site launched 17/07/2000
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updated 18/06/08
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SAD NEWS
Yes, we are afraid it is true; in May 2008
Meet On The Ledge decided to call it a day
after 15 years together. All band members,
friends, family and supporters are being encouraged to contribute a piece to this
site, which will hopefully give everyone a
view of the break up from all angles, and
allow everyone the opportunity of voicing
their feelings about the band in general.
If you would like to contribute your own
message to our newly-revamped site, please
use the secure form on the
CONTACT page. We
will post as many as we can. Thank you to
everyone who has already sent us messages of
support.
Message from: Graham
If there's
one thing I've found in my life it's that
nothing ever goes on for ever, even though
you may want it to.
You'll be sadly missed.
Thanks for some wonderful moments.
Message from: Simon D
Guys,
OK,
this could be a sad moment - but better to
look at the 15 years we did have of MOTL!
From a (rather drunken) impromptu singing of
"Mary Stanford" after the sight of a
lifeboat at Saul Junction to the inspiring
"Only Angels", there have been some greats.
The music will live on, and you never know,
it may end up with more reunions than the
Who! If only we'd done the Good Ship Venus
that year :-)
Cheers guys,
Smee
Message from: Jeni Hatton
Well, guys
'n'gal, gutted just about sums it up. Before
Penny Short started we were MOTL fans, and
remained so afterwards, and were grateful
for Ron and Al letting us cover MOTL songs.
Your support was amazing for us and we're
going to miss you. Here's hoping you are all
successful in your future musical lives.
Hope to see you around the circuit.
Message from: Lionel
It's all
very sad but life goes on. Colvin Quarmby
are a great band, and I am really excited at
Al and Mabel joining them. In fact, that's
two more tickets sold for Shrewsbury FF!
Gerry
Colvin is larger than life and completely
dominates CQ with his song writing and
larger than life stage presence. Will Al get
a look in on the song writing front? Will
Mabel get air to breathe in a band that is
all about introverted and very personal
lyrics? Can't wait to find out! CQ are very
ambitious and frustrated, I sense. Maybe the
new line up will propel them onwards to
great things?
MOTL were
a great band, great people, leaving us with
some great memories, but artists need to
move on. Thanks for the memory, guys. Don't
be bitter. Cherish the past. But look
forward.
Message from: Pam Ashford
I just
feel very sad. Meet on the Ledge was, in my
opinion, the best folk/rock band I've heard.
When I booked them on many occasions for
Warwick Folk Club or Charity gigs I knew it
would be a sell-out and it always was.
When they
topped the bill at Warwick Folk Festival it
was one of the most enjoyable fun evenings I
have ever had. However I will miss most
Ron's incredible voice which never fails to
move me. Love to you all. Pam.x.
Message from: Christine Arnold
I am
really gutted that MOTL has now decided not
to be... I can remember hearing you play
quite a few years ago, in the beginning, if
you like, in the pubs around Kenilworth
...you were then and continued to be
absolutely outstanding. It's a real shame
that you are no longer going to playing your
fabulous music together but maybe you'll end
up like The Eagles and other groups... just
having break for a while???
Here's to you all and THANK YOU for so many
brilliant nights.
Luv and good luck to you all
Chris xxxxx
Message from: Pete Willow
Number one musical memory is singing along
to The Song Will Remain/Drift Away - the
classic MOTL end-of-set medley.
No, wait a minute - that's joint number one
with standing in the marquee at Warwick Folk
festival getting blown away by Ron's superb
rendition of Al's Mary Stanford Of Rye.
Oh yes, yet another joint number one is
sitting with a smile in the balcony of the
Bridge House Theatre as Marion sings Al's
haunting Harbour Lights.
One lesson from this is that we should
always treasure such musical moments. They
may never happen again.
But always the optimist, I'm holding out for
a future time when the heat disappears, the
bonds of friendship hold firm and plans get
underway for a Meet On The Ledge reunion
gig. I can already visualise the long queue
of happy, expectant MOTLy fans getting ready
to bop to Banks Of The Roses and groove to
Matty Groves.
