In memory of Clive Leyland who passed away on 22nd December 2007. He was in the "Final Triangle" for eight years and was an incredible musician and singer songwriter who contributed so much to The Auld Triangle and Westhoughton Folk Club.

The Westhoughton Folk Club Retirement 'Do' Gallery

©All the photos are the copyright of Roger Liptrot ©

So after 35 years Westhoughton Folk Club has finally shut it's doors, my first visit was in 1987 as part of the Royton Folk Club team that won Mike Billingtons inaugral 'Radio Manchester' Folk Club quiz alongside Stanley Accrington and Helen Howard. We'd beaten the Westhoughton team of Pat Ryan, Ken and Donald in an earlier round (a point I've never made to Pat Batty for fear of a lifetime ban!) and it had been decided by GMR that Westhoughton was the best place to hold the final. Once there I was hooked, not only some of the finest artists from these islands appeared but also top acts from Canada and the States such as Tom Russell, Lucy Kaplansky, Tanglefoot, Dave Mallett and James Keelaghan. I've no doubt that more eloquent writers than me will be paying their own tributes elsewhere so I'll just show you some photos of an unforgetable night and thank Pat Batty and her 'support team' for my twenty years of enjoyment!

Angela Barker has written a wonderful poem commemorating The Westhoughton Folk Club and 35 years of Auld Triangle - Follow this Link

As with everything that Pat Batty is involved in the night was a huge success with dancing to Rogues Gallery (enhanced by the additions of Bernard Wrigley, compere for the night, on bass, Phil Beer on fiddle and Barrie Seddon on percussion) and 'floor' spots by some of the artists that had come to join the evenings fun. These included Maddy Prior, Vin Garbutt, Julie Matthews, The (original) Oldham Tinkers, John Leonard and John Squire, Strawhead, The Tom Topping Band, Ken and Ruth and was rounded off by John Wright leading all those taking part in a wonderful rendition of Reconciliation ('To ra loo ra li') accompanied, in no small part, by the audience of Westhoughton 'regulars'.

Sadly this was to be the last occasion that I saw John Wright as we also lost him a short time after, I'm so grateful to have a diary, in the form of my photos, of the many occasions that I've seen John perform over the years. It's just so hard to believe that I won't be adding to it. Thankfully we've got his music and his dvd as a permanent reminder of a good friend.