TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Dave and Jill Swarbrick have asked me to post this on behalf of themselves and Dave's longtime friends, Roger and Beryl Marriott.

I have looked on the net and there isn't much information about this very talented and influential traditional folk artist, so I will ask Jill to write a short biography

Beryl Marriott: Urgent appeal from Swarb

After a series of health problems over the past few years, including: wet macular degeneration,heart problems and C.O.P.D., last week, Beryl Marriott suffered a Stroke.
Her left side is affected.
She is as lucid and sharp as ever, albeit of course, very tired. She is currently in the Stroke Unit at Milton Keynes General Hospital.
We urgently need the aid of all lovers of her music to help the wonderful staff at the hospital to be acutely aware that she is an important and highly respected artiste.
Therefore I'm requesting that as many people and fans as possible send Beryl cards and messages of goodwill.
It would be really great if you could add 'from a fan' or 'lover of your music' etc...to your message.
I'm sure you get the idea.
Her morale would be lifted immensely.
I remember so well your sustained and powerful messages to me over the years throughout my personal health issues. Those messages and emails were my lifelines in many respects, as I laid in hospital, so I really know the power a message,card or email has.
I'm sure I don't have to go into the immense musical influence and stature Beryl occupies...
So, please send a card etc asap.
Also, please pass this message on to as many people you can think of.
Beryl is very special, a mentor and influence on our musics and hearts.
Let's bombard her with our heartfelt best wishes.
 
Beryl Marriott
Ward 7,
Milton Keynes General Hospital
Campbell Centre
Standing Way
Eaglestone
Milton Keynes
MK6 5LD
 
Just so that I can keep track of it all, mainly for Roger and family, would you IM me when you've sent a message to Beryl? Thanks folks.
 
On behalf of Roger Marriott & Family, Jill & I, with love and thanks.
 
Swarb x
 
 

Card written. Will post it in the morning. IM to Swarb underway.

What sad news.. will do asap.

card written Jude..
I saw Beryl and Dave quite a long time time ago with Swarb and I think  Martin Carthy .. at a midlands festival  (May have been up near Sheffield) .. Beryl has immense talent and obviously has been a major influence on Swarbs music she is a lovely lady and even though she won't remember me its a pleasure to write to her

DaveP

---

_{music is the mediator between the spritual and the sensual life . LVBeethoven}

A card will be on its way tomorrow. Also cards from several friends and family who are not Talkawhilers, but appreciate the musical role she has played over the years.

A card on it's way from me too

I'm going into MK on Wednesday anyway - shall I drop a big card in?

one on its way from me too as soon as i can get out lol

I;ll send a card in the morning.  

here is some more on beryl:
http://http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/webrevs/bejocd5.htm
http://http://www.innerviews.org/inner/swarb.html
http://http://www.classicsonline.com/artistbio/Beryl_Marriott/

http://www.countysales.com/php-bin/ecomm4/products.php?category_id=9507&product_id=902

http://www.amazon.com/Hands-Across-Richard-Greene-Marriott/dp/B00005TNMC

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Weave-Mirror-Beryl-Marriott/dp/B000024CMP



she also appears on 45 years of folk's finest fiddler:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Swarb-Forty-Years-Finest-Fiddler/dp/B00008YGW1

Thanks Jude

Beryl was fab a few years back at Cropredy. I was first drawn attention to her wonderful piano playing from Chris Leslie. They were an amazing sound together that year. Such sad news to hear about this talented lady.

Card on its way  :)

She will get a card from Germany  {:-)

Possibly best for us just to post our own, and leave her in peace.

 >:( That's a bit strong Chris >:(, I wasn't suggesting bothering her.  I'd like to think I've a bit more sense. I was going to 'drop a card in' (see original post)to the hospital (to save postage on a 'big one') as I am actually going past the hospital, and I certainly wouldn't presume to visit her since she doesn't know me.

