David Blagrove RIP

[Tuscan]

Is that the Silveste with a row of forty medals on his chest, big chest,

Or another one.

Yes indeed

[pete harrison]

I knew him as Mr Blargrave, and I shall miss his his tales - some of which were his and some were other peoples, but either way a sad loss

[sueb]

I'm so glad we both went to see him last month. I'm not at all surprised at this news. He said 'goodbye' As we left. Our best wishes to Jean.

[sueb]

I'm so glad we both went to see him last month. I'm not at all surprised at this news. He said 'goodbye' As we left. Our best wishes to Jean.

[mykaskin]

A sad day for all. It was probably the Jam Ole Run in 2004 that I first met him, and caught up with him now and again as I could. You could alway tell his passion for the canals, and enjoyed telling stories and techniques about how it was. Glad to have met the man, and boated with him too.

 

Here is a video I did from 2006 of him and Fabian Hiscock giving a group an experience on the Narrowboat Trust pair:

 

 

May your memory live on. Rest in peace David.

 

Mike

[frangar]

Have a very fond memory of him singing 'my mate Sylveste' at the Grand Junction inn after one of the very early Wendover festivals.

I think similar happened at one of the first Bulbourne open days too...all I really can remember was it was getting light as we left the pub....another great character of the cut sadly gone. My thoughts go to his family.

 

Gareth

[FadeToScarlet]

A message from Drew Burge-

 

"Dear friends of David Blagrove. Jean and the family have been overwhelmed by the support given to them at this time but respectfully request you to leave them to grieve until the funeral on the 24th August. They have been inundated with calls, messages and texts but ask to be left alone for a time to come to terms with the death of a husband of 50 years, a father, a grandfather, a family man, a great man, a Member of the Order of the British Empire, I have been asked to make this request on behalf of the family who look forward to welcoming you to a celebration of his life on the 24th August at Stoke Bruerne where his funeral will take place at 1pm following a last trip on sculptor leaving at 10.30am. They hope you understand that while we are all grieving they need time alone. They know you are thinking of them.

 

Drew

 

Maggy Blagrove, Sarah Borondy"

 

No flowers, but donations please for James Borondy Trust or Friends of the Canal Museum Stoke Bruerne, may be sent to John White Funeral Directors, 188 Watling Street East, Towcester, NN12 6DB Tel: 01327 359266

Edited August 14, 2016 by FadeToScarlet

[black cap]

Another good man down, condolences to his family, just found out on one of my infrequent visits to the site, thought someone might have told me..........

[Ray T]

David sings whilst playing accordion and talks on this video:

 

 

A still from above:

 

 

Edited August 14, 2016 by Ray T

[alan_fincher]

David sings whilst playing accordion and talks on this video:

 

A bit of pedantry, (and please don't take it as a criticism).

 

Whilst what David is playing is a kind of accordion, and known in the US as a "button accordion", in the UK they are usually known as a melodeon.

 

Anorak time: It is a Hohner Pokerwork - being the same type as Cath acquired when she first took up the instrument.

 

An equivalent instrument is still made, but sadly in China these days, rather than Germany, where Dvid's example was doubtless made.

 

[Ray T]

No offence taken.

[alan_fincher]

No offence taken.

 

It is, incidentally, a very different prospect from something like the melodeon Jack James, (also late of Stoke Bruene) is playing in some other available footage.

 

David is playing a "two row", where each row of right hand buttons represents playing in a particular key. Jack James is usually showed with a far more archaic looking "one row", only set up to play in one particular key.

 

Another boring melodeon fact.

 

Cath's second melodeon purchase, a Hohner Lilliput, can be directly traced by serial number to the date it was first delivered in Germany 1936. This makes it 80 years old, the same age as each of our boats, something that rather pleases us. Somewhat more soberingly it was a small type designed to be carried on rousing hill walking and camping trips, so may very well have started its life with members of the Hitler Youth.

