Clive Leyland

Friday, June 27th 2008

Thanks to All

A party was held in January to mark the closure of Westhoughton Folk Club. A collection in memory of Clive resulted in a donation of £600 to the North West Lung Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, where Clive had received superb care since 2002.

More recently, Clive had been due to be the guest artist at Lymm Folk Club on May 15 2008, and the organisers decided to hold a 'Tribute to Clive Night' on that date. Anthony John Clarke sang Clive's song "They've taken the bandstand away" and Bandersnatch - the main act amongst local artists who attended - sang many songs written by Clive.

All the very generous proceeds of the evening were donated to the 'Clive Leyland Breath of Life Fund' at the British Lung Foundation. This fund, which also received generous donations in memory of Clive at his funeral, now stands at just short of £1000 and is earmarked for use in support of Interstitial Lung Disease, the umbrella label for conditions like Clive's.

All the proceeds of CD sales are being donated to this fund, and our younger daughter Sarah is aiming to raise more by running the 5K Adidas Women's Challenge 2008 in Hyde Park in September. To sponsor Sarah, visit her fundraising page »

Many thanks to all concerned.

Sheila Leyland

Sunday, December 23rd 2007

Clive Leyland, A Northern Man

After a short illness, Clive passed away on 22nd December 2007. His funeral was held at 11.00 am on Monday 31st December.

Monday, September 17th 2007

Windmill Land

AN EXHIBITION OF THE FYLDE'S RICH MILLING HERITAGE will run from 23rd October to 18th November at the Lytham Heritage Centre, Henry Street, Lytham. It also celebrates the life and times of Bolton's Allen Clarke (1863-1935), in particular his association with Little Marton Windmill.

I've been invited to perform some of Allen Clarke's songs (including "Will yo come o' Sunday morning") and maybe a "Tum Fowt Sketch" at the preview evening for the exhibition on 22nd October. The preview is by invitation only but if you're interested in windmills or Allen Clarke (aka Teddy Ashton), I recommend a visit to the exibition. For more information email Shirley Matthews (Allen Clarke's granddaughter) at shirley_clarke@hotmail.com.

The picture is Treales mill around 1933 from an etching by J Blakeley. Treales was the first windmill that Allen Clarke saw as a little boy on a cheap trip from Bull Sidings Bolton.

Monday, September 17th 2007

Flash git!

This "EARLY PUBLICITY SHOT" just emerged from the archives (the garage). White shirt, loose tie, cufflinks - still quite a cool look in 1962. Watkins Rapier - quite cool if you couldn't afford a Strat (except it's not plugged in). Not sure about the hair though. Chord looks like A flat 6th; must have just learnt that one - showing off as usual.

Monday, August 20th 2007

Work in progress

At last a NEW CD (sort of). It's a set of demos of 4 songs on a "no expense spent" CD - plain paper sleeve, no inlay. It's called "Afterlife" (WIP). I'm working towards a "proper" CD possibly with that title and possibly containing the included tracks, namely:

Will yo come o' Sunday morning (words by Teddy Ashton)
In my own time
For love of Dolly
Goodnight

It will be available at gigs for £2 or direct from me plus appropriate postage. Email or phone me via the contact page if you'd like one.

Tuesday, July 10th 2007

One in a bar

After a lengthy lay-off because of the house move, I'm starting to think about gigs again.

First up is "AN EVENING WITH CLIVE LEYLAND" in the William Hare Bar at Bolton's Octagon Theatre on Tuesday 4 September, as part of their 40th Anniversary season. Ironic or what? I leave Bolton for Leeds and then - as it says in the song (A Northern Man) ".... there must be something in the soil or in the air that I breathe anchors me and pulls me back and calls me when I leave".

Many of you will know that, after 35 years, Westhoughton Folk Club will host its final two events on 9 and 16 November, with Allan Taylor and Vin Garbutt guesting respectively. These may be the final appearances of Auld Triangle - could be emotional!

Looking further ahead, I'll be at Lymm Folk Club (formerly the Railway) on Thursday 15 May 2008.

Details of all gigs on the gigs page.