The Yetties: A Musical Journey
Pete Shutler, Mac McCulloch, Bonny Sartin and Bob Common (The Yetties) first met in the Yetminster Scout Group in the mid-1950s. Singing around the campfire and performing little sketches soon developed into shows in the Church Hall to raise money for camping trips and other activities.
Then the Yetminster W.I. started folk dance classes in the hall every other Tuesday night, and the village girls joined in. Though none of us boys lived in Yetminster at the time, the attraction of dancing with lovely young ladies drew us in, and the village became our social hub.
This evolved into forming a young folk dance display team performing Dorset dances at local fêtes and festivals. The nearby village of Ryme Intrinseca lent its name, and we became The Yetminster & Ryme Intrinseca Junior Folk Dance Display Team. At a folk festival in Offley, Hertfordshire, the M.C. shortened our name to The Yetties—and it stuck for the next 50 years.
Forming the Band
We gradually started singing more folk songs. Bob, Mac, and I worked for the same printing company. During lunch, we borrowed the company van and practiced in the countryside (to the confusion of local livestock). Pete chose the accordion—initially only mastering the keyboard side—so Mac played the bass. Eventually, Pete mastered both ends, and Mac moved to guitar. Bob built a drum kit from scrap piping, and we occasionally played for dances as The Ranters with a chap named Byron Bonnett.
Everyone had roles. I was the transport manager with a 1933 Ford 8. We’d pile in with instruments lashed to the back. Once, we had to hang torches out the window when the lights failed, but Bob, a mechanic, kept us running. For distant gigs, we hired unreliable Vauxhalls—only 10 shillings (50p) a day!
Going Public
In 1963, we started a folk club in Yeovil. Word spread through appearances at Sidmouth Folk Festival and TV shows for TSW in Plymouth (1965). A BBC radio producer eventually tracked us down—via the Yetminster phone box, a passing vicar, and The White Hart pub. We got our first nerve-wracking BBC job at Cecil Sharp House, headquarters of the English Folk Dance & Song Society.
Balancing day jobs with nightly gigs wasn’t sustainable. Visitors urged us to go pro—clubs were springing up everywhere. In 1967, with Mac’s apprenticeship complete, we gave it a 3-month trial. My company even kept my job open. Work poured in. We earned £8/week and lived on the road. Accommodation was usually a floor, with sleeping bags. But the people we met made it worthwhile.
Early Success
In 1969, we took our first foreign trip to Romania with London Folk. The festival featured European troupes—many from communist countries, complete with minders. We went for the giggles and were awarded a prize for being happy. The Mongolian team hosted a party with vodka and sardines—not a recommended mix!
We extended our stay to perform for the President. Though our ancient Russian plane home looked ready to fall apart, we made it. We later saw a similar one belly-flopped by the road in Czechoslovakia—used as a transport café!
Breaking Through
After 3 years of non-stop touring, we were exhausted. By then, we had 3 LPs (Festival at Towersey, Fifty Stones of Loveliness, Who’s A’Fear’d), and had played The Albert Hall. Then came a letter from Jim Lloyd—BBC folk frontman—who offered to manage us. He was a game-changer, getting us on radio, TV, and theatre circuits. He secured a 6-LP deal with Argo Records and was true to his word.
We also released songbooks, and later, a music book with tunes from the Hardy family collection: The Musical Heritage of Thomas Hardy.
Settling Down
We began to think about homes and families. Thanks to Jim, our income allowed for it. We appeared on Multi-Colour Swap Shop, Tonight, Mike Reid Spectacular, and more. We backed Bob Arnold (Tom Forrest from The Archers) on an LP in 1974. Our version of The Archers theme still plays during the omnibus. Bob became a long-term collaborator and friend.
We toured Army and Air Force bases in Germany and sold out our LPs after just 5 concerts! We stayed connected to Yetminster—albums, photoshoots, and recordings in the church hall. The Village Band LP sleeve photo was outside The White Hart. Recording the bells was a challenge—until we caught them at 6 a.m. without noise interruptions.
The Group Evolves
In 1978, Bob Common retired to be with his young family. He gave a year’s notice and bowed out gracefully after a final concert in Yeovil. Early 80s government cutbacks hit theatres and live bands, so we diversified. The British Council started sending us abroad—Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Malaysia, Sarawak, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Sri Lanka in one 7-week, 27-flight tour!
The hospitality was humbling, even in poverty. We got sick in Sarawak but powered through concerts (even with stomach trouble during Morris dancing!). Phone calls home were nearly impossible.
Further Adventures
We toured Nepal again (like returning sons), and later visited Pakistan, Sudan, Ethiopia, Greece, and more. In Ethiopia, we searched for hippos in a Ford Cortina and flew in an RAF Hercules. We had no formal training, but we did all right!
Jim Lloyd eventually moved on, feeling he couldn’t get us enough work. I took over the bookings. We recorded for various labels, including The Musical Heritage of Thomas Hardy for ASV in 1988—readings and tunes from the Hardy family. It became one of our best-loved projects.
Newfoundland and Beyond
We visited Newfoundland, where Dorset fishermen had settled. We made a cassette called The Banks of Newfoundland, mixing songs and readings. We toured Berlin before the Wall fell, San Sebastian, and even Norway—performing above the Arctic Circle with 24-hour daylight!
Steam, Media & Cottage Industry
We often appeared at steam rallies: The Great Dorset Steam Fair, Netley Marsh, Swanage Railway, and more. The Yetties’ Special train brought fans to Bluebell Railway concerts. We collaborated with Phil & Jenny Biggs of Classic Media on several films including Journey Thro’ the Purbecks, Yetties at Yetminster Fair, All Over Dorset, A Weekend at Halsway Manor, and 50 Golden Years. We also made documentaries about Dorset’s rivers: The Stour, Frome, and Piddle.
We recorded four Cider & Song radio series for BBC Radio 2, often with our fiddle player Richard Helson and drummer Phil Biggs. Without a manager, we became a DIY enterprise.
The Final Years
Our long-standing Halsway Manor weekends ran from 1969 until retirement—music, talks, dance, and laughter. Julian Mullins, son of one of the original folk dancers, got us online. For a while, emails were printed and posted to us, but eventually I bought a computer and we joined the digital age.
We realized retirement was inevitable. I decided to go on a bit longer so we could retire together in April 2011. We booked Digby Hall for a final weekend: a ceilidh, a concert, and tea with Dorset Apple Cake. One couple flew in from South Africa!
Farewell & Reflection
It was an unusual career for three Dorset lads, but no regrets. Mac said, “We were lucky to get away with that.” He was right. We had close calls—planes, guns, bad roads—but made people happy, and that was enough for me.
Pete passed away on September 21, 2014. Yetminster Church was packed for his funeral. In true fashion, the organist and Sherborne Town Band got out of sync—Pete would’ve loved it. He’s now buried in the churchyard at Ryme Intrinseca.
– Bonny Sartin