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22 Dec 09 - 06:14 PM (#2794608) Subject: Obit: Bob Gilroy From: Dave Sutherland I have just had it confirmed that Bob Gilroy, a popular figure on the North East folk scene over the last forty years passed away yesterday. Bob the Gob was chairman of South tyne Folk and Blues throughout it's existance and more recently he was regarded as a national treasure at The South Shields Folk Club. More news when I get it. RIP old friend. |
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23 Dec 09 - 04:28 AM (#2794850) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2009 From: GUEST,Keith ferret We'll miss his wit and humour....I, and the rest of Pegleg Ferret have known him since the 70's, and have had many a good night together. |
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23 Dec 09 - 08:24 AM (#2794932) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2009 From: stallion Oh No not another, so sorry and sad to hear this, condolences and our sympathy to his family, SSFC will miss him. Pete, Martin & Ron aka (2BS&S) |
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23 Dec 09 - 11:36 AM (#2795034) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2009 From: RoyH (Burl) I remember Bob. A real enthusiast and a great worker on behalf of folk music. Goodbye old friend. Condolences to the family. |
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23 Dec 09 - 06:32 PM (#2795248) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2009 From: SylviaN Really sorry to hear such sad news. Bob was a lovely man. Our condolences to his family. Keith and Sylvia |
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24 Dec 09 - 03:37 AM (#2795445) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2009 From: GUEST,Fran Weetman Bob was the funniest man I have met - I used to wet myself laughing at his sharp and original wit and humour. I first met Bob in the 60s at the "Fort" where he ran South Tyne Folk and Blues Club and followed the club around its various venues over the years. Having moved away from the area I have often thought about Bob and the tears of laughter he brought to my eyes. Bob's "Gilroyisms" will live on and on - I still wear my mother's curtains for a skirt! Anyone got any favourite Gilroyisms? I am sure Dave Sutherland will have a book of them. Thanks Bob for the fun and music you brought to my life. Sleep well. Franxx |
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24 Dec 09 - 06:31 AM (#2795513) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2009 From: GUEST,Stu Weetman I still rememember "The Thoughts of Chairman Bob" - Little Red Book published by the South Tyne Folk and Blues Club back in the 70's. Much funnier than the Chinese Original! Bob was one of a kind, and will be greatly missed. Goodbye Bob and thank you for your hospitality (anyone who still has the book will remember that one!) |
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24 Dec 09 - 07:30 AM (#2795541) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2009 From: Dave Sutherland Hello Fran and Stu; the circumstances how we found out about Bob's passing are as bizarre as any of his stories. My own mother died last Thursday 17th (aged 97)so my sister and I had been in South Shields making various arrangements and helping my brother sort things. While my sister was at the registrar's office collecting the death certificate someone came in the office enquiring about a certificate for a Mr Robert Gilroy 68 yrs. It was only a short step from there to getting it confirmed that it was our good friend. Equally coincidentally his service at South Shields Crematorium will only be a couple of hours after my mother's on 29th December. I'll come up with a couple of Gilroyisms shortly once I've checked the libel laws. |
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24 Dec 09 - 10:00 AM (#2795599) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2009 From: GUEST,shepherdlass offline Really sorry to hear this - I only met him a couple of times, but felt I knew him through reputation and the many tall tales of Gilroyisms. Condolences to his family and close friends. Jude |
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24 Dec 09 - 06:31 PM (#2795968) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2009 From: GUEST,Guest Refresh. |
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27 Dec 09 - 07:25 PM (#2797563) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2009 From: CannieShieldsLaddie Another loss to Shields after our dear friend Harry died earlier this month. As Stu said Bob was one of a kind. Says it all, one of Shields characters gone. Goodbye Bob and thanks for the wit & humour. B&J |
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30 Dec 09 - 08:36 AM (#2799204) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2009 From: Dave Sutherland Attended Bob's service at South Shields Crematorium yesterday and it was endearing to witness the number of people from the North East folk scene who turned up to pay respects; some of whom I hadn't seen for over twenty five years! Unfortunately as I had to drive back to Nottingham straight after the committal I was unable to get to the gathering afterwards at The Marsden Inn. Since one or two people who visit Mudcat were present perhaps they can let us know how things went yesterday afternoon. |
