Tommy Sparks / Sparke (1901-1981)
Thomas ‘Tommy’ Sparks was born in 1901 and lived all his life in a small hamlet just outside the village of Rattlesden, in the southwest of Suffolk, where he worked as a horseman on Castle Farm for many years. In later years, when we met him, he was living at Flint Cottage, Poy Street Green.
He inherited a dulcimer from his father Alick, who had bought it in Oldham in Lancashire.
Tommy came to our attention through Keith Summers, who researched in east Suffolk in the mid 1970s and subsequently received a letter telling him about Tommy, but by that time (1978) Tommy was unfortunately not able to play very well any more. As a young man he had loved dancing, and had played the dulcimer whilst living at home before he married in 1931 After that it fell into abeyance as he didn’t have his own instrument until he inherited his father’s dulcimer in 1953.
Tommy’s son Geoff had written down some of the items his father used to play, which included Redwing, Little Brown Jug, The Girl I left Behind Me and alongside popular songs such as Dolly Gray and In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree. He also sang unaccompanied, with a few old traditional songs such as the Dark-Eyed Sailor and Turpin Hero in his repertoire. The impression is of someone who was more confident singing or dancing than playing the dulcimer, which he played very much for his own amusement rather than public appreciation.
The interview recorded by John Howson with Tommy’s sons Geoff and Dennis Sparks is transcribed here. It was originally published in ‘Many a Good Horseman’ – A survey of traditional music making in Mid-Suffolk, by John Howson 1985, republished 1993. (Do contact me if you would be interested in purchasing the book – I have a few copies left.)
N.B. There is both inconsistency and heated discussion over the surname Spark/ Sparke/ Sparks/ Sparkes in Rattlesden. When we interviewed Tommy, we were told it was Sparks ‘without an e’, but in most official documentation it appears to be Sparke ‘without an s’!
Recordings of Tommy Sparks
Although by the time John and I met Tommy Sparks, he could no longer play, folk song collector Neil Lanham had recorded him in 1963, although even then his playing was somewhat shaky. Some of those recordings are included on the following album, produced by John Howson on the Veteran label in 2015. It is still available as a physical album or download from the Veteran website. The Veteran label is under new management (2025) and the content is being transferred to the new system – if you can’t find the album online, just contact them directly.
Track 25. Soldier’s Joy
Track 26. Jenny Lind
Tommy & Alick Sparks’ dulcimer
More photos and information about Tommy Sparks’ dulcimer
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