Sandra Kerr

Life and career

Sandra Joan Kerr was born in Plaistow, Essex, England, on 14 February 1942, and grew up in the East End of London. She sang and played English concertina, guitar, Appalachian dulcimer and autoharp. Kerr was a member of the Critics Group from 1963 to 1972. With her husband John Faulkner, she wrote the music for the television series Bagpuss and voiced the character of Madeleine (the rag doll). She was involved in many programmes for BBC Radio including The Music Box and Listen with Mother.

She sang with her daughter Nancy Kerr (whose father was Ron Elliott, a Northumbrian piper) and in the groups Sisters Unlimited and Voice Union. Her work developed to include teaching and leading workshops and she was the director of two folk choirs, Wercasfolk and VoiceMale. She was on the staff of Newcastle University's music department for 17 years until 2017.

Kerr died from leukaemia on 29 October 2026, aged 84.

Discography

'A Merry Progress to London' with the Critics Group (Argo ZFB 60 1966)

'Sweet Thames Flow Softly' with the Critics Group (Argo ZDA 47 1966)

'Waterloo-Peterloo' with the Critics Group (Argo ZFB 68 1968)

'The Female Frolic' with the Critics Group (Argo ZDA 82 1968)

'John & Sandra' (Argo ZFB 2 1969)

'Bagpuss: the Songs & Music' with John Faulkner (Fellside – Smallfolk SMF1 1999)

'Yellow Red and Gold' (Fellside FECD152)

'My Song is My Own' with Frankie Armstrong, Alison McMorland and Kathy Henderson (Plane Label TPL 0001, 1980)

'Nuclear Power No Thanks' with Frankie Armstrong, Roy Bailey, Martin Carthy, Ron Elliott, Howard Evans, Chris Foster, John Kirkpatrick, Alison McMorland, Brian Pearson, Geoff Pearson, Leon Rosselson & Roger Williams (Plane Label IMP2 LP, 1981)

'Scalene' with Nancy Kerr & James Fagan (Fellside FECD137)

'Supermum' children's songs by Sandra Kerr and friends (Pucca Records YOP 05 LP, UK, 1983)

'We Were There' with the Oysterband (Pucca Records YOP 08 LP, UK, 1987)

'No Limits' Sisters Unlimited with Janet Russell, Peta Webb and Rosie Davis (1991 Harbour Town)

'No Bed of Roses' Sisters Unlimited with Janet Russell, Peta Webb and Rosie Davis (Fellside FECD104)

'Neat and Complete' with Nancy Kerr (1996 Fellside FECD107)

'Guess What They're Selling at the Happiness Counter' with Leon Rosselson (Fuse Records 1992)

'Five Little Frogs' with Nancy Kerr, Leon Rosselson, and Kevin Graal

'Five Little Owls' with Nancy Kerr, Leon Rosselson, and Kevin Graal

'Voice Union' with Evelyne Girardon and Liliana Bertolo (Fellside FECD119)

Books

Kathy Henderson, Frankie Armstrong and Sandra Kerr. My Song is My Own. London: Pluto Press, 1979 ISBN 0-86104-033-3 & ISBN 0-86104-032-5 / ISBN 9780861040322 (One hundred traditional and composed women's songs from the British Isles, with select bibliography and discography.)

Kerr, Sandra (1 December 1994). The Song Sampler: 26 Folk Songs from Around the World for Group Singing. Illustrated by Rik Walton (2nd ed.). Newcastle upon Tyne: Folkworks. ISBN 9780952075455. OCLC 772808123.