Cotswold Ballads: The poetry of Cotswold poet Frank Mansell read by him and sung by 2 folk singers 

www.wyastone.co.uk/cotswold-b...
www.saydisc.com
THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTRY LIFE SERIES includes old people recalling their lives on the Cotswold hills in Gloucestershire. Mostly in the various Gloucestershire dialects , they are a fascinating insight into the way of life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and are full of humour and aspects of social history. The series also includes recordings of Cotswold church bells, steam trains, plainchant, wildlife and the ways of the Forest Of Dean as well as the poetry of Cotswold poet Frank Mansell. The series is produced by Gef Lucena for Saydisc Records and the full details and purchasing details can be found on www.saydisc.com
The current short video is of highlights from the COTSWOLD BALLADS album with poet Frank Mansell reading some of his poems and with some of them set to music and sung by Peter Tatham and Celia Caroll.
Frank Mansell had his family roots in the Cotswold village of Frampton Mansell and was thoroughly imbued with Cotswold life, Cotswold countryside and the traditional ways of Cotswold folk. He did not seek or find great fame in his lifetime, although he was well-known and loved in the Cotswold towns and villages. His book of poetry, Cotswold Ballads, was received with warmth and sold well in the locality. He received much encouragement from his friend from the next valley - Laurie Lee from Slad - and his writings stand on a par with his more famous counterpart in their subtle observations of the country life that was fast disappearing under the weight of the second half of the 20th century.
Frank was not one to put himself forward, but was persuaded by his circle of friends and songwriters to make this recording. His sudden death not long after made it all the more imperative in retrospect to have put down for posterity these readings by the poet himself. He knew and approved of the song settings of his poems that are recorded here and these have now taken on a life of their own. As so often happens, greater fame and recognition of artistic worth comes after death and there is a steadily growing appreciation of these fine rural verses.
GEF LUCENA
The songs are published by Matchbox Music