My apologies if I misled you :-X

It seems as though I was misled.....

For those who might be wondering who Beryl is, here's her biog. It's a bit long, but then she has been playing for a long time ;D

Beryl Marriott, the reknowned traditional english pianist, was born in 1928 and brought up in Chester.
After training as a teacher (specialising in PE, where her ability to improvise for dance was soon noticed), she taught in Manchester & Birmingham. In 1950, she met Kate (Kay) Graham (deceased 2008), a fellow resident at the Birmingham YWCA and a fiddler. They were playing one evening when an EFDSS member heard them and put them in touch with Ken Clarke. She & Kay were soon playing for the Society. She left teaching to become a full-time musician, and was soon well-known in Birmingham with Kay for English & Scottish dancing.
In 1953, Beryl moved to London, and was soon playing regularly for the EFDSS. She worked with those taught by Cecil Sharp, & took part in all the major festivals as well as numerous weekend & vacation schools.
She appeared on several of the EFDSS records and broadcast regularly.
 
In 1957, after marrying (Roger), she returned to the Midlands. Although now devoting most of her time to her family, she still organized the first Birmingham Players' Club, noted for its 1959 Alnwick summer school, and to work with Charles Parker of Radio Ballad fame who she introduced to British folk music. She also played for Sidmouth festivals in the 1960s, as well as running numerous workshops.
She was instrumental in persuading the young Dave Swarbrick to take up the fiddle, which he had abandoned for the guitar, thus commencing a long association.
 
From 1963-67, Beryl was in Canada, where she ran a workshop at the Mariposa Folk Festival, became involved in education for children with special needs, and founded the English department of the Toronto French School, now one of the leading international schools.
 
On her return to England in 1967, she undertook pioneering work in education, specialising in Special Needs, a field in which she had a wide reputation.
She  continued with many musical activities, mostly encouraging young musicians. In the 70s she was persuaded to return to performing with the series of records and concerts with  Swarbrick and Friends, and with many appearances with Dave.
 
She has a long association with various members of Fairport Convention, & has played in the Fairport Ceilidhe Band.
She also plays regularly with Watling's Treat, a Leighton Buzzard-based band.
 
With her husband Roger, she published Tunes for the Band, a widely-used collection of traditional material.
 
Beryl Marriott's career spans the whole of the post-war folk revival. She is the last active musician who learned from those who worked with Cecil Sharp, carrying on the tradition re-established by him. Her experience of traditional dance playing is unrivalled, and she is regarded as the leading folk keyboard player, and an outstanding teacher of dance playing. Her influence upon the folk scene has been significent: her inspiration is acknowledged by Dave Swarbrick, Chris Leslie, Simon Mayor, Hilary James, Brian Willcocks and many others.
 
Since her retirement from an educational post, her album  Weave the Mirror , on which she plays both solo and with members of  Fairport Convention & Chris Leslie was widely acclaimed; she has been profiled in 'Growing old disgracefully' on BBC Woman's Hour; has appeared at the Cropredy Festival, and on tour with Fairport Convention, and with Chris Leslie. She played on Chris's album  The Gift , & on Hilary James'  Love Lust & Loss,  on Simon Mayor's  New Celtic Mandolin.,  and has made numerous concert appearances. Her latest record was  Hands across the Pond,  with Richard Green, the American blue-grass fiddle player.
 
Abridged for 'TalkAwhile' by Jill Swarbrick from an original text by Roger Marriott, December 2008.
 
 

Truly a unsung heroine. I was of her work with swarb and the celidh band, and the beautiful solo and duo albums, but her influence on the folk scene clearly cannot be unestimated and of course a card is in the post.
Her appearance at swarbs 50th along with Kate Graham and the Celidh was a live highlight for me, when compared with any concert performance I have seen!

I was at that gig.. first time I saw Beryl.. what a great night that was.

The most special performance for me is Beryl's superb playing on 'The False Knight on the Road' from Simon's second solo excursion. Magic combination!