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31 Dec 09 - 07:02 AM (#2799921) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2009 From: GUEST,Ann Alexander and the Donkey The singing of 'Down in the Valley' at the service was one of the most moving events I've experienced at a funeral. I can't believe the number of people who turned up, Bob certainly made an impression. Thanks Bob for encouraging me with singing in the early days, as also did my friends Jenny hunt and Fran Weetman. Dave, the Marsden Inn reception was both sad and happy, Bob would have loved it, seeing loads of people from the past, with some Blues music, a poen from Barry Wood and a song from the Birtley people. They had to get in extra food. Gilroyisms? I loved his joke about 'Higher gorwilla' and it was clean as well! From Ann |
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16 Feb 10 - 02:21 PM (#2841111) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2009 From: GUEST,Dave Robinson I have lots of memories...like the others ...but my favourite is when that other "elder statesperson" Martin Carthy was a guest at The Station (now Witherspoons) Martin with his unique style of guitar playing was very prone to breaking them....this particular Friday he reached into his back pocket and pulled out replacement strings and dropped them on the stage floor !! Quick as a flash Bob joked about Martin dropping his "packet of three" and further add libbed about them being ribbed !!!! Best wishes Dave Robinson |
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27 Mar 10 - 10:39 AM (#2873243) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2 From: GUEST,Don Day I was greatly shocked today (27/03/10) to learn of the death of Bob. Not entirely surprised but shocked. I had hoped someone would have told me of the sad event but this did not happen. Since I left Shields more than three decades ago Bob has been a lasting memory of the Club and the friendship that existed within the group in the late 60s and 70s. The booze ups... the parties... the Festivals and the Weekly club event all make me realise we are not getting any younger and sooner or later we will all be where Bob is now. Please someone get in touch with me before it is too late. Dave the Rave, Gread and Gutter and the others, where are you now? I last spent time with Bob at Sue Dipper's funeral and we shared a few drinks and reminiscences and I promised to keep in touch but alas it is now too late. I am very sad. Don Day 25/03/10 to hear of the death of Bob. Not really surprised but shocked. I had hoped that if something happened to him someone would let me know as I have been missing from Shields for decades. I last saw Bob at Sue Dipper's funeral and we had some good memories |
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27 Mar 10 - 11:43 AM (#2873279) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2 From: GUEST,Don Day I suppose an address would help donday@theironman.co.uk Cheers Don |
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29 Mar 10 - 04:13 AM (#2874454) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2009 From: Dave Sutherland Hello Don - I'll be in touch later this week as soon as my home PC is repaired. |
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06 Apr 10 - 01:32 AM (#2880455) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2009 From: GUEST Dave Robimson good to see the ol' names still around ...I see on this site that Diz Dizley has passed on..another memorable guest at The Station...drank most of his fee before and during his act there !! |
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07 Apr 10 - 08:53 PM (#2881787) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2009 From: GUEST,Simon Prager Very sad to hear of Bob's passing. I used to go and see him whenever I was 'up there' but I missed him last time. Bob was a very funny man. I remember him at the South Tyne introducing a somewhat overweight singer saying that his day job was as a pull through on the Tyne Tunnel. Simon Prager |
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18 Feb 11 - 01:03 AM (#3097691) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2009 From: GUEST I've just found this website and couldn't read all the lovely posts about dad without replying. It's been over a year now and I still miss his jokes, unfortunately his knack of remembering and telling them does not run in the family but I like to think his Passion, generosity and love of friends does. I wanted to say a huge Thankyou to all that posted on this website and to those who attended dads funeral, My lasting memory of the day is everyone singing to down in the valley, he would have loved it! It really is comforting to know that he had such good mates throughout his life. Yes, his later years were hard and it got to the point where he was housebound but even till the end he had his sense of humour. I did get to see his rendition of butcher boy and I know how much the folk scene in south tyneside meant to him. Imagine if ALMA had succeeded? That £1 purchase would be worth a fortune now! Anyway I don't want to babble. I've got a tear in my eye but a smile on my face. Love the Gilroyisms. Dad has a grandson who was 3 months old when dad passed away, I really do hope he has dads personality. Love to you all from the Gilroy x Emma and family. emma_gilroy@hotmail.com |
