Robert Hodgson - Amended obituary
This obituary appeared in Mardles magazine, August - October 2015. The original version had a date error which has now been corrected. Apolgies to Robert's wife Lilian Hodgson who brought this to our attention.
Phil Beer at The Canopy Theatre
PHIL BEER – Back at The Canopy Theatre in Beccles on Sat 20th February 2021 plus Support from Odette Michell
Those who were at Phil's amazing solo show at the Canopy Theatre in February 2019 or who know his work well will need no persuading to get their tickets early for his return to this wonderful venue this February. For those who have somehow managed to miss this great musician so far, read on.
This quote is often used to describe him: "Phil is one of the most popular ambassadors for acoustic roots music. A dazzling instrumentalist, he is perhaps best known as a top flight fiddler"
And this is Phil's own take on the subject:-
"Whilst that may be the perception, I would actually take issue with that statement. I didn't write it. I'm very good at what I do. The trick is to design what you do in order to accommodate your limitations. That's why I don't teach. I leave that to the pros. I'm too busy gigging or making albums anyway. Please stop asking me!
Obituary: Mary Moore
Some Mardles readers may remember Mary Moore who died recently. She was a regular at Suffolk sessions including the one at the Kettleburgh Chequers
MARY MOORE, the Suffolk-based granddaughter of golf legend Samuel Ryder, and creator of dozens of beautiful village signs in the county, has died at the
age of 86. Mrs Moore, who lived at Brandeston, near Framlingham, was President of the Samuel Ryder Foundation, created in memory of the man who founded the Ryder Cup - now one of the sporting world’s most prestigious tournaments. Paying tribute to Mrs Moore, the Foundation described her as “a wonderful person, and a very proud and passionate supporter of her grandfather’s legacy. She attended seven Ryder Cups, home and away.
“She was a huge advocate of Samuel Ryder’s ethos and belief in the power of the game, and the enjoyment that it brought to so many people.” Interviewed by the EADT in 2019, Mrs Moore said her grandfather died only a couple of years after she was born. “So he knew me as a baby, but I don’t remember him.” Mrs Moore said she loved attending the Ryder Cups, where the Ryder party, usually numbering six or seven, were able to mingle with celebrity guests. She named Colin Montgomerie as her favourite player “because he spoke so politely and pleasantly to me”. Samuel Ryder initially created the Ryder Cup to give golf a higher profile. At the time, in the 1920s, it was something of a poor relationship compared to sports like tennis.
Mrs Moore wasn’t sure what her grandfather would have made of the huge sporting phenomenon his tournament has become. She said: “He would be astounded. Whether he would be happy with the scale of it now, I’m not sure. He never visualised this.” After attending art school, Mary married Hector Moore, a blacksmith, farrier and metalworker, who lived and worked at Brandeston. The couple were together for 44 years until Hector’s death in 1999. The Moores became well known locally for creating some 50 ornate village signs throughout Suffolk and also in neighbouring counties. Mary used her artistic talent to design the signs, including features from each village, and Hector employed his metalwork skills to create them. Mrs Moore was also a talented singer and musician, often taking part in local performances.
Report from the East Anglian Daily Times 23rd January 2021
This Woman's Work BBC Sounds
If like me you're a fan of Cara Dillon, you may be interested in a new BBC Sounds programme broadcast on BBC Ulster, This Woman's Work in which Cara plays music by female singers who have inspired her.
There's some folk but lots of other great music too: Deanta, Dusty Springfield, Taylor Swift, Regina Spektor, Kate Bush, Dervish and others
You can listen to the series HERE
Simon Haines
Music for Glynn Thomas' Etchings
If you live in Suffolk or the surrounding area, you've probably seen the distinctive work of the artist Glynn Thomas, whose etchings have been displayed in galleries around East Anglia for many years. Although some of Glynn's work features images from other parts of Britain and beyond, many of his etchings are of well-known East Anglian scenes. A few years ago, I came up with a musical idea: The Hosepipe Band were looking for a subject for original compositions and a new recording, and it occurred to me that Glynn's etchings might be an ideal subject. I approached Glynn who seemed happy with idea and even produced a new image for us: Polstead Meadow, a round picture ideal for the label and from cover of a new Hosepipe Band CD. We selected 8 of Glynn's Suffolk etchings and members of the band composed music to accompany them. We played our new music at the opening of an exhibition of Glynn's work at the John Russell Gallery in Ipswich and also, together with slides of his images, at Colchester Arts Centre and other venues in our area.
Glynn Thomas was born in Cambridge in 1946. He studied at the Cambridge School of Art specialising in illustration and printmaking For many years now, he has been a full-time professional artist living in Suffolk. You can see a full range of his etchings on his website at www.glynnthomas.com
For this recording, members of The Hosepipe Band were:
• Geoff Combs - Octave mandola, Mandolin, Percussion
• Simon Haines - Melodeon, Hurdy Gurdy
• Nick Sadler - Bass guitar
• Val Woollard - Saxophone, Flute, Recorder, English bagpipes, Dulcimer
Below are the texts and sound files which accompanied the seven etchings on the CD cover. Click in sound files to hear the music.