FTX-279 - ROLLING IN THE DEW

"POP" MAYNARD AT HOME

"Pop" (1872-1962) recorded by Peter Kennedy in his cottage at Copthorne, East Grinstead, Sussex in 1955, talks about his life and work, about bark-chopping, local gypsies, hop-picking and the Marble Championship at Tinsley Green and sings an interesting selection of songs. Another recording FOLKTRAX-280 made the following year by Peter has a small group of singing friends gathered round on a Saturday night at "The Cherry Tree", Copthorne: George HOLMAN, Tom SMART and Jean HOPKINS, as well as the two song collectors, Mervyn PLUNKETT and Kenneth STUBBS.

1. THE IRISH HOPE-POLE PULLER (talk before about himself, his work, chopping bark for tanyards, harvesting, hop-picking) - 4'34"

2. OXFORD CITY (further talk before about hopping, travellers & after about learning the song from sister-in-law & words of a "sharp song" THE PRICKLY THORNY BUSH - 5'15"

3. THREE SONS O' ROGUES (talk after) - 1'55"

4. DOWN BY THE SEASIDE - 2'46"

5. THE AYLESBURY GIRL - 3'52"

6. BOLD GENERAL WOLFE (talk before about brother's ability as singer) -2'15"

7. LOCKS AND BOLTS (talk before about story of the song) - 3'40"

8. SHOOTING GOSCHEN'S COCK-UPS (talk before about maker of song, Fred Holman and about song) - 3'33"

9. WILLIAM TAYLOR - (talk before & talk after about rabbit-catching) - 3'52"

10.THE POOR OLD WEAVER'S DAUGHTER (talk after) - 1'58"

11.THE BANKS OF CLODDY (talk before about his bicycle) - 5'41"

12.COLIN AND PHOEBE (talk before about his early life) - 6'22"

13.GROUND FOR THE FLOOR (talk beforeabout his brother singing & giving a toast) - 5'16"

14.ROLLING IN THE DEW (talk before about Marble Championships) - 4'22"

Recorded by Peter Kennedy at George's cottage December 1955 and in "The Cherry Tree" in Copthorne, February 1956.

GEORGE "POP" MAYNARD was born at Smallfield, Surrey, 6th. January, 1872, and died at Copthorne, Sussex, 29th.November, 1962. Apart from being well-known locally as a singer with a good fund of songs, George was more widely known as a champion at the annual Marble Championships held every Good Friday at Tinsley Green. His team first started winning in 1948. Affectionately known as "Pop", he worked in the woods around Copthorne as a bark-stripper and learned many of his songs from gypsies. We are indebted to Kenneth Stubbs and the late Mervyn Plunkett for bringing Pop to our attention and for making arrangements for the various recording sessions. More information can be found in "The Life and Times of George Maynard" by Ken Stubbs in the Journal of The English Folk Dance and Song Society 1963 pp.180-196.

Other songs on FOLKTRAX-080: RUMPSY BUMPSY, POLLY ON THE SHORE, STEP-DANCING played by PK (melodeon), DAME DURDEN sung by Jean HOPKINS, SWEET NIGHTINGALES, Carol: WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED, JACK PULLED THE STRING, THREE JOLLY BREWERS (Jones's Ale), THE LAKES OF COLDFINN, SWEET PRIMEROSES, THE TOOTING MURDER, PRETTY SUSAN THE PRIDE OF KILDARE, DARK-EYED SAILOR with JH, MP, KS & PK (melodeon), THE SEEDS OF LOVE sung by MP, KS, JH & GM, THE WEEK BEFORE EASTER sung by Jean HOPKINS, A WAGER, A WAGER (Broomfield), THE WATCHMAKER'S SONG sung by George Holman, LANSDOWN FAIR (Tom Pearce), THE LAZY MOOCHER sung by Tom SMART and DOWN IN THE VALLEY (Lost Lady Found)