Sorry I won't be able to send a card from here, but my best wishes go to her.  I saw her only once, with the Fairport Ceilidh band in Gloucester one New Years Eve, but have greatly enjoyed her playing on Weave The Mirror, Hilary James' Love, Lust and Loss and various other albums.

I was at Gloucester. Good memories. All the best to her.

Just a small  update on progress...if I may?
Firstly, thank you so much to all of you for your messages and cards which have arrived safe and sound!
Swarb & I visited Beryl this afternoon and were thrilled to bits to see her awake & pleased to see us!
She is incredibly fatigued, drops off to sleep frequently but she is as sharp as a pin and very much the Beryl we know and love.
Roger read out all the pile of cards to her and they were both curious about 'Farnsfield Acoustic'? So, we filled them in, which was nice.
They were visibly very moved by your kind comments and messages of love and support.
Its really early days yet and she really needs lots of rest but we were greatly cheered with her quiet, slow on-going recovery.
Thanks so much again, feel free to keep sending any messages or cards, they are clearly a tremendous morale boost for both Beryl & Roger.
Gawd bless yer!
 :)  ;)
Swarb ( & Jill )


 

So good to know that she is doing ok.. and that the cards are getting to her.

That's good news for early in her recovery :)

Keep us posted please

I sent a card and letter last week.

Here's a little story about Beryl that I suspect is typical of her generosity and enthusiasm for making things happen.

I first met her when she was supporting Fairport on the Winter Tour. I'd reviewed (or was about to review) the album she made with FC, Weave The Mirror and we had a chat in the bar. One thing led to another and she kind of bullied me into sending her a tape of some songs I'd written. I thought nothing more about it really until I got a strange phone call from Martin Barre of Jethro Tull. Getting a call from MB was pretty strange in itself because we'd never spoken before but back then I was a regular Q reviewer, Tull-friendly and he was angling for a review of his solo album. Right at the end he said something like: "Oh and I've got a message from Dave Pegg - 'love the Red Tide song, it's on the album'." Several frantic phone calls later confirmed that Beryl had been up to something. She'd passed the tape to Simon without saying who it was but that there was a song on there he should hear. He liked it and so did the rest of the band and that's how a song of mine ended up on Jewel In The Crown.

A small kindness, a friendly bit of facilitating - I'd like to think it was an eye for a great song, of course! - call it what you like. Beryl Marriott made it happen.

Here's to a speedy recovery.

rob

Great song too.. much missed!!

What a great story Rob, apart from being a lovely lady, Beryl also clearly knows a good song when it comes along.

Congratulations to you for Red Tide

Just seen this on the R2 F&A board

That's nice isn't it? ;D {:-)


PRESS RELEASE: 17th Dec 2008

The EFDSS is pleased to announce that dance musician Beryl Marriott has been awarded the society's Gold Badge in recognition of a lifetime contribution to folk music.

In a career which spans the whole of the post-war folk revival and straddles the Atlantic, she has been involved in festivals, clubs, workshops, broadcasts and recordings. As a teacher her experience and top class musicianship have supported and inspired new generations, and her collaborations with Charles Parker (of Radio Ballads fame), with fiddlers Kay Graham, Dave Swarbrick, and latterly Chris Leslie and American Richard Greene plus many other musicians have created a fine musical legacy.

On behalf of the Chairman of the EFDSS

About time, in my opinion!

Congratulations to Beryl!

Oh that is just lovely. {:-)

Great news!

Is Beryl home yet I wonder?

I'm sure Jude would have told us if she was....

Oh of course.. how silly of me.

She is still in hospital, but I don't know much more than that :)

Thank you Jude  :-* ;D

Great story. And bloody well the best song on the entire album, if you ask me.

T-R

Any update on her condition?

Chris

Firstly, wishing everyone a very Happy New Year!

