CHARLIE BATE ENTERTAINS PADSTOW OLD CORNWALL SOCIETY

 

It is possible that this concert was recorded by David Scott in 1976.  There is some uncertainty over this.  It did take place in

what was the games room of the Metropole Hotel where POCS held their meetings.

 

 There is no uncertainty over the performance by Charlie Bate, and this is probably the only recording made of this number

of songs and tunes at any one time by this much loved local singer and musician.  May Day was at the root of his love for his

music.  Through it he made many friends throughout the country.  He was invited to perform at several concerts and on

Radio.  Listening to this sample of his performance we hope you can see why.

 

1.  Padstow May Song -The first track comes not from this performance but from a recording made at some other time

possibly for a broadcast.  It is the Padstow May song, with some explanation, sung solo by Charlie.  We leave it here as a

suitable introduction to the man and his music.

 

2.    Old Grey Duck – Charlie may have already known this song when Brenda Wooton made it popular.  They both shared a

love of music and Cornwall and were proud to belong.  To be ‘one o we’.

 

3.  How Pleasant and Delightful – At one time after the May song the best known in Padstow with versions known all over

the country.  One that Charlie would have grown up with and sung by him in 1965 at a concert in The Royal Festival Hall.  

An LP was produced by HMV entitled “Folk Sound of Britain”.  The EP (remember those?) contained “The Sweet

Nightingale” sung by Charlie, another Cornish favourite.

 

4.  Lamorna – Another song made popular by Brenda.  A staple of any Cornish sing a longs.

 

5.  Little Brown Jug – variations on a theme.  A typical Charlie party piece exploring his gift of improvisation and self-

taught skills on the accordion.  A Waltz is followed by a Polka, a March by the Twist (very up to date at that time !!)

followed by a Tango, a Fair Organ and ending in church with a Hymn.

 

6.  Maggie May - Another Cornish staple.  Personalised, on this evening, for Margaret Brenton who was in the audience.  

Simply and sincerely sung as only Charlie can.

 

7.  Dorsetshire Hornpipe – Dorset Ring Dance – The Accordion is just right for country dance music and Charlie

demonstrates that here. One of Bob Cann’s favourites.

 

8.  Egloshayle Ringers – A song from that ‘plaace’ up river.  A lovely old chorus song beautifully sung.  There are several

similar variants of this song.

 

9.  The Bells – More accordion virtuosity from his nimble fingers.

 

10. Tune – unknown

 

11. Tune – Unknown

 

12. John Barleycorn – Charlie had heard Fred Hamer play this Billy Bartle version at Pelynt and obviously enjoyed passing

on that pleasure to his audience.  “Fal al al al it’s a lovely day”.  Yes, grown men do sing that kind of chorus!!!

 

 

13. Cadgwith Anthem – Today firmly out there in Male Voice Choir circles it was little known outside Cadgwith until Jim

Bailey started singing it around the numerous Cornish Folk Clubs in the 60’s.

 

14.  Jigs – The Mucking of Geordies Bier and The Bugle Horn – Good foot tapping stuff here, picked up no doubt by

contact with other country musicians like his good friend Bob Cann from Dartmoor.

 

15.  The Oyster Girl – From the singing of Harry Lightfoot of Wadebridge.

 

16. Tune unknown

 

17. The Sweet Nightingale – Much loved Cornish song – sung wherever there were Cornishmen in the 19 C.

 

18. Tunes – Come Dance and Sing – ? Drums.

 

19. The Old Pigskin Pianna – With the aid of a matchstick to create the drone, Charlie turns his accordion into bagpipes.  

Another party piece from a natural entertainer.

 

20. Alpine Echos – The fading on this track is on the original recording.

 

21. Cuckoo Waltz – In European countries, tunes like these last two are still played outside open air cafes.  No surprise to

find Charlie enjoying this kind of tune.

