Hundreds of mourners turned out to pay an emotional farewell to folk legend Vin Garbutt.
Loved ones packed into Saint Mary’s Cathedral, in Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough , to the well-known Christian hymn ‘Morning Has Broken’.
Just weeks after the “Teesside Troubadour” underwent major heart surgery, his family announced he had passed away on June 6, aged 69 .
Fond memories, read during the service by his four children, told how as a youngster Vin, described as “always curious, always eager to learn” grew up in a house “filled with childish noise, humorous tales from his dad and traditional Irish songs constantly being sung by his mam”.
“His thoughtfulness and intelligence had relief in mischievous pranks,” they said.
“He would stick his head round the kitchen door, suddenly shouting “catch!” throwing an egg, and running away, or balancing bowls of water on top of the door, having identified his sibling victim.
The service heard how Vin made lifelong friends at St Peter’s School, in South Bank , and how he would spend days growing his love and appreciation of nature of the Teesside countryside up Eston Hills.
He studied the roots of folk songs he heard at local clubs, which continued as he followed his school friends to ICI Wilton where he became an apprentice tuner.
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“Dad found the best of everything,” his children said.
“He always felt he was one of the men of the industry that defines Teesside.”
Vin immersed himself in the local music scene, “harking at his true calling like the birds he’d spent so much time admiring”.
He regularly played at The Rifle Folk Club using the funds he earned to travel, watching other musicians, visiting people and places, particularly Ireland in search of his roots.
While in Spain with friends, Vin’s belief in his ability as a musician saw him return to England with the determination to become a professional folk singer.
“From that point, his guitar and penny whistle never left his side, his whistle never will,” his children said.
A legend in folk music circles, his wit, warmth and love shone through as he entertained audiences worldwide.
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For nearly 50 years, he played to sell-out shows to thousands of people across the world and crafted 16 albums along the way.
He won the first BBC Folk Award for Best Live Act, received an honorary Masters degree from our very own Teesside University, and perhaps most significantly to him, a papal blessing, bestowed upon him by Pope Francis for his services to the charity, LIFE.
The ambition in Vin’s life was described by his children as not the pursuit of fame or glory, but “to communicate and have a relationship with as many people as possible, with a sincere purpose”.
The final words of the service came from ‘our wonderful mam’ which read: “He would say to me every single day, ‘Have I told you that I love you today?’ and without fail the answer would be ‘yes’.
“He was trying to give that message of love to all of you through his music and laughter.
“Did Vin make the world a better place? I think we all know the answer to that. Now it is our responsibility to carry that love away with us and hand it on.”