King George Hunt

Subject: King George Hunt
From: GUEST,Fiddlin' Sid
Date: 14 Jan 07 - 08:02 PM

Just heard a song called 'King George Hunt' on Andy Kershaw's show.The version he played was sung by Lester Simpson and was from one of the new radio ballads. However, I remember hearing this song on a Dave Burland album and believe that some of the words alluded to the folk club held in the King George pub in Barnsley (1970's). I always imagined the song was based on a traditional hunting song. Indeed,Kershaw followed Lester's rendition with a traditional sounding number with a hunting theme which had a similar tune.

Just wondered if anyone had any info on the origins of such a supposed transformation.

Subject: RE: King George Hunt
From: GUEST,redmax
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 05:20 AM

I'd be interested to hear about this too

Subject: RE: King George Hunt
From: IanC
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 07:32 AM

Yes, I remember such a song, and I play the tune regularly (I know it as King George's Hunt). Here's a reference to it.

:-)

Subject: RE: King George Hunt
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 09:04 AM

Of course the song he followed it with was sung by Kate Rusby and Kathryn Roberts, who are from - Barnsley.

From Kershaw's website details of prog:

Lester Simpson and Martin Simpson: The King George Hunt (2.41)
Originally recorded for BBC Radio 2's Radio Ballads series
album: The Songs of the Radio Ballads
Gott Discs GOTTCD053
Find out more about the Radio Ballads series

Kate Rusby & Kathryn Roberts: Hunting the Hare (2.45)
album: Kate Rusby & Kathryn Roberts
Pure Records PRCD01
http://www.katerusby.com/
http://www.kathrynrobertsandseanlakeman.co.uk/

Subject: RE: King George Hunt
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jan 07 - 03:26 PM

Subject: RE: King George Hunt
From: GUEST,Fiddlin' Sid
Date: 16 Jan 07 - 07:38 PM

Thanks for the above sister ! Nobody from Barnsley know about this song ? It does mention Johnny Booker and members of Barnsley Longsword !!

Subject: RE: King George Hunt
From: Scrump
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 07:23 AM

Is George Hunt Mike's brother?

Subject: RE: King George Hunt
From: CharleyO'Neill
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 07:38 AM

Good one

Subject: RE: King George Hunt
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 09:22 AM

Yep all characters from Barnsley in late 70s 80s

Garside and Gough, Linstead (now prof in Durham) Lydia and Kay I seem to remember, Booker (Johnny) soon to be 65 watch this space!!

has a previous thread on here somewhere

Any others?

Dave used em to remember the song and take the ****** !!

I believe Kate and Katherine (Rusby and Roberts) sing the trad version
Ray

Subject: RE: King George Hunt
From: CharleyO'Neill
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 12:46 PM

Clive, Keith Border and Ivor are mentioned, I believe from Barnsley Longsword. Also there is a reference to 'Albion's strong ale' -wasn't 'Albion' the landlord of the George ?

Subject: RE: King George Hunt
From: CharleyO'Neill
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 12:47 PM

The song also includes a reference to 'Elliot our master' - Derek by any chance ?

Subject: RE: King George Hunt
From: r.padgett
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 02:05 PM

Yep Albion Turner was Landlord of the King George (he was big a lad)home of Barnsley Folk Club run by Derek and Dorothy Elliot for many years (now in Whitby and Derek is near 70 now and runs Tap and Spile Sunday night singaround)

Clive is an accomplished clog dancer and with Ivor Alsopp and AN Other? melodeon player from Sheffield formed Barnsley Long sword team (still going, just) Booker and Jim Potter, Dave Martin, Bob Musgrave, Tom Owen, Keith Border, Derek Elliot all founder members

Not sure when Ron and Jack Ledger joined or Mick Roberts

Steve Linstead was a member and also at Keele University their Sword team member

Subject: RE: King George Hunt
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 18 Jan 07 - 04:42 AM

The link to the earlier thread on King George Hunt had someone asking about a song to do with "Good Company" to the same tune.

I don't think it was actually answered in that thread and rather than revive a 6 year old thread I'll add a bit here.

The King George Hunt tune I recall (as sung by Dave Burland) is the same tune as the song "Bartholomew Fair" recorded by the Critics Group on either "Sweet Thames Flow Softly" or "A Merry Progress to London" probably the latter.

Chorus is IIRC

Room for Company here come good fellows, there's
Room for Company at Bartholomew Fair

In the unlikely event that the original querier in the old thread is still reading this.

Subject: RE: King George Hunt
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 18 Jan 07 - 02:09 PM

AND (see r padgett above) Kathryn is Mick Roberts' daughter...and so the circle comes round

Subject: RE: King George Hunt
From: CharleyO'Neill
Date: 18 Jan 07 - 03:16 PM

I remember a Tony Capstick lp (recorded live at the George ?) where Capstick at one point took the mickey out of aforementioned Derek Elliot, they sound like heady days !! Can't seem to find any Capstick recordings available these days, a great shame

Subject: RE: King George Hunt
From: Greg B
Date: 18 Jan 07 - 03:35 PM

I dunno about George Hunt, but some girl just paged his
brother, Mike, on the public address system.

Subject: RE: King George Hunt
From: CharleyO'Neill
Date: 18 Jan 07 - 04:36 PM

repetitive, though hilarious (yawn)

Subject: RE: King George Hunt
From: r.padgett
Date: 18 Jan 07 - 04:46 PM

I believe Tony Capstick's (the late) Vinyl has been re released on CD

I will check this out!

Garside is Robin who is an artist and singer/musician in Sheffield
Gough is Paul living in Grimsby nowadays

They were a duo (Garside and Gough)full time for a bit

Also associated with Brian Dewhirst/Preston and Chris Parkinson as Tom Tiddlers Ground

Chris married Nadine ~ D and D Elliots daughter (whitby)
Parky having been a member of the defunct House Band which included Ged Foley now in US

Ray

Subject: RE: King George Hunt
From: GUEST,Dave Burland
Date: 15 Nov 10 - 10:28 AM

Just to tidy it up the song was written by me to the welsh tune Hunting The Hare, I wrote the words on a train journey to London, and tried to include as many names from The King George Folk Club in Barnsley, as I could. It later surfaced on a Radio Ballad about Hunting sung by Lester Simpson accompanied by Martin Simpson.

Subject: RE: King George Hunt
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 02:52 AM

Ah! Lester and Martin.....The Simpsons.
I've seen them on the tele...