Tumbling Tom - Ceilidh Band

The photos on this page have been obtained from various sources, but mainly from a scrap book maintained by Moira, from Allison, and from me (Hugh). In 1972, the Brewery Arts Centre opened in Kendal and the following year the Sunday night folk club started with Bob Marston, Richard (Dickie) Hannant, Howard Elliot, Dave Neve, and Hugh Taylor soon forming a committee. Bob did the booking of guests, followed by Hugh after Bob moved down to Norwich. Howard did the MC'ing, Dickie looked after the door and the money, and Dave along with Monica his wife ran the record counter. Out of the folk club sprang Kendal Morris Men, with Roy Eccles as musician on accordion. Hugh and Dave started singing and playing together, and were soon joined by the vocals of Bob and the playing of Roy. The four started performing as Westmorland Packet, and in 1976 played two tracks on a vinyl record - The Best of BBC Radio Carlisle's Folk Workshop. Recorded by Paul Adams, he later moved on to form Fellside Recording Studios. As we were the only group to play instrumentals as well as singing, we were asked to play some border music and so we opted for 'My Love She's But a Lassie Yet' to open the LP, and 'Nancy and Jamie Allen' to close it. On the LP Roy played piano accordion, Dave banjo and fiddle, and Hugh guitar. Steve Tomlinson soon joined us after moving up from Blackpool in 1976: quite a culture shock after performing in Diamond Lill's Saloon! Also playing occasionally at the time with Westmorland Packet, as his work at sea allowed, was Pete Rigg on English concertina. In circa 1976, Roy left his job as a factory manger in Kendal and bought the Crown Inn at High Newton, where he quickly started a weekly informal folk night: probably the very first of what became known later as 'a session'. Starting in the downstairs bar, the session moved into the upstairs lounge after Roy and Audrey had fitted it out. It very soon became a place for local and visiting singers and musicians to drop into, and to this day people still remember some of us from those times.
	In this shot taken around 1980, Hugh is at the rear playing one row melodeon. Moving clockwise, Dave Neve is playing fiddle, Geoff Dixon playing guitar, Audrey getting ready to sing, Bob Bradbury of West Somerset Morris Men playing melodeon (and making a visit to John Jackson of Furness MM and sat behind Dave), Roy playing his accordeon, and Steve singing and playing guitar.
Here is Bob Bradbury again on the same evening doing some Dartmoor stepping. Of interest in the photo besides Roy and Steve are Mik Mead playing guitar (he is still performing in the South Lakes) and 'Lewis' in the back ground with a red top on. We never did know his surname or much about him, but he always seemed to 'be around' and was last heard of in Australia.
	Besides playing each Thursday night at the session, Roy roped us in on other occasions. We're not sure when this is or what the occasion was, but Hugh is on the left, then Steve, Roy, and Dave on the right. Check trousers were obviously 'in' that year!
Another dance group that started in the 70's was the Westmorland Step and Garland Dancers, with some members being wives of the Kendal Morris men. Based at the Brewery in Kendal, both Hugh and Dave were associated with the side. When they wanted a ceilidh in 1981, it seemed a good idea to try and form a band from the musicians at the folk club and based around Westmorland Packet. According to Dave Rochell's notes, the ceilidh was held on Saturday November 2nd 1981, and the faded photo below was taken by Helen Birket (now Whitaker) at the dance and shows Dave Rochell as caller, with musicians behind from right to left - Neil Parkinson on fiddle, Dave Neve also on fiddle, Pete Rigg on English concertina, Brian Birket on banjo, Steve Tomlinson on melodeon, with Steve Black behind on guitar. Presumably Hugh is off to the left somewhere.


