You can help Cecil Sharp House!

Subject: BS: You can help Cecil Sharp House TODAY!
From: GUEST,Gwenzilla
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 08:17 AM

--If you're in the UK...

To support Cecil Sharp House's application to the Big Lottery, please call this number after 1pm on Thursday, 3rd November:

0845 607 1902
The more votes we get, the more chance we have of winning a £50,000 grant to improve disabled access to the House, bring the garden back to it's former glory and generally use the money to make Cecil Sharp House a better environment for folk and traditional arts.

Please phone as many times as you can (it's a local call from anywhere in the UK) and encourage all your family and friends to call too - this could make a huge difference!

The phone vote will be featured on ITN London's news at 1pm and 6pm today - catch it on the television and then vote repeatedly!!!

If you prefer to text your vote, please text "londonb" to 63330 (cost 24p).

We need your help TODAY!!! Call everyone you know and get them to call - now is your chance to do your bit for the folk tradition in England!

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 09:29 AM

The problem with CSH is not the state of the garden or the disabled access but rather the fact that hardly anyone goes there because it's such a depressing place.

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: GUEST,Curious American
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 10:21 AM

I have not had the pleasure of visiting, but I am curious as to why it is being called "a depressing place".

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: greg stephens
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 10:30 AM

Whether or not it is depressing is a matter of personal taste. What is indisputable is that its fantastic library resources have been fuelling the folk music scene with songs, tunes, and information for generations. They need our support.
Vote early, vote often. Ring round a few friends too.

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: Leadfingers
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 11:59 AM

And the Folk Club on a Tuesday evening is hardly depressing either !!

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: GUEST,Gwenzilla (at work)
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 12:28 PM

No, it's not the most beautiful building in the world, but the poster who mentioned the library is right-- it's the best resource for folk music anywhere.

The Folk Club on a Tuesday evening is a fantastic place, with lots of great people and great singing. Not depressing, at all.

Gwen (OK, so I work there, but the place is an amazing resource and you can help!)

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 12:50 PM

The premium rate phone lines to vote are annoying, but if each of us votes 10 times (I just did) - the cost of £2.40 is hardly huge and the potential benefit is considerable.

What is said above is true - it is I think the largest library about folk song and dance in the world and that surely deserves support.

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 02:54 PM

I have been there when all three halls have been in use and all crowded. Chris B has an interesting definition of "nobody".

A little more notice about this would have been nice. I am about to do a mail out about a session next Friday. It seems pretty pointless passing the info on as the phone lines will be closed before most people can read it.

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: breezy
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 03:32 PM

done

and Sheila does a great job, what a gal

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 04:27 PM

I've just asked this question in the other related thread too, so here goes again: What is the deadline, and will calls from Ireland be recognised as valid? It's 9:30 pm GMT as I write this, and I would be glad to know if there's anything that can still be done. Many thanks -

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 04:33 PM

Switchboard open till midnight - don't know about calls from Ireland...

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 04:36 PM

Though being in the USA I make historical flowerpots and would love to donate some to the garden . You can PM me here or contact me through G Wolff and co on the web . All the best , Guy Wolff

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 04:39 PM

"Nobody goes there" indeed! Chris B you're so wrong, it's funny.

Where were the two SongLinks project launches held, with audiences of 300 apiece?
Do you count the researchers visiting the archives?
Or the hundreds that go there for dance/instrument lessons every week?
Or are you just thinking "folk club"? And even then you'd be wrong - with regular audiences of 40+, they beat many other clubs hands down.

Do pop in and have a browse - you might learn something about your own tradition.

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 04:40 PM

Guy, I will put you in touch with Sheila Finn

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 04:46 PM

Just did it - three times, in fact - and the voice on the line said "Your vote has now been counted, thank you" so it must have worked.

If anyone else from outside the UK wants to ring, amend the number to
0044 845 607 1902

It takes literally a few seconds, no longer, so go for it -

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 04:51 PM

Good on you, Bonnie!

