Andy Castellari
    (mandolin player in the Riversiders)

Subject: RE: Obit: Jacqueline (Jacqui) Walker
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 15 May 03 - 03:55 AM

Thank you vectis.

Can you PM me your email address? I am going to do a short summary of her musical history as set out above. I already have some detail from Pete Hicks, and Barry her first husband has offered to check/add but I am looking for other input so I would like to email you with a draft when ready, for any input you can offer.

Possible date for wake (not final yet) Sat 31st May at the Canopus pub Hill Road Rochester Kent 6 pm, singing starts at 8, ends closing time. Watch this space for confirmation and detail.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jacqueline (Jacqui) Walker
From: vectis
Date: 14 May 03 - 05:30 PM

Sorry to hear about the tragic death of Jacqui. I remember her from way back at the Phoebus in Catford.
Mary

Subject: RE: Obit: Jacqueline (Jacqui) Walker
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 14 May 03 - 04:26 AM

Breezy can probably remember some of the "Phoebus Awakes" (the Rising Sun, Catford) days - It's probably not a good idea to try and get in touch with Dave Cooper at the moment. Tony Dean of "Elsie's Band" was also around in those days.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jacqueline (Jacqui) Walker
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 13 May 03 - 09:12 PM

Bob, email me on mclaw at btinternet dot com please, I had been trying to find your phone number to call you to tell you, and to make certain you were included in the wake plan.

If I don't make the Riverside at Horton Kirby Sunday can you please if you are there tell people and also tell them that there will be a folk wake and they should watch this space for detail?

Rachel and I will be at Hazlitt Folk (at the Old House at Home, Pudding Lane Maidstone, for kibitzers who may be interested) and will also sing (I/we plan to attempt a couple of Jacqui's songs) Thursday 15th and it is a charity evening for a charity to be selected by me as Jacqui's executor. Next week definites (maybe not including Rachel) include the Canopus, Hill Road, Rochester, Tuesday, and the Greyhound, Maidstone, Thursday. Possibles this week include Daz and Man's club at the Three Mariners, Near Rainham (Lower Road) Friday

Pete Hicks (Slattery and Skinner's Rats) has given me some details of Jacqui before I knew her, and I will need to reduce them to writing and check them with Barry her first husband (who was a killer blues player, made it as far as BBC Radio 2 and an invitation from a very well known psychedelic band to work with them which he did not accept and I hope to entice out of retirement for the wake) before posting.

Anyone who remembers her from Phoebus Wakes, The Drovers, the Chapmen, the West County tour with the Yetties, Nottingham Traditional Music CLub or anywhere else she residented or played, please PM or email me.

I am particularly keen to trace the middle years (her 20s)when she rubbed shoulders with Donovan, Long John Baldry, Rod Stewart, Hughie Flint, Dave and Toni Arthur, Ben Mayall (son of John Mayall) the late great Jo-Ann Kelly, etc and I think I am right threw Eric Burdon out of a party for pissiing down Donovan's leg. If you have stories of her (good or bad, I'll edit, and I know she was no saint) please PM or email me.

Some of the stuff may make a mini-feature in "What's On Folks" to be written by Simon Barlow who remembers seeing her play with the Chapmen in the early 60s, in Southampton.

Contact details for any other members of her early bands would also be good research material - for example Dave Cooper who was I think in the Chapmen and if my information is correct is now singing US-style sacred mouth music in the Nottingham (UK) area.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jacqueline (Jacqui) Walker
From: GUEST,Bob Bradley
Date: 13 May 03 - 01:18 PM

Dear Richard and family,
So sorry to hear your sad news. She'll be greatly missed. My first time at the Hazlitt, the first time I had sung in public Jacqui and you made me so welcome. All the best
    Bob

Subject: RE: Obit: Jacqueline (Jacqui) Walker
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 13 May 03 - 12:00 PM

Thanks Essex Girl. She wasn't. She had emphysema, but it was not that bad yet. Medical errors killed her. Not being a medical negligence lawyer myself (copyright is my thing) I am currently searching for a good contingency medical negligence lawyer....

Subject: RE: Obit: Jacqueline (Jacqui) Walker
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 13 May 03 - 10:39 AM

Richard: so sorry. My sympathy to you all, too.
Steve

Subject: RE: Obit: Jacqueline (Jacqui) Walker
From: GUEST,Essex Girl
Date: 13 May 03 - 06:22 AM

Richard, I was both shocked and sad to hear about Jacqui. I had no idea she was so ill. Please accept my deepest sympathies for yourself and family. Linda

Subject: RE: Obit: Jacqueline (Jacqui) Walker
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 12 May 03 - 07:41 AM

I'll try to put a history together in early course.

Jacqui sang semi-pro with the Chapmen and the Drovers, and was closely connected to the Crayfolk, in the 60s. She knew that 60s folk scene well and ran or co-ran or residented at a number of clubs.

Some of you may remember my posts when she had a gall-bladder operation just at the turn of the millennium

The medical history of the week is rather shocking and I can't go over it just at the moment.

Subject: Obit: Jaqueline (Jacqui) Walker
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 12 May 03 - 05:27 AM

Linda and I were deeply saddened and shocked to hear of the death of Jacqui Walker, the long term partner of Mudcatter Richard Bridge.
Richard has sent the following e-mails.

Sun, 11 May 2003 15:53:51 +0100

Jacqui is in intensive care at Medway hospital and the prognosis is not good. It is likely to be some days before there is any change for better or worse.


Mon, 12 May 2003 08:09:28 +0100

I am sorry to tell you that Jacqui died at 6 pm yesterday.
Those of you who are folkies, there is likely to be a folk-wake (sad songs, and black clothes are banned at Jacqui's request).

I first met Jacqui and Richard many years ago, there was then quite an interval before Linda and I got to know them again, a couple of years ago.

Jacqui and Richard used to organise Hazlitt Folk in Maidstone, and were also involved with a regular session at "The Canopus" near Rochester. Although we unfortunately missed it, we've heard great reviews of the session which they hosted at the Rochester "Sweeps" Festival only a couple of weeks ago. Jacqui and Richard were quite a formidable vocal duo, with Jacqui playing both guitar and recorder.

Jacqui was obviously also a great support to Richard in his campaigns against both the new PEL laws and also the airport planned for the Isle of Grain, where they lived.

Linda and I send our deepest sympathies to Richard and the family, Jacqui will be sadly missed by everyone who knew her.