Until that fine day - thanks for countless
great gigs, including two fabulous Godiva
Festival sets, the superb performance during
the Tsunami fundraiser at Brinklow and many
many more wonderful musical memories.
I know each of you will continue to play
top-notch music, no matter which paths you
choose to follow. 'Indefinite' does not mean
'permanent' and I'm already planning what to
write in the Coventry Telegraph when those
paths do once more converge.
Meanwhile, in our memories and in our
hearts, the songs will remain.
Message from: Alan Champ
Really sorry to hear the news that you've
decided to call it a day, I'd like to take
this opportunity to thank the band for all
the great live performances that I've
witnessed, from Warwick Market Square,
Stratford Civic hall and even Smeg's back
garden!
You truly are all very fine
musicians and a fantastic band, you inspired
me (Along with the mighty Status Quo that
is) to take up the guitar myself, although
to a far more basic level!! Once again thank
you for the memories, you may have called it
a day but your memories shall live on with
each and everyone of us.
Message from: Ian Urch
I am sad to hear this, you guys have bought
pleasure to our ears and have inspired us to
perform, at the moment we are recording an
album called (musical musli from Als Pen).
We will always play your music and will keep
in touch, if you do want a holiday in fife,
let us know.
Ian, Issy, Tam and Gareth
Message from: Jayne Lloyd-Smith
It's always sad when things end but perhaps
even better days are around the corner.
Thank you for allowing me to share the stage
with you from time to time as a backing
vocalist - and for performing at both of the
folk clubs and at the festival in Brinklow
when I was involved in the various
partnerships and committees.
WUTB always enjoyed sharing the bill with
MOTL - I think fondly of the time on the
town hall steps at Warwick Folk Festival,
the Sailing Project gigs Lesley organised,
the gigs Lesley Mabel and I did together,
often with Alan riding shotgun on guitar.
Gassing and giggling with the MOTL WAGS in a
zillion pubs, back stage at festivals and
concerts, drinking far too much red wine
with Ron and Jane at Warwick festival, the
'outings' to see other bands where I was an
adopted MOTLy - I shall cherish all these
memories.
I wouldn't have missed being part of the fun
for the world.
Keep in touch guys. Just 'cause I'm not on
the scene doesn't mean I don't think of you
. . . .
Message from: Gill Gilsenan
Hi folks,
Well what can I say, I wish you all the very
best and hope you keep in touch. Is it
really 15 years since we met!!!!
Take care be happy,
lots of luv
Gill
Message from: Pam Hemming
Oh what a sad day to hear that you are no
more!!
I have been to many of your superb gigs, had
an unbelieveable time with you at the
Blackhorse festival. You are all fantastic
not only as a band but as individual people.
I wish you all the very best of luck for the
future and consider myself very priveledged
to have been able to witness a very special
band. Good Luck! Love Pam xx
Message from: Pete Warren
VERY SAD
NEWS INDEED. THANKS FOR ALL THE HAPPY
MEMORIES OVER THE YEARS. YOU SURE GAVE US
ALL SOME GREAT TIMES. TAKE CARE AND GOD
BLESS YOU ALL. PETE AND BARBARA
Message from: Zoe Kemp
When I first heard that Al and Mabel were
joining CQ I was very happy, it didn't occur
to me that it would be the end of MOTL and
now that happiness has turned bittersweet, I
will still get to see and hear Al and Marion
as I have been a CQ fan for years, however I
will miss you Rocking Ronnie and also Phil
and his costumes and Paul and his tin of
Spam, thanks for all the good times you have
given us, from the first time at Eathorpe
Park Hotel to the last at Banbury Folk Club,
with The Boat, Fylde, Cropredy and
Birmingham Village Hall in between and not
to forget some memorable New Years Eve
parties at Coxes Yard, the yearly Christmas
shopping outings to Stratford, there are too
many to mention. Take care all of you, and
here's hoping for some re-union gigs in the
future.
