Terry Haines
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Terry Haines, a long time performer here with the Prince Albert Carol Consort.
We pay tribute to Terry Haines, a former mayor and Sheriff of Gloucester, who passed away suddenly on December the 22nd, after singing his heart out, maybe literally, at the last sing before Christmas hear at the Albert.. Terry was working with Fran Wade to try to take the PACC to Gloucester Cathedral, and was very dissapointed, as we all were, when the invite did not come. Personally - I hope that that we can maybe have a rogue trip to the Cathedral for an outburst of our of his favourite tunes at some point. Thank you Terry for your enthusiasm and voice…. “- Lotte Lyster, The Prince Albert
”Terry has been a stalwart of the Prince Albert Carol Consort for its entire lifespan. He was last singing in the Albert on 21st December, went outside with everyone else for the group photo, went off to a dance that afternoon, the next day went to his beloved Athletics Club to organise the races for the day, and died doing just that. Terry was a staunch supporter of traditional music as a participant, observer, organiser and advocate. He was the driving force behind our attempt to take the Albert Carols to sing in the Cathedral. As Mayor of Gloucester, and staunch churchman, he had a lifetime of association with the Cathedral and wanted to hear them sung in that glorious space. In his words ‘As a regular Church goer I go to many, many carol services, but for me the singing in the Albert is the best and most joyous. It is the bright spot in the whole of Christmas’. I went with him to plead our case but the Cathedral authorities felt that our unusual carols were – well too unusual – and Terry was very cross – he felt our treatment was ‘shoddy’. ‘Do you know Fran, one year when I was mayor, I had to sit through 22 carol services in the Cathedral – 22!’ He was still talking about it the last time I saw him. He was man of many many facets – as Pete recounts below.” - Fran Wade (for PACC)
”When I was about 17, I went on my own to the Victory Folk Club in Imperial Square Cheltenham. It was a quite adventurous trip for me, I was in new territory. Well the club started with singing and then Terry Haines arrived, (he was always late), he was very striking athletic looking with a crew-cut hair style. Dave Stevens the compare was joshing with Terry who had just run from Gloucester to Cheltenham to sing at the club and then ran back. I was very impressed. I remember it so well because I won an LP in the raffle, The Ballad of John Axon by Ewan MacColl and Charles Parker. This was my introduction to folk music. I later got to know Terry, through folk music. He would sing at folk clubs, and he followed Old Spot Morris when we danced. Terry was a dedicated runner and trained every day, being proud of running on 1000 consecutive days. When he was Mayor of Gloucester I was project Architect at the City Council, we had a friendly professional relationship. Recently I related this story back to Terry about him running from Gloucester to Cheltenham and back. He denied that he ever did it, but I know better…... I was there, about sixty years ago.” - Pete Hayes (PACC, Old Spot Morris, Project Architect)
”Terry was a staunch supporter of all things Gloucester, and ran Gloucester Athletic Club, and later Severn Athletic Club for several years. It was typical that he was marking out the route of the Christmas Day road race at Elmore when he died suddenly. Terry was very involved in local politics and served as Mayor of Gloucester twice. He always enjoyed the pomp and ceremony and was proud to wear his mayor's medal subsequently on civic occasions. He was a fellow of the University of Gloucestershire and a Trustee of Gloucestershire Charities Trust. Terry was a born organiser and put such energy into everything he did. He loved folk music and dancing, and for several years he organised the wonderful Easter Monday Randwick ceilidh, where the musicians would just turn up, entry was free, with a collection made for Cancer Research. He raised £3000 in this way. He was also involved in the Cajun music scene locally, and organised dances at Longlevens village Hall several times a year. I don't know how he did it, but he seemed able to persuade top bands from all over the country to come and play for just the door money! Terry was a good man and a loyal friend and we are lucky to have had him in our lives…” - Jackie Smith (a lifelong friend)
Rod Stradling
We are so sorry to announce that Rod Stradling died just before Christmas. Rod’s association with the Prince Albert goes back at least 25 years when he and Keith Ryan, both relatively recently arrived in the Stroud district, had found each other and needing a place to set up a session, contacted the Prince Albert to discuss T&Cs (a few seats, good beer and a more or less tolerant pub clientele). The deal was done and Rod, Keith and a growing band of traditional muso friends played in the pub every Monday night, from 9pm until they were encouraged to go home to bed, for around 15 years. From that gathering of Monday night folk musicians grew another group of folks also firmly embedded in the Albert – the local Morris team held their post-practice rehearsals and as thirsts were quenched, songs would erupt. These songs morphed into the idea that the unusual carols heard in the Sheffield pub around Christmas time would go well here. So Rod, with his wife Danny, became founder members of the institution that has just celebrated its 25th Anniversary – the Prince Albert Carol Consort.
Rod was a titan of a musician. He played the melodeon superbly, with a very distinctive rhythmic style which was brilliant to dance to, and he was a fine singer of traditional songs. His most recent appearance at the Albert was in concert with another fine traditional singer, Ken Langsbury. Rod was one of originators of the folk revival of the seventies and played all over the country at numerous festivals and in many bands for over 50 years. He featured on many recordings and for many years ran the on-line magazine Musical Traditions which sought to bring the traditional music he so loved to the reach of all. Since news of his demise percolated throughout the folk music world, countless people have posted along the lines of ‘I wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t for Rod Stradling.’
He will be sorely missed and we offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends.
Lucy Van Essen-Fishman
Lucy with her partner Brendan has been leading the Wednesday Night Folk Session for the last few years with joy and enthusiasism. She has been an active musician on the Gloucestershire Folk Scene sharing her joy of traditional music.
The session will continue, as Lucy would have wanted to music to carry on, but there will be much sadness.
“I am very sorry to have to pass on bad news about our friend and fellow singer, Lucy VanEssen-Fishman. Lucy collapsed at home in Cirencester on Tuesday and was taken to Bristol Southmead hospital where she was placed in the Intensive Care Unit. She had not regained consciousness and the problem was determined to be a Pulmonary Embolism. She was on full life-support until today when it became clear that there was no hope of recovery. Our thoughts go out to Brendan, her parents, Tom and Bobbie, who have flown over from the USA to be with her, and to other friends and family who have been at her side. It seems unfair that such a bright star should be taken from us we will miss her dreadfully. “ - Martin Graebe (Cirencester Song Session)