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This is the archive of the combined Barking Spider and Andy Broad Portsmouth Blues Site mailing lists.
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Some sad news - Len Betts, one of the great characters of the folk scene around the Portsmouth area, has died in a nursing home, after a long illness Len must have been around 80 years of age, but his enthusiasm for folk music never wavered, right up to the end. He was a fixture at the Southsea Folk & Roots Festival, as a busker and a performer, both solo and with The Jelly Rollers. He also played from time to time with Hard Times String Band - and anyone else who would have him! It’ll be strange not to see Len at the 2006 Festival. Len’s guitar technique was erratic but enthusiastic, and his love of Woody Guthrie songs together with his irreverent sense of humour was infectious. “ Here’s one I sang at the Nuremberg Rally in 1939 ” was a typical introduction to a Len Betts song…. Lenny Betts wasn’t one to suffer fools gladly, and the pomposity of many of folk club organiser or performer was often the deserving target for Len. It’ s said that at one time he was banned from half the folk clubs in the area for being so outspoken! In his later years Len would catch the train from his home in Cosham to attend gigs at The City Bar and The R.M.A., and nine times out of ten would get a lift home at the end of the evening - he never had to ask… Len was once spotted with a label on his guitar which bore the legend “THE REVEREND LEONARD BETTS”. When asked what that was all about, he said “Well, if I leave on the train by accident it’s less likely to get stolen if they think it belongs to a vicar…..”. Len's funeral is on Tuesday 20th June at 12:30 at Porchester Crematorium. In the words of Len’s beloved Woody - “So long, it’s been good to know you …” J.R.