Celebrating generations of Dales Beresford family music making – Craven Herald

A CROWDED Buckden Institute was recently treated to a delightful afternoon of music and dance set around the story of a remarkable Dales farming family and its generations of mainly fiddle players.
Celebrating Generations of Dales Beresford Family Music Making was attended by three members of the Beresford family, Brian and Peter Beresford and their cousin Kenneth Leak. They were supported by members of the Dales Traditional Music and Dance Collective, playing a mixture of traditional dance tunes and contemporary music and song. 
Richard Hargreaves, of the Dales Collective explained the background to the collective and how it was inspired by the extraordinary work of melodium player and music historian of Hawes, Bob Ellis, in his book, ‚There was None of this Lazy Dancing‘. Published by the Dales Countryside Museum in 2020, the book has quickly come to be a recognised as a nationally important source of traditional Dales music and dance.
Following a meeting after its publication between Bob, Bradford singer-song writer Muppet;  poet and writer Colin Speakman and flautist Richard Hargreaves, a decision was taken to revise, the tradition of music sessions in the Buck Inn in Buckden on winter Sundays timed to fit in with DalesBus, so as many people as possible, and not just car drivers, could attend.
The events were soon attracting up to 20 players, dancers and poets from all over the Dales, and sparked a revival in both Wharfedale and Nidderdale of regular folk dance evenings, using tunes recorded by Bob Ellis in his book.
Tragically Bob Ellis died quite suddenly in January 2024, but his friends were determined to carry on.
By this time, Richard Hargreaves had made contact with the Beresford family, who had farmed for generations in Langstrothdale, producing over two centuries generations of musicians, mainly fiddle players. 
The first Peter Beresford came to Upper Wharfedale in the 1770s, possibly from Ireland and probably to work in the Duke of Devonshire’s lead mines. But Beresford soon starting farming with later generations of his family occupying farms at various periods in Buckden, Hubberholme and Yockenthwaite. 
The first Peter was also a noted Dales fiddler, a family tradition that developed through the next two centuries through what were large families with many more fine fiddle and accordion players.  In the 1980s Rose, daughter of Jackie Beresford of Buckden, married Tim Boothman of Threshfield a noted Dales fiddle and accordion player.  Tim and Jackie continue traditional of Dales dancing alive well into the present century.
Dales music and dance reflect a society and way of life before cinemas, television, laptops and iPhone screens, when people had to generate their own entertainment, by firesides, on farms, and within inns. 
Musicians were self-taught, learning and playing traditional and popular melodies by ear and instinct.  Much of the precious legacy was recorded and captured by Bob Ellis.  Revival in interest in these traditional tunes and dances is a way of breaking the grip of mass produced, popular entertainment. And, in a very literal and physical way Dales dancing brings people together, as the traditional afternoon dances on Sunday, led by Caller Peter Barnard, so vividly demonstrated.
But, there is another twist to the story.  Present generations of Beresfords, Peter, a skilled guitarist and Brian, a noted pianist and songwriter, presented the audience with some brilliant guitar music inspired by Langstrothdale in winter, vigorous new piano compositions, and powerful piano and guitar duos, all influenced by tunes learned from their parents and grandparents in the Dale. 
But most moving of all was a rendering  – also by the audience  – of Brian’s ‚This is the Moment‘, a setting of words by world-renown conservationist Sir David Attenborough, with handwritten letters of support from Sir David, which has been performed by school children throughout the UK and even worldwide.  You can hear it on YouTube: This is the Moment (Life on Earth). 
Brian, a former headteacher, who began his teaching career at Carleton Primary School in the 1970s, wanted to help children to understand the climate emergency, and to share Sir David’s inspiration with those singing and hearing the song. He has published 250 pieces of music for schools and written short stories and poems.
And, It all began in Upper Wharfedale.
 
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