Message from: Alan and Stella
Bummer, so you won't be doing the Black
horse any more. It's where we met 9 years
ago with the sound of MOTL's thrash Morris
so there's always something a bit special
about Meet On The Ledge. It's been a nice
journey with countless beers spilled along
the way. Good luck to all of you and thanks
for the erm music !!
Alan & Stella, from sleepy Bexhill
Message from: Caroline Smedley
Meet on the Ledge have given us some of the
best evenings' entertainment ever. SO sorry
that we will not hear them again, except on
the cds, which have been played and played.
Also they brought folk music to the next
generation - our daughter now 23 has been a
MOTL fan for about 10 years and is much more
open-minded musically than most of her
generation. THANK YOU all for all the fun we
have had.
Message from: Liz & John Perry
We
will miss you! So many happy times, not
least walking the Saxon Shore Way (complete
with blisters!) knowing we were going to
join up with the fabulous MOTL and friends
for the Black Horse Festival in 2003. Then
there was the very moving visit to the
churchyard at Rye.... and concerts and gigs
too numerous to mention. Thank you for the
pleasure you have given us with your music.
In our humble opinion you are the best
folk/rock band we know. We cherish the
memories and hope that one day there may be
a reprise! We look forward to seeing Al and
Mabel with Colvin Quarmby asap!
Best wishes to you all.
John and Liz (Acton Trussell walkers!)
add yours
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OUR
MESSAGES
(ladies first, then alphabetical order)
Message from Marion
Fleetwood
I joined MOTL just after getting divorced and moving
back to Stratford with my 2 year old daughter. It
was a very rough time for me, and Ron, Al, Phil and
Paul all took me under their wings and became such
good friends. The same is true of Smeg, the Walrus
and the MOTL wives. I can honestly say that Meet On
The Ledge was the difference between me flourishing
and going under.
So many acts of kindness and so much
laughter have followed. When I brought them on stage
at the Civic Hall a few years ago I called them ‘my
boys’. I still think of them as that (in a purely
platonic way!) and there will always be a MOTL
playpen (complete with Lego, lager, mild, and raw
meat) in my heart. For 10 years I was part of an
extended family, who went away on tour and to
festivals together and generally ‘licked the lid of
life‘. I made lifelong friends through the band and
I truly hope that us splitting will not end those
friendships.
While we have had such good times,
there are, I am sure amongst all of us in MOTL,
memories of things we would have done differently,
regrets about how things have been done and said,
and hurt caused by things being done to us. Bands
are after all made up of human beings aren't they?
But the overwhelming feeling of needing to play with
other bands and find my musical path is too strong
to ignore now, and I can’t imagine being (and don’t
want to be) at the end of my career looking back
saying ‘what if?’, having quietly turned down
musical chances in order to keep other people happy. It
sounds a bit hard faced, but I hope you understand
where I’m coming from.
Suffice to say, Al and I were
invited to play with Colvin Quarmby for a one off
gig in Rugby, the success of which has led to us
being asked to join the band permanently. We were
more than happy to keep MOTL going too (and CQ
assumed this would be the case and were quite happy
about it) as other musicians keep various acts going
simultaneously (Show of Hands and Fairport to name
just two). But everyone in the band needed to feel
the same way. They didn’t, so we had to make a
decision. I felt that MOTL could carry on, but if
forced to choose I would have to go with the option
which allowed me most musical freedom. Music is
after all my job. All I really want to do is play my
violin with whoever will let me!
Anyway - life goes on and I am now
part of Colvin Quarmby - a band which I have admired
for many years since we saw them at Cropredy in
2003. They are a great group of guys who are awesome
to play with, and Gerry writes the most beautiful
music. They have been really understanding about the
situation Al and I have found ourselves in. If I was
going to walk through any new door as the old one
shuts, I can’t imagine it being with nicer people.
