Bringing you reports on what has been and news of what’s to come!

 A Huge Thank You to Alex

We would like to take a moment to extend a huge thank you to Alex Bartholomew, who has been an integral part of the Trust for over 20 years. Alex stepped down from her role as Administrator in November, but we are thrilled that she remains involved with the Trust. We’re sure you will continue to see her at various events, and she’s been graciously helping Jannine adjust to her new role.

We are in awe of the dedication, hard work, and passion Alex has put into her work over the years, and we offer our heartfelt thanks for all she has done. Her contributions have made a lasting impact, and we are truly grateful.

Exciting News: Welcoming Two New Trustees!
We are thrilled to announce that two new trustees have joined our team, and both are excited to be part of the trust. Please join us in welcoming Chris Holderness and Becky Marshall Potter to The Trust! We look forward to the fresh perspectives and expertise they will bring as we continue to grow and make a difference in our community.

Meet Chris Holderness: I have a deep-seated interest in the traditional music of East Anglia, which now goes back several decades. I have been a regular performer, particularly with Rig-a-Jig-Jig, and in doing so was pleased to perform with some of the last tradition bearers of the region. Being very interested in the music’s background, I undertook much research into the traditional musical history of Norfolk. This culminated in many articles and talks, as well as an archive which is housed with EATMT. I am very pleased to be a trustee and to help the Trust with furthering East Anglia’s traditional music heritage.

A Bio from Becky Marshall Potter will be in the next newsletter

Our next event

Our next event is the next of our Sunday Afternoon of Music, Song and Dance events. Following on from our popular events last year in Walsham le Willows, we are delighted to announce that we have been awarded funding from the Norfolk Community Foundation and its Sheila Ann Day fund. Sunday 23rd March at Garboldisham Village Hall is the next of these Norfolk based events, with another planned in Oct/Nov 2025. Huge thanks to Jan Robinson for agreeing to co-ordinate this event once again and to Shirley Harry for agreeing to MC the afternoon. It’s a free event but we hope you’ll make a donation on entry, buy a raffle ticket and partake in a spot of afternoon tea and cake. Come along and watch/listen or come along and take part. If you want to guarantee a performance spot, email us: info@eatmt.org.uk.

2025 Events:

Sunday 23rd March – Garboldisham Sunday Afternoon of Music, Song and Dance;
Saturday 27th September – Traditional Music Day

Blyth Voices – 2nd Edition – out NOW!

Blyth Voices, which was originally published in 2003, and republished in 2008, has been our best-selling book, treasured by both singers and people with an interest in our local traditions, and referred to by researchers and writers worldwide.

The book brings together the songs collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams and George Butterworth in Southwold in 1910, mainly from within the fishing community, and particularly from three brothers, William, Robert and Ben Hurr.

It was originally produced as part of the EATMT Blyth Valley Voices project, but over the last twenty one years, author Katie Howson has continued to research this topic and has discovered many new sources casting a fresh light on the matter – and a “new” song  – and even another singing brother!

Thanks to the hugely successful Vaughan Williams Folk project which was run June 2022 to December 2023, we have been able to work on a new edition incorporating Katie’s later research.

This new revised edition

• includes the extra song
• reconsiders the role played by George Butterworth, Vaughan Williams’ colleague and companion on this trip
• delves into how the song collectors came to know about the Southwold singers
• contains updated information, biographies and references

Katie has been assisted in checking over the finer details of text and scores for this new edition by our indefatigable proofreader Judy Smith, whilst the ever helpful Alan Helsdon has worked on interpreting Vaughan Williams’ famously illegible score and handwriting on the previously unpublished song.

The book is now available to purchase from the website, with a book launch in the pipeline for 2025

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You may also like to know that Katie is giving an online talk on some different aspects of this subject for the EFDSS Library Lectures series on 11^th March 2025. This talk (‘Up from Sea, Up from Town’) will – although focussed on traditional singing – also consider the relationship between the local fishing community and the wider circle of middle class artists, musicians and writers who enjoyed visiting the town in the early 20^th century. For more details visit: English Folk Dance and Song Society – Library Lectures 2025

Handmade Music

Don’t miss out on this book, that was published in August. Described by Steve Roud, Author of Folk Song in England as “an excellent book that puts the singers and musicians at centre stage”. Megan Wisdom hails from Suffolk and has worked closely with Katie Howson on late husband John’s Suffolk collection.

Instruments for Sale

Over the summer we have added a couple more items to our sales listings. Head over to the Instruments for Sale Page for more details.

Thanks

As ever, we are not able to achieve any of this work without the support of volunteers and various organisations – local and national. We are also indebted to our ‘Friends’ who support us through the Trust’s membership scheme. Thank you everyone who has taken time to contribute to another successful year. A particular thanks from Alex Bartholomew who is moving on to new pastures after 23 years of working for the Trust. Thank you for your support, guidance and friendship!