For youngsters (As noted on first page) go to my YouTube page at “Keith Gregson” and join in the fun.
For adults Go to the The Ashbrooke Boys and Shetland pages for details of free copies of online books. The idea is that, after what may be considered tough times, people might enjoy the content but also make suggestions for improvement – which is possible with online publications. Just e-mail me and I will send copies of it/them as an attachment.
If interested in my ‘revived by coronavirus’ involvement with research into ‘music of the past’ (n.b. now frightened to use the words ‘folk’ or ‘traditional’), you will find references to work in this area – past and present – scattered across the web site. I had a major article in a the annual Journal of the English Folk Dance and Song Society ( Folk Music Journal) in 2021 and an article on sea shanty collection in north east England in a compilation released by Ballad Partners in October 2022 . I have also begun to contribute to FolkLife magazine on a regular basis
Genealogy Over the past few years I have acted as an expert (Social and Sporting Historian) in online and live Family History shows run by Family Tree magazine and The Genealogist. These shows have taken place in York, London and Bristol. The most recent was London (in September) and York (in June). I also gave online talks on Northern Ancestry to the Society of Genealogists in October 2022 and on internet genealogy to the Peak District U3A FHS in August 2023. I am booked for further online talks to other genealogical societies in 2024.
https://thefamilyhistoryshow.com/london/
I have had major articles published in Family Tree magazine since 2019. I also write on a regular basis for the online monthly and hard copy annual Discover Your Ancestors with three articles published already in 2023. You can see these via the Genealogist web site. There are more in the pipeline for 2024.
Sporting History
https://www.ashbrookesports.org/our-heritage
As noted in the introductory page I am still historian for Sunderland (Rugby) Football Club and also former archivist for the overarching Ashbrooke Sports Club. See for a summary of that archival work
https://www.ashbrookesports.org/our-heritage
Have been working recently with historians in Bilbao on links between Sunderland AFC and the Athletic Club of Bilbao. This has led to the discovery of another link – between rugby union in North East England and Association football in Spain. More on this soon!
Music Still composing and collating. I have now recorded professionally all my major pieces which are now available as two separate albums on YouTube (with notes). Still performing from time to time. Afternoon concert on Sunderland songs took place at venue 1719 in Sunderland on August 17 2022 followed by a similar talk in the same venue at their Fayre in October. Also gave a talk on Sunderland songs to U3A on June 15 and, in February 2023, to travel and tourism students at the local college . In March I did a talk on Sunderland songs to 40 members of a local W.I. Currently working with others on orchestrating some of my compositions. Barry Hyde of the Futureheads has also recorded an album containing some songs I wrote with Durham miner Jim Moreland in the 1970s and 1980s. The album is being showcased at PopRecs in Sunderland on 01 September and I am currently writing an account concerning the creation of these songs. The band at Pop Recs will be made up of members of the Futureheads, Field Music and Hyde and Beast.
Christmas!
2022 Christmas ( see below) seems to have been successful and I hope to repeat all events in 2023. These were;
22nd December 22.00 An hour of Christmas songs with self and Barry Hyde after the Christmas Quiz at the Peacock
23 December ‘Christmas on Record’ at the Bunker/Independent Cafe (Old Pop Recs) Stockton Road 15.00 to 17.00 – original 78 and 45 records 1920s to 1990s
24 December 12.00 – PopRecs High Street West -‘Christmas With Keith’ 12.00 – 14.00 – return of the annual family fun session – quiz, music and of course – the panto!
Congratulations also to super star Tom A Smith who has helped me out with Pop Recs Christmas since he was a youngster – from Pop Recs to Glastonbury. Not a bad journey! Keep up the good work.