About the Charity

The Folk House is unique. We are the oldest adult education centre in Bristol. We started life in 1870 in the dockland area offering education to the dockers most of whom could not read or write. By 1922 it was renamed the Bristol Folk House. We have been at the Park Street site since 1964. Since 1996 it has been run as a co-operative and receives no outside funding. Today it is a successful adult education and social centre.

Patrons

British jazz hero:  Acker Bilk

Born in Somerset on 28 January, 1929, Bernard Stanley Bilk gained the nickname "Acker" - a local word meaning mate or pal - as a child. He started playing the clarinet in 1948 when he was in the Royal Engineers and formed his first band in Bristol after his demob.

He went on to be at the forefront of the British trad-jazz revival, scoring his biggest hit in 1961 with Stranger On The Shore, which spent 55 weeks in the UK singles chart.

Other big numbers in his run of 10 top 40 hits included Buona Sera and A Taste Of Honey.

BBC Radio Presenter: Keith Warmington
Web site: www.keithwarmington.co.uk

Although drivetime presenter Keith has lived in Bristol since 1970, he was actually born in deepest Cornwall. He arrived in the city as a blues musician and singer but also forged a career as a French teacher. After working in what he describes as a "demanding" school and losing most of his hair, Keith (or Bags as he is known around the newsroom for reasons never divulged) decided to pursue a job in broadcasting - believing it to be a lot more fun and much less stressful.

He hammered on the doors of Radio Bristol in 1984, was eventually let in (by the caretaker, we think) and has been here ever since in various guises: first as a roving news reporter, then a producer, and the move into presentation came in 1992. His show reflects both his love of the area and his music, while his years as a radio journalist make sure that Newsplus between 5 and 6pm is an authoritative round up of the days news.

Don't miss his relaxed and hilarious chat with Geoff Twentyman on Fridays after 6 and Keith's also here between 9 and 12 on Saturday mornings with a regular West Country Lives guest and the Saturday Referendum - listeners’ views on the weeks big news story.

Keith can still be heard playing guitar and harmonica and singing at the odd blues gig at select venues in Bristol. He is a keen cyclist and also loves walking - his favourite place in Bristol is the city's historic docks.

Keith has just released a new CD of songs that he has written over the last 24 years, and was voted Venue Magazine's Broadcaster of the year for 2001. Check out Keith's new Website www.keith-warmington.com

Actor: Norman Bowler

Best known for his role of Frank Tate in the T.V soap Emmerdale, Norman also appeared for many years in Softly  Softly, Crossroads and other T.V soaps & many film appearances.  Norman also plays the baddie in Christmas Pantomine each year.  Over the last couple of years Norman has started writing and his short stories are becoming
a legend in the west country.

EMAIL LINK: info@bristolfolkhouse.co.uk