Last Thursday I was meant to be going to a tribute gig for the late Julia Darling. She was a Newcastle poet and writer who died earlier this year. The gig was to be mainly Tim Dalling, a local musician and collaborator of Julia's. On the afternoon of the gig I heard that it was cancelled for personal reasons. An hour or two later I found out that Joe Scurfield, a fellow band member with Tim in the Old Rope String Band, had been killed the night before. He was killed along with another Newcastle musician Keith Morris. They were just round the corner of Joe's house heading to the pub for last orders when a 17 year old at the wheel of a BMW mounted the pavement and killed them both.
Anyway, amongst Joe's many talents was unicycling. I don't know how well known he was in the unicycling community but just in case anyone knows him, Joe is now an ex-unicyclist.
Anyway, amongst Joe's many talents was unicycling. I don't know how well known he was in the unicycling community but just in case anyone knows him, Joe is now an ex-unicyclist.
Thanks. I've never heard of him and the picture doesn't look familiar, but I've forwarded your post to rec.sport.unicycling.
-- Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address) <URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/> "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine
Thanks. I've never heard of him and the picture doesn't look familiar, but I've forwarded your post to rec.sport.unicycling.
I also forwarded it to the UK jugglers mailing list, where it turns out that a few people knew him. To quote one post:
"You have missed a rare treat. I first saw Joe perform with Tim and Pete as the Old Rope String Band at the Leeds Convention (BJC/EJC? 1996/7 I think). They were a fantastic success, so much so that they were immediately booked to appear at the (old) Circus Space in London a couple of weeks later. Again, the show was filled to the rafters and a great time was had by all.
"I've seen them several times over the years since, and each time I laughed so hard that it hurt. I was deeply shocked when I read the news. The world will be a sadder place without Joe."
-- Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address) <URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/> "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine
I also forwarded it to the UK jugglers mailing list, where it turns out that a few people knew him. To quote one post:
[...]
Quoted message said:
"I've seen them several times over the years since, and each time I laughed so hard that it hurt. I was deeply shocked when I read the news. The world will be a sadder place without Joe."
My partner has just called me, she's just been along to his funeral---at a bandstand in a park :-) One of the pieces of music played was Teenage Kicks on the fiddle. No jugglers or unicyclists around at that stage. However, the party continues in the Tyne Theatre this lunch time and culminates in a session at the Cumberland Arms this evening. Cyclists may be involved.
