A CELEBRATION of a former Morchard Bishop man’s love of folk music was held in the skittle alley at the London Inn, Morchard Bishop.

Ken Hinchliffe is now in Hay House Nursing Home at Broadclyst, where his wife, Jan, says he is being cared for very well.

Previously he recorded a number of folk tunes which have now been put together on a CD entitled “Life’s Just a Laugh”.

It was at the launch party for the CD, held on Saturday, October 15, that about 65 friends of Ken’s, being folk singers, musicians and non-entertainers, enjoyed a pleasant evening.

The evening was very ably run and organised, largely by Paul Watts and Hazel Underwood, who ensured everyone was happily entertained by the extremely capable and accomplished entertainers.

A number of Ken’s friends spoke of interesting memories of Ken and played or sang accordingly.

Jan enlightened the audience by telling of Ken’s many accomplishments.

She said he was born on January 4, 1939, after school working on the land, firstly with an institution called British Farms for British Boys.

When National Service loomed, he signed on for 22 years with the Royal Army Corps, wishing eventually to serve with the Queen’s Bays. This he achieved.

Jan explained: “After the initial square bashing, because he was reading music and playing the saxophone, he was accepted by the Neller Hall School of Music in London.

“It was rigorous training which he loved and passed the exam. He was sent to join the Band of the Queen’s Dragoon Guards which was being reformed at Lulworth Cove. He was always able to read a piece of music in one key and transpose it in his head and play it in any other key asked for. Quite an achievement.

“Once the Band was reformed they were sent off to Wolfenbuckle in Germany to join the Regiment of The Queen’s Bays and apart from short periods of leave, there he stayed for almost six years. Ken has entertained both me and friends over the years recounting incidents which he remembered.”

Ken terminated his enlistment after six years but had to serve in the Royal Army Reserve for a period of three years.

Jan added: “Ken got a job with the Yorkshire Electricity Board where he worked as a store keeper until privatisation came along and because he was one of the oldest he was one of the first to be offered ‘early retirement’ which he accepted.”

She said that it was Frank Hinchliffe who introduced Ken to folk singing.

She explained: “Having found an outlet for his considerable energy Ken proceeded to lead a very full life as I found when we met in 1983. He was visiting at least one folk club and one folk dance club each week, also he was a member of two Morris dance sides, Grenoside Longsword and Escafeld Morris, both of which danced weekly. He was running and walking long distance walks regularly with his friend Roger.

“With a different group he completed the Three Peaks Challenge Walk in the Lake District.

They were the three highest peaks in England being Skiddaw, Helvellyn and Scafell Pike, each peak being more than 3,000 feet and had to be completed within 24 hours. This was one of his proudest achievements.

“He had been awarded both silver and gold tie pins for giving blood, and was the vice-chairman of one of Sheffield’s walking groups which is how we met when I happened to join Ken’s club.

“In April 1984 he invited me to go with him to a folk dance, my first. We were married the following March.

“It must have been in about 1987 that he settled for an English treble concertina, which he mastered. Three years later his lovely baritone concertina joined it.

“In June 1995 we walked the southern loop of the long distance walk of the Tarka Trail, an impressive first visit to Devon for both of us especially when we returned in August to visit the Dartmoor Folk Festival. That clinched it for us, it was just another world and one which we wanted to be part of.

“And the rest as they say is history. We moved to Morchard Bishop in December 1997 where we were very happy, and joined the Pennymoor Singers in January 1998. Ken bought his beloved Northumberland Smallpipes in May 2002.

“Ken had started recording some of his songs on tapes and then when we got a computer he put them onto CD’s.

“He started going through all this material in about 2008, selecting only the best to start compiling his CD.”

Jan said that Mike Gluyas helped her husband with the recording in the past.

Jan said was was indebted to Paul and Hazel who, back in June asked her to come back to the folk scene and that they would pick her up. She explained: “I cannot explain the feeling of euphoria I felt after that first evening. They have also been very instrumental in helping me to organise this evening and will shortly be running it. Thank you both so much.

“Neither would tonight be happening without a CD and for that many thanks go to Dick and Mel for the perfect cover and to their son, Ross, for turning Ken’s home-made CD, his legacy, into a professional one. Between them they had several problems to overcome. “Thank you all so much.”

Jan said it was a happy and relaxed evening with a delightful supper provided by Sarah and Emma.

She said donations and the sale of the CD has raised £455 towards the work of Alzheimer’s Research UK.

She thanked everyone for their support and said the CD is available for a donation of £5 or more. If postage is involved please add £2 to cover the cost of postage and packing.

To obtain a CD, or make a donation, please contact Jan on 01363 776046.

Alan Quick