Singer of the National UK Festival - Irene Shettle

Subject: Singer of the National UK Festival
From: GUEST,Rozza
Date: 18 Apr 22 - 11:20 AM

Talking today to Irene Shettle about the singing contest at the National Folk Music Festival at Sutton Bonington. She was the winner in 2000 and I was in 1996. We both remember it as a strong competition and treasure our tankards. Who else won it?

Subject: RE: Singer of the National UK Festival - Irene Shettle
From: GUEST,Surreysinger ... sans cookie for a very long
Date: 06 Sep 23 - 07:15 PM

Good lord - I was talking to somebody about the national song competition over a year ago? (Haven't been on Mudcat for a very long timne. ) Sorry Rozza, but I can't remember who you are!! (Mea culpa)
**Update since typing that, I think I may have remembered!

I can provide a few names for you ... Moe Keast won it in 1999, I won it in 2000, Marian Button won it in 2001 (there was no National in 2001 thanks to foot and mouth disease - obviously bound to affect what was the agricultural college arm of the University of Nottingham, the venue, in Sutton Bonington) .. Theresa Tooley (RIP) certainly won it - but I can't remember which year that was in. I think the winner in 2003 was Sue van Gaalen ... eventually the female winning streak was broken by a male singer whose name escapes me.

At some time some years before that I believe that Ian Russell may well have won it (but don't ask me when). Probably the best kept secret of the National ,and sadly John Hayden never kept a record of the winners each year so we may never know.... after I had won it I remember someone sitting next to me at the last session of the day asking me who had won (rather embarassing to have to say "Me"). I also remember going straight from the competition to a song session bouncing with enthusiasm and being completely ignored when it came to going round the room by an MC who was intent on asking people who he knew to sing.
That was rectified the following day by Eddie Upton asking me to sing at the final (goodbye) session in the Senior Common Room. Ah, happy days ... I really do miss the National. It was a great little festival - all power to John Hayden for organising it .

Subject: RE: Singer of the National UK Festival - Irene Shettle
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 07 Sep 23 - 09:31 AM

I'm not sure I would class the National as a little festival.

Bit like calling the Olympics an athletics competition!

Subject: RE: Singer of the National UK Festival - Irene Shettle
From: GUEST,Surreysinger ... sans cookie for a very long
Date: 06 Sep 23 - 07:15 PM

Good lord - I was talking to somebody about the national song competition over a year ago? (Haven't been on Mudcat for a very long timne. ) Sorry Rozza, but I can't remember who you are!! (Mea culpa)
**Update since typing that, I think I may have remembered!

I can provide a few names for you ... Moe Keast won it in 1999, I won it in 2000, Marian Button won it in 2001 (there was no National in 2001 thanks to foot and mouth disease - obviously bound to affect what was the agricultural college arm of the University of Nottingham, the venue, in Sutton Bonington) .. Theresa Tooley (RIP) certainly won it - but I can't remember which year that was in. I think the winner in 2003 was Sue van Gaalen ... eventually the female winning streak was broken by a male singer whose name escapes me.

At some time some years before that I believe that Ian Russell may well have won it (but don't ask me when). Probably the best kept secret of the National ,and sadly John Hayden never kept a record of the winners each year so we may never know.... after I had won it I remember someone sitting next to me at the last session of the day asking me who had won (rather embarassing to have to say "Me"). I also remember going straight from the competition to a song session bouncing with enthusiasm and being completely ignored when it came to going round the room by an MC who was intent on asking people who he knew to sing.
That was rectified the following day by Eddie Upton asking me to sing at the final (goodbye) session in the Senior Common Room. Ah, happy days ... I really do miss the National. It was a great little festival - all power to John Hayden for organising it .

Subject: RE: Singer of the National UK Festival - Irene Shettle
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 07 Sep 23 - 09:31 AM

I'm not sure I would class the National as a little festival.

Bit like calling the Olympics an athletics competition!

Subject: RE: Singer of the National UK Festival - Irene Shettle
From: GUEST,Surreysinger sans cookie
Date: 25 Apr 24 - 09:36 PM

I've only just seen Malcolm's comment here. Naturally I would agree with him . Little only in so far as it was held on a small site, and almost within one building. But the guests, the singing, the talks etc were of the most elevated nature. It was the festival that I always looked forward to the most - it always felt like coming home each year. I met so many interesting people, heard so many good singers, went to interesting talks, encountered people that in my days of not actually going to festivals or clubs I had only heard on the radio and have since made friends with many of them. Still very deeply missed. I now know of one other former winner of the competition, Ruairidh Greig ... but have no idea which was "his year".

Subject: RE: Singer of the National UK Festival - Irene Shettle
From: The Sandman
Date: 26 Apr 24 - 01:35 AM

England unlike Ireland is not keen on competitions connected wit singing or music, and in my opinion, rightly so.
The National was a very enjoyable festival,it was a bit unusual being held in a school type building, in my opinion it presented many very good performers.

Subject: RE: Singer of the National UK Festival - Irene Shettle
From: The Sandman
Date: 26 Apr 24 - 01:46 AM

the other side to my previous comment, if anything including competitions encourage people to to be creative that is a positive.

Subject: RE: Singer of the National UK Festival - Irene Shettle
From: The Sandman
Date: 26 Apr 24 - 01:49 AM

and congratulations

Subject: RE: Singer of the National UK Festival - Irene Shettle
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 26 Apr 24 - 02:10 AM

”I now know of one other former winner of the competition, Ruairidh Greig ... but have no idea which was "his year".

My first instinct was that ‘Rozza’ is Ruairidh - perhaps he will read this and chime in. I do recall his win at the National in the mid-90s but, like you, I’m not sure of the year although other things going on in my life at the same time suggest to me that it could well have been 1996. Ruairidh was the deputy head at my children’s first school and he ran our local folk club, ‘Folk ‘n’ Good Ale’ for a number of years. A great singer and enthusiastic session-player, I still bump into him occasionally around the Lincolnshire folk scene although, due to my reduced activity nowadays, not as often as I used to.

Subject: RE: Singer of the National UK Festival - Irene Shettle
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 26 Apr 24 - 01:42 PM

Rozza is indeed the great Ruairidh Greig. And if Ruairidh is correct then SS must be Irene. Hi to both. Our concert tomorrow, Ruairidh. Folklincs will be there.

Subject: RE: Singer of the National UK Festival - Irene Shettle
From: r.padgett
Date: 27 Apr 24 - 02:20 AM

I remember being at one National only ~ probably the year Theresa Tooley won ~ chance is Ann Clancy won one year ~judges maybe Chris Coe and others

Ray

Subject: RE: Singer of the National UK Festival - Irene Shettle
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 27 Apr 24 - 05:01 AM

Steve, please pass on my best wishes to Ruairidh if he’s at the gig today - he’ll know who Backwoodsman is!

Subject: RE: Singer of the National UK Festival - Irene Shettle
From: GUEST,Ann Clancy
Date: 30 Apr 24 - 08:31 AM

Theresa Tooley never entered the National she brow beat me into entering it to boost my very low selfesteem. I cannot remember the year I won it maybe late 80's, its probably on the tankard they gave me. My daughter is looking it out for me. One of the Judges was Packie Byrne the other was a Liverpool girl who was unknown to me. They recorded me for radio 2 folk programme.

Subject: RE: Singer of the National UK Festival - Irene Shettle
From: The Sandman
Date: 03 May 24 - 03:31 AM

If the competition helped you with your self esteem,that is a positive.