Again from dave's notes, the next gig seems to be in 1982 on Friday May 28th at the Brewey as part of a local folk weekend. In the band were Pete, Dave, Hugh , Steve, and Brian, with Dave calling. In those early days when we didn't have much of a tune reportoire, Dave had to list the dances that he may call and then the band had to find tunes to fit. If we ran out of polkas then Dave couldn't call the dance. Being an ambitious type of person, Dave had 22 dances on his list, whereas we normally reckon on 5 - 6 dances per hour. For interest, he had the following in his program - Blaydon Races, Farmers Jig, Johnny Fetch Your Wife Back, Stoke Golding Country Dance, Swinging Six, Ninepins, Lucky Seven, Bridge of Athlone, Cottagers, Wring out the Dish Rag, Swedish Masquerade, Lincolnshire Poacher, Circle waltz, Yellow Rose of Texas, Belfast Duck, Patacake Polka, Cumberland Square Eight, Speed the Plough, Sybil's Roundabout, Nottingham Swing, Drops of Brandy, Circassian Circle. He notes that the program was altered during the evening with Speed the Plough and Swinging Six not danced, but the Yorkshire Square Eight included. Also on the program were the Westmorland Step and Garland Dancers, and Westmorland Packet.
Soon after that, a fine musician called Pete Waller and his wife joined the Step Dancers, and that was the spur for some of the musicians at the above ceilidhs to form their own band, eventually coming up with the name Tumbling Tom, which someone said was Westmorland dialect for a hayrake or pitch fork, or something. And so TT started performing, with the line up of Pete Waller on button accordeon and melodeon, Steve on melodeon, Hugh on bass guitar, and Dave on fiddle, mandolin, and banjo, with Dave Rochell as their regular caller, with Sheila Mason and Martyn Harvey helping out on occasions. Pete Rigg played us occasionally, but as he was an engineer on board ship he spent most of his time at sea.
In 1984, Roy paid for Westmorland Packet to record a tape at Linden Studios near Shap. The tape has recently been re-mastered, and the tracks are shown below. Just click on a track to listen. All are trad. unless stated. - The Blacksmith - Broom of the Cowdenknowes - Polka set - Twas within a Mile/The Quaker - Beltane Fires (wrote by Steve) - Greenland Whale - Congleton Bear (wrote by Pete Coe) - Napoleans Dream - Jig Set - Dingle Regatta/Merrily Kiss the Quaker/Tripping Upstairs - The Old Miner/Dan Lenos Boat - Curious Times The line up on those tracks was - - Roy on piano accordion and whistles - Steve on vocals, melodeon, guitar and bouzouki - Dave on fiddle, mandolin, banjo, and whistles - Hugh on vocals, guitar, melodeon, and percussion
Peter Rigg, a periodic member of Wesmorland Packet, although now living in Kendal, originally came from Southport, and was a good contact for the occasional gig at the Bothy Folk Club down there. In 1986, Tumbling Tom were booked to play for their Christmas ceilidh. From memory, Roy nor Pete Waller could make it, so it was a rather sparse band of Steve, Dave, and Hugh, with Dave Rochell calling: we weren't asked again..
Pete Waller soon left the area, and Roy depped when the pub work allowed, but in 1986 he too left the area for Cambridge. Fortunately another fine box player moved into the area - Andrew Service - and he quickly filled a slot in the band, adding button accordeon and synth. At that time, Andrew was also playing with a ceilidh band based around Clitheroe called Blackthorn Band with caller Gwyndon Boardman, and so Gwyndon started to become our caller of choice when the gig was down Lancashire way.
This photo was take in Hornby school in 1987, and shows from left to right: Dave Rochell, Hugh, Andrew, Steve, and Dave Neve. When we arrived at this event, the school told us that they were expecting a singing group, not a ceilidh band. After that hiccup, the band started sending out a contract to ensure that both parties know exactly what to expect.
Around this time, we also added Les Ord to our lineup on drums, and so became a five piece band. When Les couldn't make it Iain Hunter would dep for him, a situation that continues to this day. For a number of years around this time, we played for the New Years Eve ceilidh at the Kendal Leisure Centre, with Martyn calling. This poster is from 1987..

	We played for a few years at Fell End Caravan Park near Beetham, and this one was 1990..
This photo is labeled 'Leyland' so it could be one of - 1989 for the Royal Lancashire Morris Men 1989 for Leyland PTA 1990 at the RAOB club
	Playing at PTA's was a staple for most bands in those days (whatever happened to PTA ceilidh's?) and this one was at the Queen Katherine School in either 1989 or 1990, with Martyn Harvey calling
We played at Kendal Town Hall quite regularly, so the two below were taken in one of - 1989 or 1990-May for Westmorland Step and Garland Dancers day of dance 1989 - October (Martyn's day of folk activities?)


In 1989, Martyn succeeded in getting us on the bill at Redcar Folk Festival for the Friday night ceilidh, and so the organisers needed a publicity photo. This and the one below were two of the many attempts we made at creating something, but which we ended up using we're not sure. The gig was memorable in many ways, one of which was that four of us were squashed into one small bedroom. Andrew was married to Moira at the time, and so had the luxury of a double room to themselves. We played again at the festival the following year - see below.


