Your accountLog in Basket Search
English Folk Dance & Song Society English Folk Dance & Song Society
Cecil Sharp House
Vaughan Williams Memorial Library
National Youth Folk Ensemble
  • Cecil Sharp House
  • Vaughan Williams Memorial Library
  • National Youth Folk Ensemble
  • What’s on
    • How to book
      • Travel to Cecil Sharp House
      • Access at Cecil Sharp House
    • Gigs
    • Classes & Courses
    • Conferences & Talks
    • CPD
    • Dances
      • The Folk Dance Calendar
  • Learning
    • Young People
      • National Youth Folk Ensemble
      • Dance
      • London Youth Folk Ensemble
      • Holiday courses
      • Disabled Young People
    • Adults
      • Cecil Sharp House Choir
      • Sunday Folk Music Workshops
      • Dance Classes
      • Lectures and Talks
      • Monday Folk Singers
      • FAQs
    • Families
      • Family Barn Dances
      • Family Friendly
    • Practitioners
      • Professional Development
      • Dance Development
      • Folk Education Network
    • Resources
      • Beginners’ GuidesBeginners’ Guides
      • GlossaryGlossary
      • A-ZA-Z
      • Resource Search
    • Schools & Colleges
      • Artsmark
  • Artist Development
    • Artists
      • Showcases
      • Commissions
      • Bursaries
      • Bursary stories
      • Micro Grants
      • Musicians in Museums
      • Other Opportunities
    • Partners
      • Associate Company
      • Associate Artists
      • English Folk Expo
    • Folk Discovery
    • At Cecil Sharp House
      • Programming
      • Exhibitions
  • Support us
    • Donate now
      • General donation
      • Regular donations
      • Leave a Legacy
      • US giving
    • Support an activity
      • Library
      • Dance Development
      • National Youth Folk Ensemble
      • Children and Young People
      • Artist Development
    • Membership
      • Starter Membership
      • Individuals
      • Groups
      • Libraries and Institutions
      • Insurance
      • Member Dance Clubs
    • Folk Shop
      • CDs
      • Publications
      • Book and CD Sets
      • Merchandise
    • Gift vouchers
  • About us
    • What we do
      • News
      • Advocacy
      • Equity and Diversity
      • Press and Media
      • Library
      • Partner Organisations
      • APPG for Folk Arts
    • Who we are
      • Staff
      • President
      • Board
      • Annual reviews
    • Our history
      • Past projects
      • Gold Badge Awards
    • Publications
      • Folk Music Journal
      • English Dance and Song
    • Folk Player
      • In the Archive With...
      • Listen: Classic Folk
      • Folk Folk
      • Old Songs Podcast
      • Young Folk Club Playlists
    • Work for us
      • Vacancies
      • Work Experience
      • Volunteer
  • Venue Hire
    • Seperator Test (3)
    • Seperator Test (4)
    • Seperator Test (5)
    • Hire our Venue
    • Seperator Test
    • Seperator Test (2)
    • Seperator Test (3)
  • Members’ area

Gold Badges 2018 celebrate excellence in folk culture

Thursday 30th of August 2018

The English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) has announced four new recipients of its highest award, the Gold Badge.

Gold Badges are presented for unique or outstanding contributions to folk music, dance or song, distinguished service to EFDSS and/or exceptional contributions to EFDSS’ work.

 

Gold Badges for 2018 will be awarded to:

  • Frankie Armstrong, one of the outstanding singers of the folk music revival in Britain.
  • John Bacon, morris dancer and organiser.
  • Antony Heywood, preserver, teacher and advocate of folk dance.
  • Vic Legg, ambassador of traveller traditions in singing and dance.

 
They join an illustrious list of Gold Badge holders including EFDSS founder and pioneering folk-song collector Cecil Sharp (1923), composer and collector Ralph Vaughan Williams (1943), performer/writer AL Lloyd (1975), Ewan MacColl (1987), Peggy Seeger (1987), EFDSS President Shirley Collins (2003) and Vice President Eliza Carthy (2007).

“All of this year’s recipients have played important roles in a wide range of interests across the folk arts. They have helped to inspire, to support and to inform generations of folk artists and enthusiasts, making significant contributions to traditional English folk arts. We are delighted to recognize them with these prestigious awards.” 

Lorna Aizlewood, Chair of the EFDSS Board

Find out more about the EFDSS Gold Badge

Frankie Armstrong is one of the outstanding singers of the folk music revival in Britain. She was a member of the Critics Group and has tackled traditional, newly composed and experimental material. She has made nine solo albums and featured on numerous other recordings. She has also written extensively, contributing chapters to 11 books alongside an autobiography. A key mover in the natural voice movement and the community choirs movement, she has developed singing workshops based on traditional styles. She has been a voice coach for theatrical groups, including at the National Theatre for 18 years.

John Bacon was the first male President of the Morris Federation and remains active in Ditchling Morris, of which he was a founder. He has served on the Board of EFDSS as well as being an advisor on all matters relating to buildings, in particular improving access to Cecil Sharp House. He was also a board member of SEFAN (South East Folk Arts Network) for many years, instigating and running the East Sussex Schools Dance Festival. He has been tireless in bringing the three Morris organisations and EFDSS closer together.

Antony Heywood has been active in traditional dance forms including morris and long sword, as well as English Country Dancing as a member of the Whirligigs Display team led by Marjorie Fennessy and of London Folk, which provided the core dancing at several Albert Hall Festivals. As a member of the Pat Shaw Legacy Group, he has edited and produced several books. He has taught English Country Dance in England, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany for over thirty years. His Dance Database contains more than 15,000 entries.

Vic Legg was born into the singing and step-dancing traveller tradition in Cornwall. In 1968 he co-founded Bodmin Folk Club, serving for many years as its chairman; Vic is still an active member and its de facto ambassador. He co-founded Trigg Morris Men in 1971, and in 1974 he was invited to join the Bodmin Wassailers. He was a member of the original recorded cast of Peter Bellamy’s ballad opera The Transports, and his solo recording I’ve Come To Sing A Song was released on CD in 2000.

 



×

Support us, and support the folk arts

We champion folk music and dance at the heart of cultural life, all across England.

Donations provide immediate support. But even more than that, they prove that so many people value what we do – helping us to secure funding from partner organisations.

Can you donate today? 

Donate now   Join us for only £2 a month
visa Mastercard American Express PayPal
Donate Image Logo
Contact us
Travel
Access
Folk Shop
The Folk Dance Calendar
Policies
Safeguarding
Code of Conduct
Booking T&Cs
Terms of Use & Cookies
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
YouTube
LinkedIn
Subscribe to our newsletter

English Folk Dance and Song Society, Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent’s Park Road, London NW1 7AY, UK.
Tel: 020 7485 2206 | Email: [email protected] | Registered charity number 305999
Cookies: The English Folk Dance and Song Society’s websites use cookies: please read our cookie policy for more information.

© 2023 EFDSS.
Supported by Arts Council England