Ron Chesterman Dies, Early Strawbs

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   I am very sorry to have to announce that Ron Chesterman died at 11.15 on Friday 16 March 2007.
Originally a local government archivist, Ron came down to London to study for a degree. He joined the Strawberry Hill Boys in late 66/very early 1967, after Tony Hooper saw him playing in a pub in Chalk Farm (the Enterprise in Chalk Farm Road, just down the road from Tony's two flats on Haverstock Hill and Steeles Lane which inspired the song "Pieces of 79 and 15"). He travelled over to Copenhagen with Cousins, Hooper and Sandy Denny to make those early recordings - he still has a snapshot taken on the ferry. His excellent double bass playing is also featured on those tracks which make up Preserves Uncanned as well as the first two Strawbs albums released on A&M, Strawbs and Dragonfly. He left the band in early 1970, just after Rick Wakeman became a member, as Cousins and Hooper moved towards an electric line-up, recruiting John Ford and Richard Hudson on bass and percussion respectively. 
After the Strawbs Ron worked with Noel Murphy and Shaggis (aka Davey Johnstone, later Elton John's electric guitar genius) as Draught Porridge and later on with various others. His favourite music was really jazz, and he played in many jazz line-ups too.

That taken from Strawbsweb...

I really love the first two albums..."Till the Sun Comes Shining Through" is one of my favorite Strawbs songs...Ron, you will be missed, enjoy the wonderful music and peace of where you now are...

Edited by The Lost Chord - April 15 2007 at 14:33

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The Lost Chord Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: June 23 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1907	Topic: Ron Chesterman Dies, Early Strawbs Posted: April 15 2007 at 14:33
	I am very sorry to have to announce that Ron Chesterman died at 11.15 on Friday 16 March 2007. Originally a local government archivist, Ron came down to London to study for a degree. He joined the Strawberry Hill Boys in late 66/very early 1967, after Tony Hooper saw him playing in a pub in Chalk Farm (the Enterprise in Chalk Farm Road, just down the road from Tony's two flats on Haverstock Hill and Steeles Lane which inspired the song "Pieces of 79 and 15"). He travelled over to Copenhagen with Cousins, Hooper and Sandy Denny to make those early recordings - he still has a snapshot taken on the ferry. His excellent double bass playing is also featured on those tracks which make up Preserves Uncanned as well as the first two Strawbs albums released on A&M, Strawbs and Dragonfly. He left the band in early 1970, just after Rick Wakeman became a member, as Cousins and Hooper moved towards an electric line-up, recruiting John Ford and Richard Hudson on bass and percussion respectively. After the Strawbs Ron worked with Noel Murphy and Shaggis (aka Davey Johnstone, later Elton John's electric guitar genius) as Draught Porridge and later on with various others. His favourite music was really jazz, and he played in many jazz line-ups too. That taken from Strawbsweb... I really love the first two albums..."Till the Sun Comes Shining Through" is one of my favorite Strawbs songs...Ron, you will be missed, enjoy the wonderful music and peace of where you now are... Edited by The Lost Chord - April 15 2007 at 14:33

Easy Livin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin Joined: February 21 2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 15585	Posted: April 15 2007 at 14:53
	That's really sad news. Coincidently, I was just writing reviews for "Strawbs" and "Dragonfly" this week. I had not listened to them for a while, and really enjoyed them again. Ron's double bass work added real character to them. RIP Ron.

Man Erg Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: August 26 2004 Location: Isle of Lucy Status: Offline Points: 7456	Posted: April 15 2007 at 14:55
	Sad news indeed
	Do 'The Stanley' otherwise I'll thrash you with some rhubarb.

The Lost Chord Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: June 23 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1907	Posted: April 15 2007 at 16:22
	It was strange for me, too...even though he didnt appear on the album, I had woken up this morning and put on Grave New World full album just to hear the greatness...and I found the news while listening to it. "The old grey man with his heavy load no longer needs a friend..."

Chris S Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: June 09 2004 Location: Front Range Status: Offline Points: 7028	Posted: April 16 2007 at 06:11
	Sad news for sure. the Strawbs website delivered this sombre message on the 16th/17th March. Strange indeed reading the first Strawbs album review today and seeing this obituary again. His contributions to The Strawbs are immortal however!!
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