We think the two below were taken at the Redcar Festival


Having Morris Men within the band in those days (Hugh and Les danced with Furness Morris) they had close relationships with other dance sides in the area. This photo was taken in 1990 at High Hesket village hall when we played for the Carlisle Sword teams day of dance. Gwyndon (who danced with and ran Clitheroe Morris) is calling, and Georgia Shorrock can be seen dancing in the right foreground wearing a flowery dress We also played for Throstles Nest womens side in 1988
	The venue of this is unknown but is thought to be in 1990
We played at Beckside Village Hall near Kirkby-in-Furness a total of nine times between 1989 and 1994. Sometimes this was a community social organised by Peter Fitzpatrick, and sometimes for the local tennis club where the Fuegler family always semed to sweep the board. This photo was taken in February 1990, with Dave Rochell calling.
	This was in the Brewery Arts Centre in February 14, 1990 so presumably a Valentine Night ceilidh.
We didn't play very often at the Shap Wells Hotel. This was a wedding in March 1990, with Martyn calling.	Martyn sharing a joke with Steve

	Barrow has always been a difficult place for the band, and this gig was no exception. Moira's scrapbook says 'Hardly anyone came: enough for two four couple sets'. I'm sure Martyn tried his hardest.
March 1900 in Preston Patrick VH
	A wedding at Windermere in 1990?
One of the most difficult places we have played in was the Ashton Memorial in Williamson Park, Lancaster for a wedding in 1990, with Dave Rochell calling. The acoustics for a band like ours were terrible, and we eventually played with almost no PA. Never again!
	Andrew worked for an engineering company as a technical rep, and in may we travelled down to Bournemouth in a minibus to play at the companies annual dinner. We took with us Gwyndon as our caller.
The band always retained a close connection to the Westmorland Step and Garland Dancers, and often played at their days and \|weekends of dance. In 1990 the Cloggies established a friendship with a Peruvian band called Chan Chan, and they appeared at the Cloggies day of dance ceilidh as an entertainment spot.


	Having played at Redcar Folk Festival in July 1989, we returned again in July 1990. On the way home we played for a ceilidh in Kirkby Stephen with Les calling and drumming
Crosthwaite , August 26, 1990, with Dave Rochell calling. I wonder if Les is looking at Hugh's shorts and thinking 'what on earth is he wearing'.

In August 1990 , the band were asked by Alan Bell to play at Fylde Folk Festival, and we took Steve Parkinson along to mix our sound. This poor quality photo is taken during our sound check in the Drill Hall.
	Also in August 1990 (we played 4 gigs in August that year) is this photo taken in the courtyard at Dallam Tower near Milnthorpe, where we were playing for Milnthorpe Tennis Club. Our caller was Sheila Mason, and she can be seen sitting down between Steve Parkinson (depping for Steve) and Andrew.
The Cumbria University campus in Ambleside is still known by older people by its former name of Charlotte Mason College, and the band have played there many times (and continue to do so to the present day). The occasions have included Freshers Week, Christmas Ball, Ambleside Adventure Group, Rag Week, Psychologists convention, and for Brathay Hall This one was in August 1990, with Martyn calling
One of the venues we used to enjoy playing at was the Malt Room in the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal. In the 90's, Martyn used to organise monthly ceilidh's and invited different local bands to play. They were later styled as a Family ceilidhs, and our last such evening was in 2005 when the cost involved with room hire became prohibitive. The two photos below were taken at the same event: a Valentines night ceilidh with Martyn calling in 1991


	The occasion here is a harvest supper in Kirkby Lonsdale school with Gwyndon is calling. November 1990
Again the venue is unknown, but the standout feature are Hugh's trousers!
	A regular venue for many years was the Netherwood Hotel in Grange-over-Sands, usually playing for weddings. This was taken in 1991 and shows an unusual arrangement of the band as we would normally set up in the fireplace. Steve looks to be doing a Shadows walk!
The Lancashire Wallopers were formed in 1981 by students of the legendary clog dancer and music hall entertainer Sam Sherry, and they continue to perform traditional clog routines based on the steps of Sam Sherry and other famous clog dancers from the north of England. Each year they hold a day of dance, and in 1990 and 1991 Martyn managed to get us onto the bill to play for their evening ceilidh with himself calling. Harry Cowgill, one of the Wallopers, can be seen dancing centre left 1991 was also the year that the band changed their speakers from HH on stands to 3-way Peavey EN325 which needed to sit on the floor, and these can be seen on this and subsequent photos.
	Les our drummer developed into a fine caller in his own right, and is now in demand from other bands in the northwest. From time to time the band went out with Les calling and drumming, and here he is calling with the band at the Central Plaza Hotel in Carlisle in 1992

