Tributes paid to Joyce Cann, Dartmoor Folk Festival president

Tributes were paid to Joyce Cann, president of the Dartmoor Folk Festival and wife of the event founder, the late Bob Cann, at her funeral service held at St Andrew's Church in South Tawton.

Joyce was born in the parish of South Zeal, where she spent much of her life.

She was born Edna 'Joyce' Sampson on June 30, 1925 to Maria and William Sampson, one of three children, with an older sister called Dorothy, and a younger brother William.

She lived all her childhood at Addiscott, South Tawton, walking the two miles every day to school in South Zeal, and making the same journey twice on Sundays to attend church at South Tawton.

Sadly her mother died at the young age of 36 when she was only 13.

This left Joyce and her sister Dorothy to look after their nine-year-old brother William, and their elderly grandparents, who were sadly in poor health.

Joyce left school in 1939 when she was 14, at around the same time as the outbreak of the Second World War. This meant that she had to stay at home and help with the running of the home and farm.

After the war ended, Joyce went to a ‘Six Penny Hop’ at Whiddon Down Village Hall, and it was there that she met a young man called Robert Cann (Bob) and they later married in St Andrew's, South Tawton on August 30, 1947. After the wedding Bob moved in with Joyce at Addiscott.

They had two children, Shirley and Wendy, Bob working as a farm manager at Darnaford, Longdown.

They were blessed with two grandchildren, Mark and Jane, and later four great grandchildren, Thomas, Charlie, Laura and Emilia.

Joyce lived at Hillcrest for 44 years, until September 2014, when she moved to a bungalow in nearby Sticklepath to be near her daughter Shirley and Michael.

Folk music was a big part of Joyce’s life.

In the late 1970’s Bob had the idea that he would like to start his own folk festival to help revive and preserve the musical and dance traditions of Dartmoor. Joyce was of course very supportive of this idea, and the first folk festival took place in 1978 at Wood Country House.

Joyce supported Bob in establishing the event by booking artists and helping in many ways.

When Bob was awarded the B.E.M, for services to folk music, he particularly thanked Joyce for her support.

Joyce took great pride in that her family and friends continued to run the Dartmoor Folk Festival after Bob's death and that the Dartmoor Pixie Band has also continued so successfully with Mark, their grandson taking the lead with his wife Sarah taking over the calling.

Alan Quick

Joyce took an active role on the festival committee taking over from Bob as President when he died in 1990.

For many years, Joyce was an active member of the local branch of the Women's Institute (which later became the Moorland Group) and she also sewed for St Loye's registered charity for the disabled and disadvantaged, Exeter, at a friend's house every Wednesday afternoon.

2015 was a great year for Joyce; she celebrated her 90th birthday with a party for more than 100 guests who were entertained by the Dartmoor Pixie Band and the Kelly Quarry Blasters.
Joyce died with her family by her side on January 19.

Her grandchildren, other family members and friends continue the Dartmoor Pixie Band and very popular Dartmoor Folk Festival and she has contributed in no small way to leaving a wonderful and unique musical legacy.

Words and photos: Alan Quick