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Description: | Folk singer Jack Elliott was born in Birtley, Co. Durham in 1907. He began work in the pit aged 13. This was at Harraton Colliery (Cotia), where he worked all his life and always lived in Birtley. As well as singing, he played jaws harp, guitar, mouth organ and banjo. An earthy singer with a ready wit, Jack's direct delivery was to influence the approach taken by many who participated in the early folk revival.Other singers in the Elliott Family included Jack's son Pete, daughter-in-law Pat, and his older brother Reece. Birtley Folksong and Ballad Club was begun in 1962 by the Elliott family, with a group of friends, and still runs today. A homely place with a family atmosphere, the club was dedicated to getting people over their initial shyness and then entertaining their friends and people of like tastes. From the beginning there was no musical policy except that of freedom and any songs could be sung. In the course of an evening anything from a children's three line ditty to a thirty verse ballad could be heard. This free and easy atmosphere nurtured the talents of Bob Davenport and many others.On this selection we hear Jack Elliott recorded with son Pete and daughter-in-law Pat at Whitley Bay Folk club on the 5th February 1966. The recording was made by William S. Butler, one time Director of Northumbria Tourist Board. It was later in 1966 that Jack died of cancer. The first edition of the magazine 'Folk Voice North East', several years later, published the following moving accolade - 'It seemed as if he had always been there and always would be there and there was a feeling, certainly at the Birtley club, of absolute disbelief that the lively happy man who had gone off to Canada a few months before would never be seen or heard again. He personified for many people everything that the Folk Club movement seemed to be searching for and things were never going to be the same again.'The song 'The Baron of Brackley', here sung by Pat Elliott, tells the true story of John Gordon of Brackley and John Farquharson of Inverey. Inverey comes to Brackley's gate, calling for Brackley to come forth. The baron, with few men on hand, wants to stay inside, but his wife shames him into going out (with 4 men against 400). Brackley is killed; Lady Brackley rejoices and his son vows revenge. The events described in this ballad took place in Strothdee on the 7th of September 1666. John Gordon of Brackley bought from the Sheriff of Aberdeen fines 'exigible from Inverey and others, for killing of blackfish''. According to John Farquharson of Inverey, Brackley refused his offer of a settlement and, with his followers, '' . . . loused severall shotts' against Inverey's party who, in self defence, opened fire in return and killed the Laird of Brackley and his brother William. The account given by Brackley's son of the event is different; according to him, Farquharson of Inverey, with a band of armed followers, came to the house of Brackley and commanded the Laird to restore his cattle which had been impounded. An argument followed during which Brackley and his brother were murdered. ; Folk Club Recording ; Family members sing songs, tell stories and play music. | Publisher: | recorded at : Whitley Bay Folk Club, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear | Rights holder: | rights holder : Elliott, Pat | Subjects: | revenge & death & feuds & betrayal & murder & crimes Law and Order | Temporal: | start=1960;end=1970; | Source: | Folk Archive Resource North East | Identifier: | farne:H2000020 | Go to resource |
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