 

22. Post Horn Gallop – The concert ends on a high note with a tune that needs no explanation. “Tallyho”

 

Thanks to Chris Blount of Chough Digital who tidied up the original tape and transferred to CD.

 

CHARLIE BATE - a profile

 

Charlie was born in Padstow in 1919.  His father also Charlie was a merchant seaman who served on several vessels

including the Padstow registered ‘VIOLA’ a ‘Q’ ship in WW1.  Charlie was still at school when his mother died and he was

sent to live with relatives in St Merryn.  He was separated from his sister Cissie who returned to live in Padstow later on.  

During WW2 he served for just over 3 years in the Royal Engineers returning home to a job at St Merryn Camp.  He married

May who he met when she was a Land Army Girl in the district.  They had one son Alan.

 

Like his father before him Charlie played music and was a member of the Old Oss band on May Day. Young Charlie proved

to be quick to pick up any tune by ear and it was not long before he was getting a reputation as a singer of songs.  In those

days there were concerts to go to and frequent impromptu pub music sessions to feed the imagination of his natural talent.

 

He was a natural to front a 1953 film made on May Day that remains a unique record.  After this (or more likely before as he

seems to have been the “link” man with Peter Kennedy and Alan Lomax) he was taken under the wing of the EFDS

representing the South West in concerts and on Radio often with his good friend Bob Cann from Dartmoor.

 

From 1953 – 56 he supplied the music for Square and Community Dancing residential courses run by the Cornwall Youth

service under Mr Alan Foxworthy and Mrs Hannah.  He was also part of a Square Dance Band called the Padstow Melody

Makers.

 

Charlie worked for a time at the Waterbeach Hotel, all the time making new friends and playing his music in the evenings in

the local pubs.

 

I first came to hear him in one of his haunts.  It would have been either the Cornish Arms at St Merryn or the Ring O Bells St

Issey.  Charlie’s ‘Old Oss’ mate Mervyn Vincent was often behind the organisation of these happenings for this was the mid

60’s and what was called ‘The Folk Revival’ was in full swing.  People from all over the place were coming down not only to

see ‘May Day’ but to hear Charlie Bate in person.  Some of us got to learn some of these ‘folk songs’ along with the old

favourites and were encouraged to join in.  Happy days.

 

The Wadebridge Folk Festival grew out of this enthusiasm for folk music. Here and elsewhere.  Charlie would appear on

several occasions but he was not so keen on these more formal appearances.  After Charlie’s death in 1977 at St Issey aged

58 they instituted a ‘Charlie Bate Award’ for services to local Folk Music.  It appears to have lapsed in recent years.  (The

Cornwall Folk Festival was cancelled for the first time this year 2007)

 

Eyes still light up when you mention his name.  Those of us who shared some of those musical moments do tend to view

them as through a glass brightly. Were they ever as special as our memories would have us believe.

 

Charlie can also be heard on :-

 

Folk Sound of Britain HMV CLP 1910  - Track 8 How Pleasant and Delightful

                                                         Track 9 The Padstow May Song

 

Folk Sound of Britain HMV 7EG 8911    - Side 2 The Sweet Nightingale

 

Proper Job- Bob Cann Veteran VT138CD – Charlie playing with Bob Cann

 

Sing Christmas – BBC 1957 – Alan Lomax Collection – Rounder K3719

 

 

Boscastle Breakdown and Padstow Wassail Song.

 

Folktrax -215 – May Day – from the soundtrack of the 1951 Film made by Peter Kennedy, Alan Lomax and George Pickow.

 

Maggie May, Cadgwith Anthem and How pleasant and delightful can also be heard sung by Tommy Morrissey and Charlie

Pitman on ‘Pass around the Grog’

Veteran VT122.

 

“NEW”  Film and DVD by John Bishop and Sabina Magliocco.  OSS TALES which includes the 1951 film.  Some armchair

pundits (groan !!!) and fantastic footage (cheers !!!).

 

By John Buckingham – any errors and opinions are mine.