As to why is a Greek getting so hot under the collar about C-Sharp House: it's a very long and unusual story, but buy me a pint and I'll tell you.

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 04:57 PM

Nothing the least depressing about Cecil Sharpe House. Always something interesting happening there, and there is a pleasant quirky quality to it, and to the people you run into there.

Even what was at one time its aggressively "modern" architecture has in the course of time become acceptably old-fashioned.

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: Lancashire Lad
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 07:50 PM

Hi Gwenzilla
My business partner and I have an idea to discuss regarding future fundraising for this project. Please drop me an email HERE for a chat

Cheers
LL

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 08:07 PM

Oh, I'm sure quite a few beers could be consumed while discussing the evolving history of Cecil Sharp House. I've certainly read with interest the forces massing for battle in the 1960's.

However, I doubt if there are any major battles shaping up there now. Undoubtedly there is the occasional alienated individual who doesn't think that he or she is being paid enough attention.

I look forward to paying another visit next year, to enjoy the library and the folk club sing, and a pint or two.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 04 Nov 05 - 08:23 AM

Does anyone know the outcome? (I've checked their website, which â€" as of 1.20 pm UK time â€" still shows yesterday's request to phone/text on behalf of C Sharpe House).

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: Fidjit
Date: 04 Nov 05 - 10:32 AM

So how did we do?

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 04 Nov 05 - 11:50 AM

I just phoned EFDSS and they don't know themselves - they expect to find out from the TV at 6pm tonight (ITV)

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 Nov 05 - 12:09 PM

Whether C#House wins or not, might I suggest a fantastic contribution anyone can make is to join the EFDSS. Your contribution money will help to run the place, and when you are a member you have the ability to influence how the society is run: if you dont like it, you are then at liberty to change it. It really is the most exhilarating place, and some of my happiest times have been spent unearthing fabulous tunes there, and then converting them into live music. I doubt if there are many British contributors to Mudcat who dont own recordings of songs or tunes which were researched in the library.

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: Nessie
Date: 04 Nov 05 - 01:29 PM

Hooray!! CSH won the grant!

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 04 Nov 05 - 01:33 PM

Amazing news - well done all, well done EFDSS.

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 Nov 05 - 01:33 PM

Excellent. Country dancing will now spontaneously break out in every town centre in the land.

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Nov 05 - 01:42 PM

Well done folks!

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: Gwenzilla
Date: 04 Nov 05 - 01:52 PM

Thanks so much to everybody who voted. 8) We're pretty bubbly at my house tonight.

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: Gorgeous Gary
Date: 04 Nov 05 - 11:28 PM

Gwen: Congrats on winning the grant!

And hello and welcome, too... 8-)

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 05 Nov 05 - 12:57 AM

This was posted on UMF


I'm delighted to announce that the good folk of folkdom helped us to
win the voting on last nights "People's Millions" and the efdss has
been awarded £50,000 to carry out much needed work on the gardens of
Cecil Sharp House, and to install a sound sculpture.

I'll report back on the details of what is to be done as and when.

In the meantime, thanks to all who gave their support, and hope to see
you in the garden sometime!

Johnny Adams - efdss National Council

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 05 Nov 05 - 01:20 AM

That's great news! BTW, I hope to meet some mudcatters when I'm at cecil Sharp House on Nov 22 for Tues singers night.

An earlier post reminds me of a Yogi Berra quote, about a restaurant: "No wonder why nobody comes here. It's too crowded."

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 05 Nov 05 - 04:47 AM

Great news! The restored gardens should make a brilliant feature on this site. If I've understood correctly this should also free some funds for disabled access to Cecil Sharp House itself, and hopefully also for the library too.

Now, in the best EFDSS tradition, can we please start a heated argument about the tunes to be played on the sound sculptures!

