Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)

Subject: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: Blowzabella
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 11:31 AM

I heard today that Tony Molyneux, of the UK shanty group, Stormalong John, was found dead at this home yesterday. He will be sadly missed.

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: PennyBlack
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 12:19 PM

That's sad news he will be missed

PB

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: Julia
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 01:39 PM

We are devastated! What a voice! What a wonderful guy! We always really enjoyed his company when we crossed paths
So sorry....
Julia & Fred / Castlebay

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: GUEST,Henry
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 01:43 PM

We recently travelled with him on the East Lancs Railway. Tony will be sorely missed.

And we say so, and we hope so.

Henry and Freda Peacock

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: Blowzabella
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 01:54 PM

Sorry that my first post was so brief - this came as a great shock. Tony was a wonderful man, and a dear friend. He had been seeing a doctor about a heart problem and hadn't sung with the group atthe recent Liverpool Shanty Festival due to doctor's orders. He was having further tests but I don't think anyone knew how poorly he clearly was. It seems he had a massive heart attack but details are still a bit sketchy. Arthur Garnett of Stormalong John has put a message on www.seasongs.co.uk which has the facility (if you login) to leave messages of condolence, which will be passed on to hs eldest son, if anyone feels they would like to do this

Arthur emailed me, reckoning that, by now, Tony would be sat in a better place, with Stan (Hugill), a pint of real ale in his hand, watching steam trains go by...I think that just might be right

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: LesB
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 02:56 PM

When I got a phone call yesterday telling me of Tony's daeth I was shocked. I have known Tony, (Wilson, as he was then)since my first encounter with folk music at the Bothy Folk Club. He started the Bothy, he was the Betty at one of the Southport Swords first performances, he was one of the founder members of Merseyside CAMRA, the list goes on. He will be sadly missed.

Les

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 04:20 PM

Sad news indeed. Haven't seen him for years but remember his pithy humour well.

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: GUEST,Ken and Jan Lardner
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 07:07 PM

So glad someone started this thread

Tony was a very dear friend and we will miss him so much - to the rest of the Stormies he will be missed as friend as well as a member of the group.

We were both stunned to hear the news, we did know he was ill but never imagined we would not meet up at another festival later in the year.

To anyone who received one of Tony's Christmas gift tapes - treasure it we will !!

Loved the suggestion that he is having a pint with Stan - it is just right

Fiddlers Green will be a richer place

Jan and Ken

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: Skipper Jack
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 05:21 AM

I happened to go into the Seasongs website, and was deeply shocked and saddened to read the tragic news.

Tony will be sorely missed by The Stormies and by everyone in the Maritime fraternity. What's more we shall miss him at The Swansea Maritime Festival.

I, along with Baggyrinkle and friends in Swansea, send our deepest sympathy to Tony's family.

Dave R.

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: GUEST,Chris Lock & Ian Tupling
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 09:11 AM

A sad loss of a man who was always so full of life and enthusiasm, especially for his music. A true gentleman. The whole of the maritime scene will miss his greatly.

Chris & Ian

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 10:33 AM

This shattering news has brought me to tears. I have known Tony since my first ever booking at the Bothy club, Southport, in the 1960's. He was known as Tony Wilson then. We shared a love of the music and of football, and spent much time talking about the fortunes of Everton (Tony) and Nottingham Forest (Me). We arranged some uproarious folk club swaps between Liverpool and Nottingham in the 60's and 70's, evenings still well remembered by those who took part. I stayed at Tony's place on my Liverpool gigs for a number of years, until the gigs dried up,thereafter we only met occasionally, mainly at Maritime song events. At this years Lancaster Festival I stood next to him onstage for the massed singing of 'Leave Her Johnny', which he always led with his powerful voice, little knowing it was to be my last sight of him. Tony, who epitomised honest love of the music,and passion for performing, joins the sad roster of losses the folk world has had to endure in recent years, people we can ill afford to lose. I have a few photographs, some recordings and a lot of memories and I'm glad to have them. But I will miss him. Roy Harris

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: LesB
Date: 05 Jul 04 - 06:26 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 05 Jul 04 - 09:34 PM

Loved Tony's vigour when he sang... a gentleman, one of the best.

Dan

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: GUEST,Shay
Date: 05 Jul 04 - 11:00 PM

It is with the greatest sadness that I heard of Tony's death. He was a dear friend, and I sang alongside him hundreds of times in England and all over Northern Europe with the Stormies. He was a long time resident at the Liverpool Traditional Folk Club at the old Gregson's Wells pub, and a stalwart shanty singer. He was a big man, an independent thinker, kind and gentle. I first met him in the Liverpool Institute where he was a guest lecturer on Frank McCall's course, "An Appreciation of Folk Music" in 1975. He was the first to introduce me to Malicorne, and the joys of French and Breton music. A beloved member of Stormalong John, he and Stan Hugill had a very close and precious relationship. Tony taught me how to better appreciate music and to be a better person. Thanks, Tony

"The tug is waiting at the old Pier Head,
To take us down the stream,
The anchor's weighed, the sails are set,
So fare thee well, fare thee well."