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10 Sep 14 - 12:08 PM (#3659049) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2009 From: GUEST David Robinson,,,,,,how is every body...My dad George Edward R,,was aplumber and young Bob was his apprentice ...can we start this chain again |
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10 Sep 14 - 01:20 PM (#3659066) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2009 From: Waddon Pete Another thread has emerged from the past to help us remember what a great bloke Bob was. I missed the obit thread on the first hosting so I am adding his name to the "In Memoriam" thread now. RIP, Peter |
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11 Sep 14 - 08:30 AM (#3659286) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2009 From: Dave Sutherland The fact that this endearing thread has been resurrected serves to remind me that I never did get round to posting any "Gilroyisms" as I promised to do so. Originally "Gilroyisms" were slips of the tongue usually committed while running the night in a state of excitement and, no doubt, excess. Those that come to mind are the nights that he introduced such singers as Martin McCarthy, Nivel Denger, Ian Anderson (the guest was actually Mike Cooper) or announcing that the pub was also selling sandwiches and that they would be on stale at the bar (maybe not a slip after all). Later they came to encapsulate some of his retorts such as the night we were invited to a party thrown by Derek Proctor who was undertaking a year's sabbatical at Durham University and was renting a house just outside the city. We were meeting in the famous Colpits pub in Durham and mingled with the students who inhabited the hostelry. Asking one young lady what she was doing at the University she replied that she was taking her PHD. "Got mine years ago" said Bob. "Your PHD?" she questioned "Yes; Plumbing, Heating and Domestic" Or the time he took to the stage at South Tyne Folk and Blues to run the night opening with his customary "Good Evening" at the very moment a regular, an overbearing Southerner, entered the room and piped up in best Cockney accent "What's good about it?" quick as flash Bob retorted "Well since you walked in – nowt" Then there was the occasion when I was running a packed night at the same venue and rushing around to fit singers in for the second half and frantically seeking one particular person I entered the little foyer just outside the club room to encounter Bob quite nonchalantly standing there…..wearing a papier mache pig's nose |
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13 Sep 14 - 12:15 PM (#3659901) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2009 From: GUEST,Don Day The "Little Red Book" Stu refers to was actually a colour supplement given free with the STF&B monthly magazine and called "Larn yersel Gilroy" (colour because it was printed on pink paper).I still have all these magazines. Is it nearly five years since Bobs passing? Where does the time go... Don Day |
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24 Nov 19 - 05:38 AM (#4021001) Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) Dec2009 From: GUEST Not sure how I ended up on this site today but glad I did. I have had a laugh again at the Gilroyisms, and like his daughter, I now have a tear in my eye and a smile on my face. You may not remember me but hi to all who were around at the time of the Fort, The Station, the Voyager etc. Fran Weetman |
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28 Nov 19 - 03:44 PM (#4021517) Subject: RE: 2009 Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) From: Dave Sutherland I had been thinking about Bob quite a bit over the last few weeks since I was told that the South Shields Folk Club had been forced to change venues (to the club house on The Jack Clarke Park) as The Customs House wanted to charge an increased rent of £80 per session for the venue. Although I had moved away by the time when Bob and Fred Brierley’s initial involvement with the Customs House began, and all the physical work that it involved, I was acutely aware that the object of the venue was a home for the amateur stage be it folk, blues, jazz, C&W, drama etc. This was all before the big boys stepped in at a later date. What little I know of the present situation shows it to be totally in contrast to the initial conception of The Customs House and we would have seen the other side of Bob had he been around today. |
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26 Jul 22 - 03:30 PM (#4148455) Subject: RE: 2009 Obit: Bob Gilroy(South Tyne Folk & Blues) From: GUEST Coming up to 13 years since dad passed. I hope you are all well. I love re reading these posts. Emma |