Many of the regular visitors and volunteers to Saltburn Folk Festival will remember the great friendly smile and gentle manner of John Rankin. Some of you will remember his distinctive singing in the Festival’s many singarounds.
John was a supporter of Saltburn Folk Festival for 20 years, first as a steward, then as a Festival guest. With Colin Wilson, he looked after Singer-songwriter Competition until it finished in 2018.

Originally from Louth in Lincolnshire, John spent 10 years in South Africa before settling in Sheffield with his wife, Leslie, and children Ben and Rebekah. He was well known as a singer and collector of traditional English folk songs and was a leading member of the Kiverton Park Folk Club.
We, at Saltburn Folk Festival, will miss him.

Maureen (Mo) Smith was a long time supporter of Saltburn Folk Festival. In 2023, alongside her  partner Joe Nicholson, she hosted one of our opening singarounds as well as the final get together.  Mo passed away in October, only a few weeks after being among friends at Saltburn then at Whitby.  This tribute was written by the Whitby Folk Week organisers:

We are all so deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our lovely friend Maureen Smith, known to the festival as one half of Joe & Mo Nicholson, who have, for well over 30 years, run evening singarounds in Whitby. Most of those years have been in the Rifle Club, but prior to that they were in the Plough. Mo & Joe never missed a night playing host to a full room, singing their hearts out with Mo sporting her signature brandy glass with the famous rubber dolphin. She loved nothing more than to sing and would always encourage anyone to share a song. Party animal to the end, Mo, together with Joe was a regular attender at the Costa del Folk events, both in Ibiza and Portugal, and they were always amongst the last to leave the bar in the early hours. Together they attended the last one in Portugal just a few weeks ago. To say Mo will be missed is an understatement – our love and thoughts go to Joe and to the rest of the family.

A well known face and voice on the North East folk scene, and a huge supporter of the Saltburn Folk Festival. Dave will be dearly missed by many. 

Many of you will remember Dave from singarounds and as a regular visitor to The Bridge Folk Club in Newcastle, where he would perform his memorable self penned songs (including a particularly famous song about a whippet who wouldn't run!) 

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Dave was always willing to share his stories, knowledge and songs with the next generation, and gave massive support to the emerging artists performing on the scene. Our directors, Elinor and Tim, want to give special thanks to Dave for his support, song books, and many a long conversation over a pale ale. 

Geordie Keith Leighton died in September 2023 at the age of 87. He was a larger than life character, and one of the key figures who supported John Taylor in running Redcar and Saltburn Festivals for decades. Keith was well known in the Teesside folk world as a member of The South Bank Grunters with Jo and Roy Duffield, and also a unique solo performer - once heard, never forgotten! Outside of folk music, he was much loved by his family, fondly remembered by former workmates and respected for his role in restoring Tockett’s Watermill near Guisborough.