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 03:38 AM

All of us Bothy-people are still taking in this tragic news. Suffice to say that I wouldn't be a Resident singer if it weren't for his encouragement and indeed, asking me to join the team from the "floor" in the mid-'70s. Nor would I be the front-man and doing it in the manner in which I do, if it weren't for his example. Forthright and passionate, his catholic booking policy would see Mr Fox engaged one week at the Club, followed by Tim Lyons the next! - ensuring that the traddies and the modernists would each have their backs up within the fortnight! - but I loved that lack of pigeon-holing and learned so much from it. Entertaining? Yes. Sincere? To the nth degree.
Of course I'm only 'holding the fort' til he returns from that 6 month teaching secondment he took in 1975, which is how I ended up singing "The Barnyards Of Delgaty" each Sunday ever since. I last saw him at the celebration for Liverpool CAMRA's 30 years existence and whilst most of us were being self-congratulatory, Tony's speech railed against the big Pub Companies (you can hardly call them brewers now)and reminded us of the battles still to be fought, counselling us not to relax nor drop our guard.
He was, as he'd always been, an activist and I shall miss him, oh how I shall miss him, as a dear friend and mentor.

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 10:46 AM

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: GUEST,Garton Ruverry
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 10:57 AM

Tony was a big man, but a gentle man.    He filled centre stage with the Stormies and I'm sure they will miss him very much.   He is irreplaceable as a performer but more so as a friend.

further comments can be read at www.seasongs.co.uk

GR

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 02:35 PM

Following on from my last posting, I'd just add that Tony was a champion and an evangelist for everything he believed in, whether Everton FC, Cains Mild or Alan Stivell! The oft-repeated story about Paul Simon's failure to get a Bothy gig is true. As Tony said of him - "A conceited man and that came through in his songs. I didn't think he was worth £15 in 1965 and I don't think so now!"
However to quote from one of the maligned Simon's songs, "Who'll be my role model now that my role model is gone?"

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: GUEST,banjoman9
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 06:36 AM

Sad news - we knew Tony (Wilson) back in the late 60's mainly at the Liverpool Folk Club on Saturday evenings at the Mitre in Dale st.
I also knew him when he taught at St. Philomena's school.
Although we never really saw eye to eye on some of the issues surrounding the burgeoning music culture of the time We always respected him for his forthwright views and humour. Havn't seen him in person since then apart from a brief look at a video of the Liverpool MAritime Festival.
He's in good singing company now (or watching steam trains)

SAdly missed
Pete & Maggie

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 12:35 PM

Tony's Funeral is Friday July 16th. Midday at Springwood Crematoriam ,south Liverpool.

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jul 04 - 04:48 PM

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: GUEST,Alan Hardy
Date: 11 Jul 04 - 10:50 AM

Although it is now over a week since I heard the sad news about Tony, it is still very difficult to take it in and imagine shanty festivals without him. I was looking forward to seeing him again at Swansea and Scarborough over the coming weeks and it will seem very strange there without him. I am proud to have known Tony and agree with everything he thought best - Everton Football Club, sea shanties and CAMRA. Rest in peace, old mate!
Alan Hardy
Bitter End

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: GUEST,Darren
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 02:07 AM

I've not had much to do with the shanty scene, except visits to Sea Fever in Hull over the past four years. One of the great memories and attractions for me was watching Stormalong John and Tony in particular. Although the whole group were singing, Tony was the one the eye was drawn to and you knew that he would always entertain.

There are many words that could be used in his obituary and I'm not qualified to say I know which are best used, but the one I personally would use is "Exuberant". If the worth of a life is measured in the amount of pleasure they have given to others, then Tony's was priceless.

I'm going to dig out some CD's now and sing a few songs to Tony. Oh, and I might just have a pint in his honour too!

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: GUEST,Guest ,old git.
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 10:14 AM

Just heard this news
What a sad loss
Wherever he is now you can bet the rafters will be roaring!
geoff turner (The Roaring Forties

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: GUEST,David Hughes EX CAMRA
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 06:13 AM

A sad loss of a good freind, I hope he has found what he was seeking, peace and a good pint of Cains overlooking a blue sea with gentle breeze's and of course a background of one of those famouse shanties he was so fond of.


David Hughes

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: GUEST,Ray Jackson
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 06:41 AM

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: GUEST,Ray Jackson
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 07:14 AM

God Bless you Tony, a big man with a big heart, a very dear friend, will be sadly missed.
Ray Jackson, ( Tweedle Dumb )

Subject: RE: Obit: Tony Molyneux (Stormalong John)
From: GUEST,George Jones
Date: 23 Jul 04 - 05:39 PM

I have been saddened by the news of Tony's passing. I knew him from involvement in another aspect of his many interests and those interested will find some comment on the North West Air News website at:
http://www.xsorbit3.com/users/nwanforum///index.cgi?board=nostalgia&action=display&num=1090509856

A great guy and someone I knew for 45 years.

George Jones
Wrexham