 

 

[jeannette smith harrison]

from the BBC record narrow boats

[David Schweizer]

 

A bit of pedantry, (and please don't take it as a criticism).

 

Whilst what David is playing is a kind of accordion, and known in the US as a "button accordion", in the UK they are usually known as a melodeon.

 

Anorak time: It is a Hohner Pokerwork - being the same type as Cath acquired when she first took up the instrument.

 

An equivalent instrument is still made, but sadly in China these days, rather than Germany, where Dvid's example was doubtless made.

 

 

We have been here before, and strictly speaking it is my understanding that in the UK only the Diatronic Button Accordian is known as a Melodeon. Chromatic Button Accordians are usually still referred to as Button Accordians, the chief difference being that Diatronic Accordians play a different note on the in and out strokes, whereas chromatic Accordians play the same note.

Edited August 15, 2016 by David Schweizer

[johnthebridge]

Way back when, Blaggers was in partnership with Tony Warwick, and their names appeared on the cabin sides as Blagrove Warwick. Tony was a real character. Anyone know what became of him?

[dave moore]

Melodeon, I think, David.

[alan_fincher]

 

We have been here before, and strictly speaking it is my understanding that in the UK only the Diatronic Button Accordian is known as a Melodeon. Chromatic Button Accordians are usually still referred to as Button Accordians, the chief difference being that Diatronic Accordians play a different note on the in and out strokes, whereas chromatic Accordians play the same note.

 

Yes,

 

I have yet to see a chromatic one in the flesh, and they of course look radically different.

 

You can find them listed for sale, but it is a fairly specialist item, I would say.

 

What David is playing is a 2 row diatonic melodeon.

[David Schweizer]

 

Yes,

 

I have yet to see a chromatic one in the flesh, and they of course look radically different.

 

You can find them listed for sale, but it is a fairly specialist item, I would say.

 

What David is playing is a 2 row diatonic melodeon.

 

I have seen and heard them in the past, but not very recently, and you are correct about appearance, they are a similar size to Piano Accordians, but with dozens of buttons where the piano keys are normally located.

Edited August 15, 2016 by David Schweizer

[Athy]

Just got back from a week on the boat, so I have only just seen this news. Of course it is sad, but his was a life of diverse and considerable achievement. R.I.P. Mr. Blagrove.

 

I have a fond memory of him and his crewmate drinking tea in my kitchen some 10 years ago while we explored the possibility of doing our house move by boat rather than by furniture van. We couldn't proceed because of the time of year and the state of the Nene. Thinking back to the frankly despicable and unprofessional company which actually did move (some of) our property, I wish that we'd been able to do it by boat.

[Dav and Pen]

What sad news, We served on the IWA Northampton branch committee together for many years and he was a great part of the success of the big rally in 1971 at Northampton. Before that we had spent many hours in his company at various pubs up and down the cut. When he and Tony went into the coal business I took the Tadworth to stoke Bruerne for them to unload through the week or maybe two. Think Tony did lot of the graft as David was teaching.

Will always remember the singing and as the Irish say the crack.

Big man in all respects sorely missed.

David

[dave moore]

In case anyone is interested, David Lowe, historic boat owner and former professional musician will be on the organ for David's funeral.

 

Dave

[Leo No2]

I am sure there are some images on Facebook (to which I don't have access) but here are some from yesterday - https://flic.kr/s/aHskCmUzek- a great occasion to see David off.

[Ray T]

Kathryn, thank you for posting these. As we were in Cheshire I wasn't able to be present.

[Philip Michael1]

On 8/15/2016 at 11:17, johnthebridge said:

Way back when, Blaggers was in partnership with Tony Warwick, and their names appeared on the cabin sides as Blagrove Warwick. Tony was a real character. Anyone know what became of him?

Tony Warwick lived in Stoke Bruern He died just recently he was a regular in the Boat Inn. He was a lovely man