Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)

Subject: Old Name
From: GUEST,Spikeis
Date: 10 Oct 04 - 05:31 PM

Hi People, Anyone from the UK folk scene in the 70's / 80's remember YING TONG JOHN, alias John Strachan, of such famous albums as PRIMIVAL SLIME? He even appeared in Auf Weidersehen Pet as "Big Bas"
Someone told me he had passed away, but can anyone give anymore info? We once had a VERY drunken night of frivolity at the Water Mill in Pately Bridge, and another in The Old Tradition in Harrogate!
C'mon guys, get your thinking caps on, especially in the north east where he was from, let me know owt you know.
cheers
Spike

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Oct 04 - 01:29 PM

He used to be a big mate of Mick Elliot - he left the folk scene to do ( naughty ) comedy in the Clubs in the North ( East) .He was also a mate of Ed Pigford - maybe you could do a search for those two people and get some info.

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 11 Oct 04 - 02:08 PM

He used to play the the bell and pump folk club in Brum, which was the hang out of the the Derek Grinell agency, Perrots folly. Perrots is based somewhere down the south west on the north coast nowadays. I suspect most performers keep some sort of a link with agents who have served them well. the musicians union would tell you where - it was in their directory that they brought out at least once.

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 11 Oct 04 - 04:33 PM

I agree with Guest that Mick and Ed would be the favourites from whom to get any information. John came from the Sunderland area and played folk clubs, caberet,stag nights if fact anywhere where entertainment was required, excepting church socials of course. He also had a tiny part in the film "Stormy Monday"

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST,TwelvestringTrev.
Date: 16 Sep 09 - 04:40 AM

I met him and on one occasion accompanied him on guitar.
One very quick quality picker! I still listen to and enjoy his recordings to this day.

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 02:07 PM

I can confirm he is alive and well. In fact I am sat in a bar with one of
his close friends as I type this.he has 2 daughter and 1 son, is married and is in good health. No longer performing but enjoying life. He lives in Thornaby and works as an estate agent/advisor.

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Dec 09 - 10:06 AM

my god i thought my family were the only ones whod heard of him, we got the LP of him somewhere can u buy them on cd or anythin anywhere

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST,Big Baz's Son
Date: 26 Dec 09 - 11:27 AM

he works for halifax so he will be on the rock n roll soon

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 01:08 PM

So, so many memories of John. Mr brother knew him quite well but I also met him several times as I worked in a folk club in Sedgefield. Great guy, actually very talented and of course absolute nutter in those days. Always guaranteed a great night when he was performing - we actually went to the TV studios when he did a show, must have been Tyne Tees I guess as TV studio was in Newcastle. So glad to hear that he is OK - love to hear the sales patter for selling houses though ..... lol

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST,Old Friend
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 12:44 PM

John lived in East Boldon and used to frequent the Brittania Pub in Cleadon Village, before the refurb. He used to attend the Sunderland folk club, usually with his friend called Chuck and also the Marsden Inn folk club in South Shields. Pleased to hear that he is alive and in good health.

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: r.padgett
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 02:45 PM

I recollect that there is a thread on here saying he is alive and well somewhere!!

Ray

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST,Stephanie Smith ne Hunt
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 05:00 AM

This is so great to find as my dad Bill Hunt is having a 70th birthday party and he & my late mum Sheila Carolan used to sing & hang out with Ying Tong, and Ed. In fact Mick was best man at their wedding. Can anyone pass my details onto John to hopefully contact me asap on 0191 565 0979 as it would be fantastic to hook them up with my dad Bill after all this time.
As a side note, my two sisters and I all sing folk and will be putting on a show at dad's party along with some other folksters. Dad always talked about nights in the Londonderrey pub in Sunderland. He said he was at the bar with Mick as they'd met through teachers training at Sunderland, and the room fell silent and hear heard a woman singing and my dad, before he'd even seen her, thought to himself "I'm going to marry that woman". So there you are!

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 06:04 PM

I used to really enjoy his performances at the "Talisman" folk club in Hitchin back in the early 70's. I always remember a wonderfully savage put down of his that 35 yrs on I'm STILL waiting to use in anger; "with a mouth like yours I'm surprised your gums don't bleed every 28 days". Sorry but I couldn't resist sharing that!!

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 06:56 PM

He played the heavy that the boys in Auf Wiedershen Pet beat up - he was playing one of Ally Fraser's hardmen.

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 06:57 PM

So maybe Spotlight will have his contact details.

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: fat B****rd
Date: 30 Dec 11 - 01:22 PM

He was in 'Stormy Monday' with Sting and Sean Bean and I saw him at the Hope Inn, Sedgefield in 1980 something.