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: Leadfingers
Date: 05 Nov 05 - 12:54 PM

Greg Stephens suggests we should all join the Society - A Laudable suggestion , provided that the society has changed a bit from the Bad Old Days when I was a card carrying member ,and my local area committee organised a 'Dance for Dancers' as their sole contribution to 'Folk Day' , the intention of which was to bring Folk to a wider audience . For the uninitiated a Dance for Dancers is one wothout a caller , where you dont go ANYWHERE near the dance floor unless you know ALL the movements and ALL the steps !i

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 05 Nov 05 - 03:57 PM

Congratulations ! and jub..........wait a minute, do I remember researching that one in CSH some time ago ? No, No , No (just joking)
As one who was introduced to CSH by a Belfast lad who lived in the bedsit beneath mine in Finsbury Park, in the 1960s , may I say how delighted I am to read that the old place is still "doing the business". I fondly remember the many, many evenings spent there in such good company, the workshops, the song swaps. I remember hearing many artistes sing and play there, some of whom went on to become professional, with varying degrees of success.
The whole atmosphere and ethos of Cecil Sharpe House was so welcoming to me, a youthful Irishman from a rural 1950s background.
I will always be grateful to those people ,( like John Pearse, Peter Robinson and many more) who were so thoughtful and understanding to people like me.
I can still remember how gobsmacked I was at one of my first attendances to hear the amazing reception for the late Joe Heaney. It was, then, a wonder to me that British people should show such obvious appreciation (and not merely politeness either) for Traditional Irish Singing (Sean Nos, as Ghaeilge). I recall too the small rise in status afforded me when I revealed that I had a personal acquaintance with the great Nicolas Toibin from Co. Waterford.

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 05 Nov 05 - 04:01 PM

So join and create a revolution in the local area committee! It seems to me that the organization is fighting a lot of perceived baggage from the Bad Old Days blinding people to what's happening now and what they could make happen.

If there are no heated arguments, it means nobody cares. :-)

~ Becky in Tucson, Arizona, USA
EFDSS member since about 2001 or so

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: greg stephens
Date: 05 Nov 05 - 05:57 PM

Leadfingers: the Bad Old Days were Old Days. Now there are New Days. Join, and make a difference. Ensure this is a good facilty for the next generations.

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 05 Nov 05 - 06:00 PM

Congratulations! And please keep the rest of the world informed on progress. Viewing the refurbished premises might even provide me with a good enough reason to visit London again after 20 years.

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Nov 05 - 06:03 PM

No doubt they can't wait.

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: concertina ceol
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 05:12 PM

I thought EFDSS were planning to move to South Yorkshire? How does this garden fit with the long term strategy? Or did I fall asleep in the middle of an argument and miss the end?

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 05:18 PM

What's a "sound sculture"?

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 05:19 PM

What's a "sound sculpture"?

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: Snuffy
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 06:21 PM

It was Arthur Scargill House that they moved to South Yorkshire while you were asleep for 20 years. :-)

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: Fidjit
Date: 07 Nov 05 - 01:34 PM

something that's spelt right. Mac

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Nov 05 - 05:37 PM

There will need to be some serious money for the building out of this. They will be opening up the garden for Camden's population of winos and smack heads so the level of theft and damage will be even higher than it is now.

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: Bert
Date: 10 Nov 05 - 12:58 AM

Do they still have that Godawful mural with the bench underneath it? Or did they trash that room and build one big enough for a good dance?

Considering they way they murdered American Square Dancing, I find it very difficult to take the EFDSS seriously.

Mind you it's years since I've been there, so things may have improved.

Subject: RE: You can help Cecil Sharp House!
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 10 Nov 05 - 04:56 AM

There was talk of the mural being moved to somewhere where it would be appreciated and not have to cost the Society money to maintain but I haven't been there for a while. I can't see the room being made any bigger without slipping down the liftshaft and destroying the library and ladies toilets. It's one of the largest halls of its kind I know of anyway.