Roger Marriott wants very much to send a personal message soon, so I'll try to keep this brief and not ramble on.

Beryl is still in Milton Keynes General Hospital.
She is 'on the ball' but very fatigued and progress is slow.
She will probably remain there for the next couple of weeks or so. It is unlikely that she'll be able to play the Grand Piano again. This is indeed very sad news. Roger may elaborate on this but the long and the short of it is that they may be looking to sell their piano fairly soon, depending upon what Beryl wants, to make room to convert the musicroom. I think the piano is a Grand Piano 'Bluthner'?.

That's about all for now folks.
I expect Roger will post something fairly soon.

All the best.

Jill

Thanks for the update.  Sad news of Beryl if she can't play the piano any more...but fingers crossed for positive futures.

Many happy memories of the Marriotts from Cropredy over the years, and a couple of gigs by the FC Ceilidh Band I was lucky enough to witness.

Message from Roger Marriott for Talkawhile

'Beryl has asked me to tell you all how much she has been heartened by the many cards and expressions of good wishes sent to her. The road to recovery is going to be a long one, but she hopes to be out and about in due course, and to meet her friends again.'

Best.

Swarb

Thanks for update. I've phoned a couple of times and will write again tomorrow. It must have been a hard Xmas and New Year but hopefully the road ahead is a bit less bumpy than it was and Beryl will be up and about soon - and occasionally sampling what DM used to call her 'nerve tonic'.

rob

I have just heard from Jill that Beryl was well enough to return to her home today, she will need a lot of care, but she is doing very well.


Jude :D

Excellent news Jude, Thanks for the update.

And here's hoping for a continued recovery for Beryl.

Thanks Jude - first bit of good news for a while.

Here's to continuing recovery for a rather amazing lady :)

So good to hear good news  ;D ;D

That sounds very positive... I must tell my Mum, who I took to see FC when Beryl toured with them. They are of a similar vintage I think (Mum & Beryl, not Mum & FC!)

 :D

That's wonderful news Jude. Thanks. {:-)

I see (thanks to the Fairport website (http://www.fairportconvention.com/general_news.php#news1) for theinfo) that Beryl has been awarded an EFDSS Gold Badge. The citation deserves repeating in full:

"The Society are today officially awarding the immensely influential and gifted
pianist Beryl Marriott, their highest accolade: The Gold Badge.


Many will be aware of Beryl Marriott because of their interest in Fairport Convention, but her whole oeuvre can now be highlighted and her importance confirmed. Not only is she a mentor to many of us in British Traditional Music but she is a hugely talented and fine musician.

As a young woman, she trained as a teacher, specializing in P.E., where her ability to improvise for dance was soon noticed. She taught in Manchester and Birmingham.


In 1950, she met the fiddler Kay Graham, while staying at the YWCA - Kay sadly passed away last year. They began a lifelong friendship and musical collaboration. During that period, they were overheard by a member of the Society who put them in touch with Ken Clarke and they were soon playing for the Society.

Beryl left teaching to become a full-time musician and along with Kay Graham, became well-known in Birmingham for English and Scottish dancing. Along with the Emerald Isle Ceilidhe Band, they were winners of the Feis Birmingham.

In 1953, Beryl moved to London and was soon playing regularly for the Society.


She worked with those taught by Cecil Sharp - Douglas and Helen Kennedy, Marjorie Sinclair and Elsie Avril and took part in all the major festivals, especially Stratford upon Avon and the annual Albert Hall events.


She appeared on several of the Society's records and broadcast regularly Midland region programmes. She also played for the Royal Scottish Dance society and the Highland Society.

In 1957, after marrying Roger, she returned to the Midlands, devoting most of her time to her family, but still found time to organise the first Birmingham Players' Club, noted for its 1959 Alnwick Summer School, and to work with Charles Parker of Radio Ballad fame, who she introduced to Folk Music.


