How it all began…. and since

Our story began almost by accident on 22nd November 2007, before anyone fully realised where it might lead. On that day, Bill Murray, a well-known Dartmoor-based folk singer and storyteller, was invited by Mike Eastman, a member of the Lyme Bay section of The Cruising Association (one of the oldest and largest cruising yacht clubs in existence), to provide musical entertainment at the association’s annual dinner the following January.

As a result, Mariners Away’s very first performance took place on 17th January 2008.

Joining Bill and Mike on that memorable evening — alongside several other local characters — were Steve Mathewson, Bev Hilton, and Ian Solomon: an unlikely trio who, remarkably, still remain active and committed members of Mariners Away some eighteen years later, maintaining a tangible link with those very earliest days.

While membership of Mariners tended to fluctuate in the initial years following that inaugural gig, in addition to the aforementioned trio of Steve, Bev, and Ian (aka ‘Solly’), a dependable and talented core of singers emerged over time.

This core included Dave Denford, Peter Ritchie, Lew Bean, Trevor Munkenbeck (who is now the crew’s musical arranger and primary songwriter), David Ashby, Ian McAvoy and Paul Mills, with the occasional ‘guest’ appearance by the very talented folk singer/songwriter and true Devonian, Jim Causley.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 subsided and artists were once again allowed to perform in public, the addition of Eric Partridge, Glenn Bearne, Adrian Cornelissen and Chris Just added to Mariner’s numbers while Dave Kent has now reinforced the bass line to create a formidable sound at full force.