After our first gig in Rugby, as one
blogger put it, "No-one knew who was enjoying
themselves more, the audience or the band." I
remember that being said of MOTL many times, and I
will always look back on those times with absolute
pleasure and with love for my band mates who took a
bit of a chance having a girl in a boy band and
taught me so, so much.
I also want to thank the people who
came to watch us and supported us so fantastically.
I don’t want to call you fans, because to me you
were and are part of the MOTL family - I can’t tell
you how much your friendship and support has meant
over the years. So a huge thank you - I really hope
to see you soon.
Stratford upon Avon, 9th May
2008.
Message from Phil Dipple
Meet on the
Ledge was, to me, always more than just a band, it was a
family. Ten good years of fun and camaraderie. We had
some great times. Coach loads of us ably transported
around the country by Allen's brother Bob and later by
our faithful 'roady' The Walrus.
2003 was
probably our most memorable year, a new album and the
chance to play The Cropredy Festival were only exceeded
by playing The Symphony Hall in Birmingham in the
September of that year.
When I
decided in 2004 to 'dep' for The Earl Gray Band, Meet on
The Ledge became 'Unledged' and carried on as a three
piece. It was always hoped that at some time in the
future the full band would perform again, but alas it
now seems that is unlikely. I would like to personally
thank all our loyal fans over the years for their
support and friendship. I am sure all of us in the band
will be doing other things so do look out for us. If
Allen will let me I will mention that I am still playing
bass with The Earl Gray band a rock covers band. (No,
certainly not - AM).
All the very best.
Phil (the hat) Dipple.
Message from Allen Maslen
I can't begin to tell you how gutted I am at the demise
of Meet On The Ledge. Ron and I first became mates when
we were in Thud And Blunder together in the early 1990s.
It used to be a standing joke that we would play
together until one of us dropped dead. Sometimes in my
role as during-dinner speaker I would trot out a line borrowed from Spike Milligan, saying that I hope Ron
dies before me - I don't want him singing at my funeral.
Spike's quote was, of course, about his lifelong mate
Harry Secombe - ironically my great uncle. Yes, really.
Anyway, back to the plot.
It
is astonishing that we ever became friends at all. We
are complete polar opposites in every way you can
imagine. I am as shy as Ron is gregarious, I am as
private as Ron is sociable, Ron is as manually practical
as I am inept, Ron hates football but watches EastEnders,
I don't and, er, don't. Yet despite these differences,
or possibly because of them, we complemented each other
perfectly on stage and off. We became great colleagues,
and firm friends. Over the years we developed a private
language - a sort of Ledgesperanto; like silly
schoolboys we had a secret handshake, and we could
converse with each other for hours without anyone having
a clue what we were on about.
However, there was always one difference that threatened
to come between us, and for the last five years or so it
has never been far from the surface.
There are musical tarts like me who believe that it is
essential to play with as many other musicians as
possible in order to keep yourself fresh and inspired.
Conversely, there are musicians who believe that loyalty
comes before creativity, and that any artistic activity
outside the band is just not the done thing.
Nobody's right or wrong, there are just two ways of
looking at it.
I,
unfortunately or otherwise, have never been able to
resist the temptation of playing with whoever asks me. I
am always flattered to be asked, and I just want to play
my guitar. As you may know, I have strummed on stage
with numerous other wonderful artists, and Adrian
Styles, during MOTL's lifetime, and have accepted
invitations to appear as a session player on various
CDs, knowing deep down every time that it would upset my old mate Ron. I have always been aware that
I share one characteristic with Ron - stubbornness - so
I have carried on regardless, figuring that as long as
the diaries don't clash there isn't a problem. I just
want to play my guitar. Does this make me a bad friend?
Maybe it does. Discuss.
