Obituary: Mary Moore

• Suffolk

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

• Suffolk

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.

Read more: Music for Glynn Thomas' Etchings

Obituary: Dave Benford of The Cambridge Crofters

• Cambridgeshire
• Ceilidh
• Singer

Dave Benford — Musician, Entertainer, Artist in oils and pastels, Actor, Entrepreneur, Family man - husband, dad, grandad, great grandad - as well as the electronics day jobs and running his own business!

Dave, together with Andrew Kendon, formed the Crofters Folk Club - named after where Dave lived - The Croft - in 1964,  and by 1967 the Cambridge Crofters folk group had been started, first as a singing group, then as a ceilidh band. Dave’s energy, vision and organising ability were driving forces behind the group for over 50 years.

The Cambridge Crofters outside the Portland Arms, Cambridge: Left to Right: Andrew Kendon, Dave Benford, Richard Brading

Read more: Obituary: Dave Benford of The Cambridge Crofters