Shock at unexpected death of Whitchurch folk musician

Paul Sartin was a prolific and highly-regarded performer

IT was with great sadness that the artsdesk received news of the unexpected death of folk musician Paul Sartin, aged 51, last Wednesday evening.

‘Oboist, singer, traditional violinist, competent pianist and swanee whistle virtuoso’, the Whitchurch musician was a prolific and highlyregarded performer, composer, arranger and teacher.

He was a founding member of the award-winning ensembles Belshazzar’s Feast, Faustus and Bellowhead and toured with Jon Boden as a member of The Remnant Kings.

He proudly ran the Andover Museum Loft Singers community choir, helping them to give voice to so many Whitchurch and Hampshire songs and in 2017, with fellow Whitchurch musician Jon Wilks, re-launched Whitchurch Folk Club.

Paul played several gigs in the area, including Arlington Arts with Belshazzar’s Feast last year, and was due to give a Suppertalk to The Watermill next month, before embarking on a one-off Bellowhead Broadside 10th anniversary tour in

November.

Good, Honest Music, his booking agency, posted the following statement from his family on social media: “It is with great sadness that we must announce the passing of our beloved Paul, who left us unexpectedly yesterday evening. We know that he was someone who brought wonderful music into your lives, and that so many of you counted him as a close and dear friend. We have lost a son and a father, and while we ask now that we are allowed to mourn Paul in private, we understand that many of you will have lovely memories that you would like to share. We invite you to do this in the comments beneath this post so that we can read them when we feel ready.” n Jon Wilks has written a moving piece at https:// tradfolk.co/music/writing-music/paul-sartin-inmemoriam/ n N2 interviewed Paul in lockdown https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/paulsartin-on-gardening-leave-9188042/

The Newbury Weekly News sends condolences to Angela, James, Will and Joe Sartin.