By this time, Hugh had taken over from Steve as the main melodeon player in the band sharing the melody with Andrew on his keyboard or button accordion, and leaving Steve to concentrate on rhythm and lead guitar. At the start of 1993, Hugh upgraded his melodeon from the black Hohner Erica that he had been playing in the band to the Castagnari Tommy that he still plays, and here it is in July 1993 playing at the Parklands Country Club in the Burnside Hotel for the Windermere Festival
	Over the past hundred years or so, the English seem to have had problems identifying with their own culture, and often tend to look to the USA for association. The bain of most English folk dance bands is to have the dance advertised with cowboy associations as this poster from 1994 illustrates.
The band have also had problems with their name over the years, as this poster from a Burns Supper in Lancaster in 1993 illustrates!
By 1995, Fiona Loynes (now Rigg) was starting to call occasionally with us, and Tony Farren depping on bass when Andrew couldn't make it. Also coming out with us on occasions at that time were Pete Saunders calling, and Mark Robinson on bass who taught at Ambleside Primary School alongside Fiona.
	Whoop Hall in 1996 for the wedding of David Leeman and Jo Hayhurst. In 2015 we played again for them, this time for Jo's birthday On this photo, Iain Hunter is depping for Les
In 1997 Andrew moved down to Guildford with his work, and the band again reorganised itself, bringing in Fiona full time on keyboards and calling, and Tony Farren full time on bass and mouth harp. We were now a band with five musicians and two callers, a unique arrangement. When we played gigs up in the Carlisle area, we would often call in Georgia Shorrock as a caller, and when in 1999 the band were asked to make a CD of dance music for Holiday Fellowship we asked Georgia to feature her trombone and sax on two tracks. The tracks on that CD are shown below - - Lewis James Quadrille/Le Fleur de Bruyerre - Marmalade Polka/Brass Nuts - Bit Between the Teeth/Scampi Tales/Fiery Clockface - Dorsetshire Hornpipe/Stybarrow Crag - Bear Dance - Woodland Flowers/Seven Stars - Astleys Ride/Lichfield Tattoo - Three Round Three - My Love She's But a Lassie Yet/Jamie Allen/Davy Knick Knack - Tower Farm/The Knott - Double Lead Through/La Bastringue - Banish Misfortune/HF48 - Johnny Todd/Durham Rangers - Perfect Cure/Uncles Jig - Sir Roger de Coverley/New Long Room at Scarborough There have been no more major changes in the bands lineup since that time, though we occasionally play with deps when the full band isn't available. Over the years, these have included - - Guitar - Norman Bell, Tony Kelly, Steve Parkinson - Bass - Mark Robinson, Paddy Garrigan, Neil Brook - Drums - Iain Hunter, John Whittaker, Chris Malkin
In December 2001, the band held a party at the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal, to celebrate 20 years of playing. The idea was to have the night in three sections to reflect the three main band line-ups and callers during those 20 years - Phase 1 & 2: Steve on melodeon, Roy on piano accordian, Hugh on bass, Pete Rigg on concertina , Neil Parkinson on fiddle, Brain Birket on banjo, with Dave Rochell calling. Phase 3:Steve on electric guitar, Hugh on melodeon, Dave on fiddle, mandolin, banjo, Andrew Service on keyboards, and Les later on drums, with Dave still calling. Phase 4: The current line-up, with four different callers - Les, Pete Saunders, Gyndon Boardman, and Martyn Harvey. According to the running order opposite donated by Dave Rochell, we were also intending to use the following as callers, Kath (Machin?), Alison Service, Deborah Kermode, and Joe Fairclough, but not sure if we did. We also used Les's daughters in a brass section on at least one number.
	We think this was taken in 2007 in the grounds of the Netherwood Hotel.

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Tumbling Tom Band 'the ceilidh roots dance band for people out there'