Sid Long - Guardian Obituary (1953-Jan 2005)

Subject: Sid Long - Guardian Obituary
From: Dreadnought
Date: 24 Feb 05 - 05:25 AM

An Obituary for Sid Long appeared in the Guardian today:

"During the heyday of the folk club scene in the 1970s, one of the country's foremost clubs was the Nottingham Traditional Music Club, whose principal organiser and resident performer, Sid Long, has died at the age of 51 as a consequence of undiscovered diabetes.

As a performer, Sid was a fine solo singer, and also played a range of instruments, especially the guitar. He sang in various duos, but for the last 20 years, he was the mainstay of the four-piece Notts Alliance. He usually sang the bass line in the three- and four-part unaccompanied harmony group, and in addition to club appearances all over the East Midlands and beyond, the group also performed at folk festivals such as Sidmouth, Whitby, Beverley, Fylde and Holmfirth.

The success of the group's performances owed much to Sid's wit and insight in presentation. Together, they recorded two CDs: Out Of The Darkness in 1997 and Nothing Spoken in 2003.

Sid's performance skills extended beyond the folk club and festival scene. During, and for several years following, the miners' strike of 1984, Sid was a member of Red Star Delivery, a political street theatre group, which performed for striking and sacked miners, for trade unions and at CND benefits. Here, he walked on glass, juggled and performed songs from sympathetic songwriters. He was also an accomplished dancer, performing with Morris dance groups, as a clog dancer and at barn dances.

For many years, Sid's compering skills were put to good use on the main stages of some of the foremost folk music festivals in Britain — principally Sidmouth international festival, Towersey village festival and Whitby folk week. His involvement with the Sidmouth festival lasted almost 30 years.

Born in Morpeth in Northumberland, Sid attended Loughborough University, but although he did not complete his course, he stayed in the area and qualified as a trading standards officer with Leicestershire county council, later working for Leicester city council.

Apart from his musical interests, Sid was a regional master bridge player, and a collector of, and expert on, Honiton pottery.

Unmarried, he had a wide circle of friends and is survived by his parents and sister. Derek Schofield

Sidney Long, folk singer, born April 14 1953; died January 18 2005"

Subject: RE: Sid Long - Guardian Obituary
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Feb 05 - 06:13 AM

Gosh only 51,an early death indeed. Condolences all round.
Giok

Subject: RE: Sid Long - Guardian Obituary
From: Ralphie
Date: 24 Feb 05 - 11:31 AM

And what a fine tribute by Derek. I'm sure Sid would have approved.
Pleasure to have known him.
Ralph