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Obit: RIP Julian Pilling (Morris Dancer, UK) 2012

21 Nov 12 - 03:52 PM (#3440010)
Subject: RIP Julian Pilling
From: Gin Crewe

Sad to discover that Julian Pilling died on 1st November. There's a lot of memories, music, dancing and discussions to recollect. Rest in peace, my respected friend.


21 Nov 12 - 05:20 PM (#3440043)
Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: Jack Campin

The only person of that name Google tells me about is a property developer. Was there another one?


21 Nov 12 - 05:26 PM (#3440050)
Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield

Julian was a member of Manchester Morris Men, then left them to form the Colne Royal Morris. He did some collecting in and around Colne and Nelson in Lancashire - social dances as well as morris. He also had a folk dance band and was respected for his research into historical dance. He passionately believed that the north-west morris should be danced in the NW and by men, rather than women. Not always a popular stance to take! He died a few days before his 90th birthday.
Derek


21 Nov 12 - 05:33 PM (#3440053)
Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: GUEST,chris cole

Bizzare as it may sound, Julian was supportive of the aims of Gorton MM, and had the same views about NW morris as us-RIP, Julian.


21 Nov 12 - 05:50 PM (#3440059)
Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: Gin Crewe

Thank you, Derek: just so.I was a lady (Ok, female!) morris dancer all the years I played in his Moon and Castle band and he was always a gentleman in avoiding disagreeable conversations! He a provided a wealth of information and folk resources and always knew where to get information in pre-Internet and pre Google days.


22 Nov 12 - 07:05 AM (#3440343)
Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: The Sandman

julian pilling was not[s far as i am aware a property developer], jack campin, for god sake think before you post, people are upset about the loss of one of their friends and your post is the height of insensitivity.
    It's a good lesson - we are a worldwide forum; so it's important to be aware of that when you post, and post so that everyone will know what you're talking about. To fail to do that, is even higher insensitivity.
    -Joe Offer-


22 Nov 12 - 12:11 PM (#3440507)
Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: GUEST,Seayaker

I don't see the problem with J C's post.

If you were not familar with the NW morris scene of a few years ago yuo would be unlikely to have heard the name.

It's not unreasonable to ask.


22 Nov 12 - 01:04 PM (#3440536)
Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: GUEST,Peter

More than a few years ago.


22 Nov 12 - 01:28 PM (#3440550)
Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: The Sandman

listen, you just dont need to say anything, in an obit column,if you dont know the person
its unlikely in a music forum that the obit would be for a property developer, its just fecking insensitive, and if you cant see that than you are feckin insensitive.


22 Nov 12 - 02:13 PM (#3440567)
Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: Les in Chorlton

Ding, ding round ................


22 Nov 12 - 05:00 PM (#3440657)
Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: GUEST,Seayaker

Whilst I didn't know Julian Pilling personally, I was dancing in a NW morris side in Lancashire that was headed by an ex Colne Royal man in the late 1970s (perhaps more than a few years ago; time flies)

We very rarely danced outside our area which was a policy that I wasn't too happy with. I thought it was like saying that you shouldn't play Irish music outside Ireland for example.

Reading the posts above there only seems to be one person displaying insensitivity


22 Nov 12 - 05:52 PM (#3440706)
Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: John J

I'm sorry to hear of Julian's passing. When I was dancing in the 70s and 80s Julian's name often cropped up in conversation - he had a high profile amongst NW sides and he'll be missed.

RIP Julian.

JJ


22 Nov 12 - 06:46 PM (#3440738)
Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling
From: GUEST,chris cole

There are certain indivuals who didn't know Julian(neither did I), but he was supportive of Gorton, who like the man himself, tried to uphold the traditions of North West Morris. Read the books (I have), before you embark on a PC crusade.


22 Nov 12 - 07:09 PM (#3440748)
Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling (Morris Dancer, UK)
From: Jack Campin

Searching "julian pilling morris dance" gets better information than the bare name, but no obituary as yet.

A property developer with an interest in ecologically responsible re-use of old buildings seemed to be exactly the sort of person who might join a morris side, and I doubt I was the first or the last to mix the two of them up.


23 Nov 12 - 05:26 AM (#3440892)
Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling (Morris Dancer, UK)
From: Gin Crewe

In his later years he was not well, I understand and so had a low public profile. His work and research was pre-Internet times. I only found out about his demise by accident- there will be something in the EFDSS mag next issue, I gather.


23 Nov 12 - 05:26 AM (#3440893)
Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling (Morris Dancer, UK)
From: Gin Crewe

By the by, he was s econdary school teacher!


23 Nov 12 - 09:51 AM (#3440962)
Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling (Morris Dancer, UK)
From: RTim

Julian and I crossed swords a number of times in the past. There were some things we did not agree about, however this was all before we actually met.
Once I gave a paper at a conference on The Future of Morris, he and some of his team were there and we spoke afterwards. He agreed with almost everything I said and we got on very well - he even invited me to join his team, if I ever moved to Cheshire!!
He was a passionate man with strong beliefs, and I respect anyone like that - even when I don't agree exactly with their views.

Tim Radford


23 Nov 12 - 12:24 PM (#3441021)
Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling (Morris Dancer, UK)
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield

Lancashire surely Tim - never Cheshire! Colne is determindly in Lancashire.
Derek
who lives in Cheshire!


23 Nov 12 - 02:25 PM (#3441077)
Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling (Morris Dancer, UK)
From: RTim

Derek - it's all "Up North" to me!!

Best - Tim


23 Nov 12 - 05:11 PM (#3441168)
Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling (Morris Dancer, UK)
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield

Tim ... surely you mean it's all in the east! .... Derek


28 Feb 13 - 09:03 PM (#3484901)
Subject: RE: RIP Julian Pilling (Morris Dancer, UK)
From: GUEST

Thank you for your kind words regarding Julian's passing. It is also wise for people to note that nothing posted on the internent is private. Julian did have strong opinions regarding morris. He was a traditionalist not always favoured by some. However he went to great lengths collecting, authenticating and arranging the dancers of 'Colne', only for some people to come along and pick his brains and go off and dance what they had learnt from him. I know that 1975 copyright of the dances and tunes were on the agenda for discussion and I may look into seeing if that was the case. I can only say he would be turning in his grave if he knew that a ladies side and a mixed team were dancing 'Colne'. Imogen Gumede (daughter)