THE SONGS and humour of Jake Thackray will be brought back to life in Farnhill on June 7.

Singer and musician John Watterson will present his acclaimed show Fake Thackray recalling Jake’s glory days performing in folk clubs and on television.

He can be seen at Kildwick and Farnhill Institute, Main Street, at 7.30pm.

The late Jake Thackray was well known in the late 1960s and early 1970s for his topical comedy songs, his work ranging from satirical to bawdy to sentimental to pastoral, with a strong emphasis on storytelling.

As Fake Thackray, John Watterson has performed at Latitude, Cropredy and the Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, earning four-star reviews. He performed the show with Fairport Convention on a six-week nation-wide tour.

For several years John carried out research to write the first biography on Thackray, with the help of Jake’s family, friends and fellow performers.

During this time, he uncovered 15 songs written by Jake but never released – some had lain forgotten in the BBC archives for decades, while others were found in Jake’s personal papers.

John decided to perform those songs, along with never-before told stories and several classics.

A spokesman said: “The late Jake Thackray is being increasingly acknowledged as one of the greatest English songwriters of the 20th century, a unique talent, whose songs are full of poetry, wit, irreverence and humanity.

“His intelligent and hilarious lyrics, talent for storytelling, clever wordplay, occasional, artful use of vulgarity and surreal imagination delighted many viewers and outraged some.”

Jake Thackray was a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, a “chansonnier” whose songs are nevertheless convincingly and idiosyncratically English.

In nearly 30 years of performing he made more than 1,000 radio and TV appearances including regular slots on The Frost Report and That’s Life. Between 1967 and 1991 he recorded seven albums for EMI.

John said: “It is wonderful that Jake still has so many fans across the country, and the younger generation are catching on to a man who should be regarded as one of our greatest national treasures.”

The ticket price of £12.50 for the Farnhill show includes a pie-and-pea supper served during the interval. A vegetarian quiche and salad option will be available.

Email KandFInstitute@gmail.com to book tickets in advance.