The Trunch Trumpet

Late Extra

For complicated reasons Sid's forthcoming appearance at Sheringham Little Theatre has been switched from Saturday December 6th to Sunday December 7th.

Almost by accident Sid has created a new show, called 'Morris Less'.  By assembling material from a number of sources, including his Arena show at Sidmouth in 2004, it contains "more about morris dance than anyone actually knows".

June 2008

On Sid's behalf the Trunch Trumpet would like to thank everyone - performers, helpers and audience - involved in making Sid's Gala Performance of In Season at the Raggalds Inn in April such a success.  Just over £1,500 was raised for Out Of The Wood, which supports Leeds Intensive Care Unit.

"Mind you I did have a bit of a dizzy turn when I realised the venue was four times higher than the highest point in Norfolk!  And if I ever need intensive care in Leeds, I shall expect to go the front of the queue."

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Sid has been researching his new show, Mud and Pullets, retracing 'Gentleman' Jack Kipper's famous ride from Kings Lynn to Mundesley.  He is collecting songs and stories, and has recently come across a sporting song from Felmingham, 'Coming Up On The Rails':

Now at the start he shows his panache;

As she eyes his form they're off in a flash;

He's soon gaining ground, beginning to show,

The first jump is coming, they clearly both know.

"The only thing is, will people who don't know their horse-racing understand what it's about?"

Whether it makes the show, only Sid can say.

"I'm saying nothing.  Well, I'm saying that I'm saying nothing, obviously, and I can't say fairer than that.  Well, I can say it, if I want to, but I don't.  So I'll say no more.  No more.  Told you."

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25 YEARS OF FISHY BUSINESS

All being well Sid will complete 25 years as a performer of national renown when once again he appears at Sidmouth Festival in August.

How he came to be there that first time, in 1983, depends on whose version of events you choose to believe.  George Kipper, in the book Man Of Convictions, claims that Sid and his father Henry were there as his replacements:

"Sid and Henry went to Sidmouth in my stead.  Called themselves 'The Kipper Family'.  Sang all my old songs, and became an overnight success.  They got bookings.  A record deal.  The lot.  And that should have been me!"

Henry, when on this earth rather than Fuller's, always claimed that it was him that had been invited.  Sid is typically non-committal:

"I don't rightly recall, but I seem to remember I went along to stop father making a fool of himself.  Of course, I was about 70 years too late for that! - and don't remove that exclaiming mark.  If George can have one, so can I."

Whatever the truth, George is correct in his description of their meteoric rise.  They became professional performers at the start of 1984 (though they did not, as some have stated, 'give up their day jobs'.  Henry didn't have one, and Sid's game supply business required him to operate almost exclusively after dark).

The next seven years were a whirl of tours, albums and festivals, as the pair dual-handedly changed forever folk as we know it.  Then, at the end of 1991 Henry was whirled clean out of the act, leaving Sid to forge his career anew.

"At first that weren't easy without father.  I mean, he always held the song-book.  Well, I couldn't do that and develop as a multi-instrumentalist, could I?  Then someone gave me an old band musician's stand, and it proved just as good at book holding as father.  Better, really - it never answered back or sung off-key".

Sid blossomed and bloomed in his new role.  With a fast expanding repertoire he recorded, to much acclaim, his first solo album, Like A Rhinestone Ploughboy, switching to the prestigious Leader Records label.

Encouraged by the response he took another new tack, collaborating with Chris Sugden on the now classic book Prewd and Prejudice, since reprinted five times.

In yet another development Sid was beginning to take an interest in storytelling, which resulted in the 1997 album Spineless (still awaiting a CD incarnation, because of its length) and then to the twin project of storybook and album that was Cod Pieces (2003).

Radio work included appearances on the Radio 2 Arts Programme, biennial work for Radio Norfolk (which still goes on), and a prestigious series for Radio 2, The Lateral History Programme.  Changes at that channel left Sid adrift, but he eventually vaulted the terrestrial to the digital with a series for fledgling Channel4 Radio called 'The Kipper Country Code', still available over the new medium of the internet.

"Well, you know what they say - a new medium is a happy medium, and the medium is the massage.  Well, it rubbed me up the right way."

In the meantime fine albums of songs appeared form time to time, with Boiled In The Bag (1997), East Side Story (2000), Chained Melody (2003) and In Season (2007) maintaining the standard already set regarding all things Kipper.  The last of these showed Sid's continuing ambition to push the envelope by including a commentary by Augustus Swineherd, and also reflected his highly successful series of stage shows, each on a particular theme of time or place.

"I played push-the-envelope once.  It's an advanced version of postman's knock.  So advanced I nearly had to marry the girl.  It was only by luck the envelope didn't burst!"

A companion book to the album Crab Wars came somewhere along the line, as did the editing of Man Of Convictions, a book of his uncle George's songs and life story.

Live appearances continued, as Sid moved into areas such as Rural Touring, where top acts are hired to perform in villages venues.  And, at last, Sid was fully recognised in his home county of Norfolk, with appearances at major venues throughout the county.

"They told me you never make a profit in your own land, but they were wrong as usual.  Mind you, they were right about Ethel Eel!"

So will he be resting on his laurels?    Hardly.

"Actually I did rest on some laurels once, when I'd had a few.  I can't recommend it, though.  They're a hell of a lot spikier than they look."

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Sid is sometimes confused with his fellow Norfolkman Keith Skipper.  Why this is remains something of a mystery, given that Keith is a writer, speaker and broadcaster, while Sid is a broadcaster, speaker and writer.

"And I've got all my own hair.  Half of his is someone else's."

In an attempt to once and for all prove they are different people Sid and Keith will next year be presenting a joint enterprise under the working title 'Norfolk Heroes'.  It will be in October, on the pier in Cromer.

"Well, strictly speaking it'll be off Cromer, being on the pier, but I'm not one to split hares."

George Kipper has complained to the Trunch Trumpet that the authorities are using this feature to try to track him down.  Therefore it will not appear again.

"I doubt George will appear again, either.  By all accounts he's bolted into a nice little hole, where his round peg fits a treat.

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Old sores from St Just - number 32

"There are lies, damned lies,

and vital statistics."

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The Trunch Trumpet is produced and distributed three times a year, usually in February, June and October.  It is written and edited by Chris Sugden.  Distribution is handled by Ken Wood, for which many thanks.  To receive the complete Trunch Trumpet and support your local postman write to:

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