It was at this time in the late 1950s that a young skiffle band won a talent contest in the Birmingham area. Beryl and roger Marriott were then celebrities in and around the Birmingham music scene and the prize for winning this contest was to meet Beryl and Roger.


The young lad playing guitar in this group was Dave Swarbrick.

Beryl spotted what she said was a 'natural talent' and took me under her wing. She found out that as a boy I had played the violin and she actively encouraged me to drop the guitar and take up the fiddle again, saying "guitarists are ten-a-penny, fiddlers are not, ducky!"

Beryl has always been a tour-de-force, and from that chance event and by coming under her mentoring and active participation with traditional music, my well documented career began.

In 1963 until 1967, Beryl was in Canada, where she ran a workshop at the Mariposa Folk Festival. She became involved in education for children with special needs and founded the English department of the Toronto French School, now one of the International Schools.


In 1967, she returned to England undertaking pioneering work in education specializing in Special Needs, a field in which she had a wide reputation.

Beryl's musical career spans the whole of the post-war Folk Revival. She is the last active musician who learned from those who worked with Cecil Sharp, carrying on the tradition established by him.


Her experience of traditional dance playing is unrivalled and she is regarded as the leading folk keyboard player and an outstanding teacher of dance playing.


Her influence upon the folk scene has been hugely significant. She has always had a unique and special talent. Her contribution to folk music has up until now been perhaps too well hidden under a bushel.

I am totally confident in my convictions that without Beryl Marriott, the Folk Scene over the past 50 years would not have the diversity of flavours and colours that it enjoys today.


Many of us involved in the Tradition, including Folk-Rock, owe Beryl an enormous debt of gratitude, for opening up possibilities and such tremendous joys in music since the 1960s to the present day. To name but a few: Myself, Chris Leslie, Simon Mayor, Hilary James, Richard Green, Fairport Convention and on and on...


All of us have learnt a great deal and we enjoy a strong foundation in being nurtured by Beryl and hopefully, take up her baton, by continuing to encourage the young, up and coming musicians of the future to be involved in the Tradition.

Beryl has charisma. She is a charismatic musician as well as a charismatic character.
She is larger than life even though diminutive in physical size. When Beryl sits at the piano and starts to play, it is literally spellbinding and none can match her.

This Gold Badge is long overdue. Accolades should have been showered upon Beryl Marriott. Perhaps, if she had concentrated purely on music, she would have the fame and applause she missed out on by being a woman, a mother and a teacher.


All of us who are blessed to know her as a dear friend and as a musician of the highest quality and influence, salute her this evening and congratulate her on receiving the Gold Badge."

An amazing Lady, and I'm so glad I was able to include her in 'Festival Folk'! See page 90 to remind yourselves how she appeared on stage at Cropredy in 2003.

And just for once this is not a sales plug...... cos there's only three copies left!

I'm just wondering how Beryl Marriott is getting along these days? Not wishing to pry of course, but it would be good to hear any news. :)

Was hoping to ask Swarb on Friday night, after his 'Swarb & Friends' gig at Kings Place in London- but I only saw Gina LeFaux....

He referred to her as 'ailing' during the gig, but paid handsome praise while introducing Mrs Marriott, his tune in her honour.

Hopefully Swarb or Jill will be along soon to give us an update.

Yes, Jill here Chris.

Thanks for asking about Beryl folks.

She's been home for a few weeks now and mending slowly.
The signs are very encouraging that she'll regain a lot more use of her hand and leg again.
I think Dave/Swarb meant "ailing" in that she's rather been through the mill and back the past year or two healthwise, but I consider her actually pretty fantastic considering everything actually!
Beryl has tremendous willpower and determination... as you might have gathered over the years.
Her speech was never luckily, affected by the stroke and through sheer hard work and courage she is starting to reap the results of lots of physiotherapy on her left arm/hand and left leg.
She gets a bit tired in the afternoon but then, she's still repairing and allowed a snooze at 80 years old I reckon. ;)

I've just spoken to her and she sends you all on Talkawhile her love and thanks.

