OBITUARY - JOHN TERENCE MOORE (1939 - 2005)
Founder of the Acorn Folk Club in September 2002

Hundreds of people from all over Exmoor, West Somerset, the whole South West area and much further afield have been stunned to learn of the sudden death of John Moore on Wednesday March 23rd 2005.

  John founded the Acorn Folk Club at the Old Ship Aground on Minehead harbour, and his readings of Les Barker poems were enjoyed at every folk club in the area. He became a legend in his own time with his enthusiasm and wide knowledge of folk music - a hobby spanning over 30 years. Before moving to Minehead in 1998, he was a keen member of and guest MC at The Hoy at Anchor Folk Club in Leigh-on-Sea, and Treasurer of the Leigh-on-Sea Folk Festival. Also back in the early 1980s he ran The Odyssey Folk Club in Southend-on-Sea.

He also had a keen interest in classical music and was joint secretary of the Minehead and West Somerset Arts Society.

John gave freely of his computer skills to create web sites for the Acorn Folk Club, and a wider site called Exmoor Folk Music with links right across the South West. He designed sites for the Cecil Sharp Centenary, the Minehead and West Somerset Arts Society and the West Somerset Folk Festival, as well as private ones for friends.

John's passion for music was combined with his joy in family life as he watched his daughter's musical career develop, both as an instrumental teacher and performer with her hushand, and more recently he greatly enjoyed the budding talents of his three grandchildren.

John was a keen amateur photographer for over 40 years. His photograph of a dragonfly inspired his wife Eileen Ann's song "The Colours of a Dragonfly". John supported Eileen Ann in her musical interests, and did the photographs and artwork and production of two CD recordings for her, the second one only being completed the day before he passed away.

John read poetry - usually humorous - and often entertained with Eileen Ann as a duo with a programme of poems and songs.

Many friends experienced John's hospitality, generosity, wit and intelligence. He will be greatly missed by his widow, Eileen Ann, his daughter and son-in-law (who said he didn't need other friends as John was his friend), his three grandchildren, and by his mother who survives him, and by all his friends at the Acorn Folk Club and everywhere. He will always be remembered in our hearts.

Eileen Ann would like to thank all for their kind condolences, cards, letters and tributes and offers of help, and special thanks to the members of The Acorn Folk Club who have stepped forward to help with the practical running of the club.

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