And
that, really, is all this is all about. The excellent
Dave Dutfield had left Colvin Quarmby, and they had a
short term problem to solve. So when Gerry Colvin
contacted Marion in March to ask whether she would like
to sit in for a couple of gigs, and would her guitarist
mate be interested in doing a bit as well, we both said
yes. I just want to play my guitar. What is more, the
invitation to step into the shoes of a guitarist as
accomplished as Dave (Albion Band, Racing Cars) was not
only a huge honour, but would provide me with a massive
musical challenge.
Predicting that this
would be hard for Ron to take, I drove over to his house
to break the news, but he already knew. Suddenly two of
his best mates were guesting with another band, and he
felt a bit left out. Add to that the fact that MOTL had
been quiet recently, Mabel and I had been doing a few
jazz/folk gigs on our own, Mabel is recording a solo
album, and I am doing quite a few shows with
up-and-coming singer-songwriter Andrew James, Ron felt,
as he put it, "surplus to requirements". I'm sure he
won't mind me quoting him on that.
He
took the whole thing badly and, for the only time in
nearly two decades, we argued. It's funny how some
marriages thrive for decades on a daily diet of nagging
and bickering, while others can co-exist peacefully for
years and be torn asunder by a single episode.
I sympathise
completely with Ron. I just wish I could keep my musical
freedom, and also keep Ron as a friend and colleague.
Does this mean I want to have my cake and eat it?
Perhaps it does. Discuss.
I shall immerse myself in my new role as
guitarist/accordionist with CQ, and after two gigs I am
already getting the customary amount of joy I have
always got from playing with new, talented people. They
are true gentlemen, and have been very understanding
about the difficulty of this transitional period. It's
actually quite nice to be 'just' a guitarist again. I
don't have to worry about writing set lists, tuning
other people's instruments, wagging my finger at people
for having bottles of Smirnoff Ice on stage and dragging
bass players out of the ladies' lavatory. But I don't
half miss it. Will it ever happen again? Discuss.
Al,
Tiddington, Warwickshire, 1st May 2008.
Message
from Don 'Smegma' Ward
Message from the back of the room.
As the sound engineer for MOTL, I was tasked, because of
having a large vehicle, with transporting, setting up,
mixing & breaking-down the PA for the band for nearly 13
years. Performing at the very first 'Folk on the Water'
at Saul Junction which started in a small tent holding
no more that about 20 people, including the band, and
supporting the event for many years, to becoming one of
the biggest festivals on the folk calendar. Also being
the first band to perform at the Ride-a-Cockhorse club
at the Mill in Banbury, to the headline slot at the
Black Horse Festival at Telham nr Hastings, and sharing
in the band's achievement by mixing for them at Cropredy,
and also stage teching at Birmingham Symphony Hall, to
enjoying the 'not so well known' venues, like Shag's
Place at Pewsey and various canal boat rallies which all
made us very welcome. Over the years I have personally
felt very honoured to have been given the opportunity to
share in what I consider, although perhaps biased, to be
one of the country's best Folk-Rock Bands ever. And most
of all will miss the buzz of producing that MOTL sound.
Don 'Smegma' Ward
Sound Eng. 1997-2008.
NEW CROMER LIFEBOAT CD
It is a huge honour to have been asked to
contribute a track to the Various Artists
charity CD "Never Chance Your Luck Against
The Sea". The album is a follow-up to
"Someone Was Calling", which was released a
couple of years ago to raise money for the
Cromer lifeboat and celebrate its 200th
anniversary. The new CD will also help raise
funds for the lifeboat, and will feature our
version of Shoals Of Herring.
We were
invited to play at the CD's launch party at
Cromer, but sadly we had to pull out of the
gig because of our current circumstances. We
would like to take this opportunity to
apologise for any inconvenience caused, and
wish Scott Butler and his team all the very
best and hope the CD raises plenty of funds
for this excellent cause.
Full details of the album, what is on it and
where to buy it, are available on the
LINKS page. Go
on, get all your Christmas shopping out of
the way now.
Band pictures
on this page courtesy of Keith Kitson |