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Apr 13 - 02:30 PM

I run the Official Website for Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and would love to get hold of John for a Charity Evening in Newcastle in September this year, 2013.

Can anyone get a message to him?

Many thanks, Lee.
awpet.com

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST,Steve Chilcott
Date: 11 May 13 - 04:36 PM

I used to work for John as agent in the late 70s. If I remember correctly he bought a Martin D28 from me, which I think Bob Fox played for a time, although Bob's recollection is vaguer then mine! I'd love to know where that instrument is now!
He already played a nice, chunky D45 so I was never too sure why he wanted it!

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: folkypaul
Date: 12 May 13 - 10:08 AM

Didn't he get in the Guinness book of record for singing non stop at one time?
I remember at a club on Teesside he did a full two sets without stopping.   Mostly nonsense songs like The Bear Came Over the Mountain etc. It was a
bugger if you needed the toilet.

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST,Bilbo
Date: 16 Jun 13 - 11:02 AM

John is actually from Newcastle, his lovely wife Sandie is from Sunderland. They live happily ever after in Thornaby.

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Nov 13 - 07:43 AM

Ying tong john is my dad! he and my mam sandie are very well! please message me if you want him to get in touch [e-mail] and I'll pass the message on. Thanks Sally

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST,Kelly Davis
Date: 19 Jul 14 - 10:02 AM

He is VERY much alive and will remain so !!!!

Kelly Davis

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST,Kelly Davis
Date: 19 Jul 14 - 10:04 AM

He is VERY much alive and will remain so !!!!

Kelly Davis

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 01:26 AM

Remember seeing him in Londonderry Sunderland. Great performer

Trevor

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Mar 15 - 04:51 AM

Ying Tong John was the main attraction at one of our sessions at Ferens Hall, University of Hull.
Ferens was then an all male traditional hall of residence & he very much played up to the audience. Very entertaining & fondly remembered.

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST,Joe White
Date: 11 Aug 15 - 06:06 PM

He scared the shit out of me playing the ghost in "The Watch House" when I was a kid.

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jul 18 - 03:29 PM

We met John today at the Windmill in Redmile near Belvoir Castle where Auf Pet was filmed with Arthur Pringle as landlord. He had been attending an Auf Pet Convention over the weekend. Top bloke and good conversation amongst numerous beers with 'Big He's
????

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 11:53 AM

John was in the same form class as me at boldon secondary modern new road school boldon colliery form teacher Mr tarbutt and definitely lived in east boldon great lad.

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 18 Nov 19 - 09:38 AM

I went to East Boldon school with his younger sister Veronica in the early to mid 60's and in the Scouts with his younger brother Bob around same time, alas Bob is no longer with us. I met John and Veronica in my parents pub the Ivy House in Sunderland about 1978, had a great crack, good times

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Sep 20 - 07:32 AM

Looked him up after reading an article about Dave Stewart who also used to play the Londonderry Sunderland and and I found this thread. Ying Tong used to play on a Friday at the Derry Folk Night in Sunderland in about 1970 when I was 17. He was a total nutter, very funny and a great bloke. Used to appear on stage wearing diver's flippers and mask. Had a night with him and his crew at the Cowshill Hotel up in the Dales - I got very well refreshed and threw up in the hood of my sleeping bag which was only apparent next morning. Fried a Fray Bentos tinned steak and kidney pie for breakfast on an open fire and hitched home to Sunderland. Life doesn't get much better than that. Paul W.

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Sep 20 - 06:10 AM

now thatracters these days's how it was in those days- where are the cha?- I know, in lockdown, but before that, it was all rather worthy & a bit anal- let's hear MODERN folk misdemeanours!!

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST,JOE SMITH
Date: 02 Oct 20 - 06:07 AM

new john at new road school where we both went to in boldon, later used to drink in the black horse west boldon, had some very good laughs in there.

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST,Jon Smith
Date: 08 Oct 20 - 06:52 AM

Remember him well at the Londonderry, hilarious performer and very talented. Mention above of The Bear Came Over The Mountain brings the memories flooding back. Little Dave Stewart used to perform there, too, dreaming of finding Annie Lennox and making it bigtime. He used to practice guitar in my Sunderland flat and I've still got what must be the sole surviving copy of his first demo EP. Happy days.

Subject: RE: Old Name: Ying Tong John (John Strachan)
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Apr 22 - 09:57 AM

I worked in the Hope Inn Sedgefield and John and I got ratted after the show celebrating the birth of one of his kids.