Mick Graves (1949-2021)

• Bands
• Essex
• Ceilidh
• Singer

A personal memoir by Adrian May

I first met Mick Graves, along with his wife and musical other half Sarah, in the 1970s. They were a mostly traditional, mostly instrumental duo at Chelmsford Folk Club and I was a songwriter and resident singer at the Blackbirds and Chestnuts clubs in Leyton and Walthamstow. They were one of the first to ask to cover one of my songs, The Old Wood Fire. They seemed a bit serious to me, if likeable and bright – also very good musicians. It wasn’t until the 1980s that Peter Booth, guitarist and humorist, phoned me in Halstead to offer me a gig playing bass with him, Mick and Sarah, who were doing English barn-dances as the Metric Foot Band. I borrowed a bass and an amp. The gig was good and they played well. After a while, Pete and I changed their rather passive on-stage presence to loosening up, having a laugh, posing ironically and actually praising each other’s playing when merited. Mick was always brilliant but shy. Sarah was brilliant too and actually fearless. I loved playing with them. We quickly started doing songs. I remember Pete’s enormous presence, standing posed on his tiny amplifier, like a giant on a transistor radio set and everyone laughing.

Read more: Mick Graves (1949-2021)

Flying Folk

• Norfolk

According to June Thaine, a small group has been working on the future of Flying Folk Club. Everyone concerned is 100% positive that the club should continue and there has been a good response from those willing to source a venue and to host a night initially.

The date and venue we now have for the celebration of Geoff and Myrtle’s lives are
Saturday 25^th September at 8.00 pm. at The Norfolk Lurcher, Highhouse Farm Ln, Colton, Norwich NR9 5DG.

Thereafter, we are looking to set up nights not too far out of the city during the rest of the winter months, planning to venture further afield as the weather improves in 2022.

Flying Folk belongs to us all, and when we meet, please come forward with ideas of how you can contribute to ensure its success going forward. It is almost impossible to comprehend how we will manage this without Geoff at the helm, but manage it we must.

To opt into future communications re Flying Folk, please send your email contact address to Louise at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. I am hopeful of a smooth handover and remain contactable while the new contact address takes hold.

We are also looking to set up a Facebook page for Flying Folk, where other similar folk events may be posted.

One of Geoff’s great strengths was his inclusivity which helped us build Flying Folk over the years, so, in the same spirit, every one of us is included in its future. Naturally we are all at the mercy of Covid restrictions and obviously, these will dictate the future. So if we can, lets all meet up on September 25^th at The Norfolk Lurcher and give Geoff and Myrtle a superb send-off.

It is hoped that we can hold an annual Geoff Day each September and also it is considered important to keep the Boxing Day tradition alive. To that end, The Lurcher has kindly offered to be available to us from 1.00 pm to 6.00 pm this year.

Tribute to Geoff Roberts - Norfolk folk hero

• Norfolk

from Pete Rushmer - March 4th 2021

It is with great sadness we have to advise that NORFOLK FOLK HERO and ‘pilot’ of Norfolk’s Flying Folk, GEOFF ROBERTS died recently after a short spell in hospital.

Geoff, a quiet, genial, unassuming Norfolk man, was an enthusiastic stalwart of the Norfolk folk scene, within which his unique and rousing Flying Folk nights have become an enviable and much enjoyed institution over the last three decades.

Flying Folk nights are uniquely itinerant, in that a different venue is visited each session, typically on a Saturday night and at a local pub. They fall mainly within a 20 mile radius of Norwich, although the occasional foray further afield has been equally successful over the years.

Since the early days Geoff’s Flying Folk nights have taken place regularly on a roughly monthly basis, with a break in the Summer, and with a special session every Boxing Day. They have grown enormously in popularity and standing over the years. This is in no small way due to Geoff’s enthusiasm and commitment, along with that of his wife Myrtle, organising things himself and keeping in close personal touch with participants and venues alike, many of whom have become good friends over the years.

With Geoff “in the cockpit” as MC, and Myrtle at his side, he’ piloted’ lively, rousing, free and open sessions for folkies and non-folkies alike. Consequently, for years now Flying Folk has attracted a loyal following of talented amateur and semi-professional performers, along with the occasional professional. Contributors are some of the best in Norfolk, often with close links to the Norwich and Norfolk folk scene of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Many others are encouraged to join in, though, and are always made welcome.

There can be no doubt that the heroic commitment Geoff made to his Flying Folk nights, along with the support he regularly received from a faithful corps of performers, enthusiasts and venues, helped make these sessions the legend they have become.

Read more: Tribute to Geoff Roberts - Norfolk folk hero

Robert Hodgson - Amended obituary

• Norfolk

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.