Jill

Thanks Jill.....sorry not to have had a longer chat on Friday.

Thanks Jill :) I meant to ask when you were at Farnsfield :-[

Excellent to hear good news!!

Really good to hear she is doing well :)

I recall seeing Swarb do a gig with Beryl at Cecil Sharp House back in the late 70's or early 80's... It was - of course - a great gig with Beryl's wonderfully powerful piano leading from the front... The truly great thing was seeing Swarb so very well behaved (isn't 'e always?? - ed). The odd whisky and the odd snout may have passed the lips... but it was defintely Beryl in control, like a kindly music teacher with a bashful student... Get well soon Beryl!

I saw Beryl and her man Roger play with the Fairport Ceilidh Band on 16 aug 1987, the day after the Festival, at the Spiceball Centre in Banbury. Thanks for helping me remember!
In honour of Beryl and FC I'll add some pictures I took that night

[attachment deleted by admin]

This pic includes Roger and Peggy.

This thread made me think and now I remember I also saw Beryl and prob Roger play with Swarbrick at the Cambridge Folk Festival in 1980.
At least, I think so, no pics to confirm it. Somebody out there as old as me  ;) :-[ who can confirm?
There are some tracks of this performance on "It Suits Me Well", but no info on who the "& Friends" are
http://www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/~zierke/swarb/records/itsuitsmewell.html




[attachment deleted by admin]

Nice photos!

Thanks!
BTW, I'll try not to post too much, I like the idea of being the junior member of something  ;)
Where do I have to stop?

The "& Friends" were Simon Nicol (guitar), Dave Pegg (bass), Roger Marriott (mouth organ), Beryl Marriott (piano) and Tim(i/y?) Donald (drums).

I can also see Ric and Chris in those piccies  ;D

nice shorts!  :D ;)

Yes and DM on drums.
Maart was there too, he's not in these pics, but on others I took he is

Who is the bloke in the hat?

Thanks!
Didn't know that Timi Donald was still around and drumming in 1980, no matter the fact that I was an eyewitness

Hugh Crabtree, the caller that night, now of Feast of Fiddles

Is the Weave The Mirror CD long gone now?  I seem to remember owning a copy, but can't find it these days.

Copies do appear but not regularly https://www.discogs.com/Beryl-Marriott-with-Fairport-Convention-Chris-Leslie-Weave-The-Mirror/release/7698118

I got it for a bargain 78p on Amazon about 3 years ago.

It's long been on my "to get" list & this reminder spurred me to picking up a copy off A***** this morning for £2.30.

Yours smugly.  :)

Well I paid somewhere between the two of you (£1.50/£2?) at a record fair in Mumbles last year actually.  Other half said "Bejesus, it'll be Perry Como next".  I had to put her right.

I hope that she was convinced when she heard it!  I'm glad I picked up a copy many years ago.

Never bought Weave... but I do have a CD copy of Chris & Beryl's "The Gift" from 1994 (£1.99 charity shop purchase years ago).

Beautiful Jo Records BEJOCD-5

"Chris plays a late 19th-century Dresden fiddle. Beryl plays a Challen piano and a  Roland FP8 keyboard".

Recorded at Woodworm (of course...)

Never been able to find it on there.  Just had another look and Beryl hardly seems to exist on their site.....

Edit : Unless it's the one claiming to be on Woodworm Records by Frankie Paul????

I was lucky enough to see the Swarb / Beryl duo in a London folk club - must have been just after the Swarbrick & Nicol duo stopped functioning. As has been mentioned some of the albums on which she appeared are now hard to obtain, so I recommend Swarb's excellent Smiddyburn which is readily available and to which Beryl made some some great contributions.

There is a copy of Beryls album with Richard Greene on cd on Amazon by the looks of things https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00005TNMC/ref=wl_mb_wl_huc_clickstream_3_dp