EARLY VISITS TO THE TREE - AND ITS IMPORTANCE

BOLAN FANS ORGANISE WAYS OF KEEPING MARC'S NAME ALIVE

After Marc died there was a huge 'hole' in the lives of many fans. Because Marc had been writing a monthly collum for 'Record Mirror' this became the number one way of contacting fans in the early days, long before the Internet. Fans 'found each other' in 'Penpals Wanted' of 'Record Mirror' & for a time Fee corresponded with around a hundred other fans! Marc Bolan Conventions were also organised. Dave & Dave were amongst the first to organise such parties. Again these were advertised in 'Record Mirror' In 1978, Marc won ALL the appropriate categories in the 'Record Mirror' 'Readers Poll'. Fee's recollections of Dave & Dave's Southport Bolan Convention held on May 30^th 1978 Convention can be found in Fee's Bolanic History, which also includes info on Fee's Own Marc Bolan Convention, held at Malvern Winter Gardens in December 1978.

As a Side Note:
The Importance of this Venue was recognised when 'The Malvern Winter Gardens' was, along with Marc's Rock Shrine, recognised by Discover England (formerly The English Tourist Board) as a Site of Rock 'n' Roll Significance in their New Guide "England Rocks". For More Information on this Guide Click Here

THE PILGRIMAGES TO BOLAN'S 'SHRINE' BEGIN

Fans visited the tree pinning and even nailing tributes up. Some took home pieces of bark as souvenirs or carved their initials little realising that the tree, damaged by the crash was being further harmed by all these actions (left).

Although The Tree is close to the main road, behind and to the sides are trees. Fee was one of the regular visitors spending hours listening to Tyrannosaurus Rex and pondering the unfairness that anyone should die at the age of twenty-nine.

Right - Fee's CD175 bike parked on the flat ground which used to be by the Tree. Summer 1978.

For fans visiting the Tree soon after Marc's death it was a place for releasing huge amounts of grief. Even now, some fans who have waited years to go, are moved to tears upon their first visit. But over time the mood of the place changed and now, although some don't like The Tree and a few even 'hate' it, many prefer the relaxed nature of this 'Woodland Retreat' to the ordered neatness of Golders Green Crematorium. For every fan that blames 'The Tree' for Bolan's death, there is at least one who finds it to be a spiritual, haven.

Above Left: Club Member Eddie sent me a scan of this photocopy of his friend Walter Modin, who with his wife honeymooned in London back in 1979. Although this is a scan of a photocopy it is very much appreciated :-)

Click the images Above Left & Right to view larger versions.

EARLY NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF ANNIVERSARIES

These Four Newspaper Clippings show that the Media were interested in The Tree & the fans who gathered there. The first one, published in 1979 was written just before the 2nd anniversary of Marc's death. Even then, the tree was being described as 'Withered' showing that it was not in good health. The article showed that even then some of Marc's fans considered themselves to be his family. The Second Clipping reports on Marc's 2nd Anniversary in 1979 & the final two both cover Marc's 4th Anniversary in 1981.

1979 about 1978

1979

1981

CONTINUED IMPORTANCE BUT FANS NOT CONSULTED

Throughout the years, fans from around the globe have visited the site, paid their respects and left tributes to their lost idol, as can be seen in this early photo left.

Although Fee married, became a mum and gained a First Class Honours Degree she continued to visit Barnes often. Her son Rohan Marc's first visit there was at the tender age of nine months. Fee routinely tidied the site of the accumulated rubbish and she kept an eye on the condition of 'The Tree' which stands on land owned by 'British Rail', later 'Rail Track'.

Over the years, The Tree was pruned.

During this time, the second of the two trunks (clearly seen in the photo on the left) was felled (as can be seen in the image on the right).

How it was disposed of Bolan Fans never knew. We were never consulted.

The Tree (Marc's Tree) was in the hands of 'A Corporation' so that to them it was just a tree, like any other tree & was not considered to be Special!

TAG was founded in April 1999 by Fee Warner, who became a Bolan fan in 1970. TAG is committed to the long-term care & improvement of Marc Bolan's Rock Shrine in Barnes, London and the care of 'The Bolan Tree'. TAG contain dedicated, qualified committed people who are capable of caring for the land and Tree. All this backed up with the knowledge of the TAG founder who has been visiting the site since Septmber 24th 1977 and has not only kept a close eye on the state of the Tree, but who also routinely tidied the site upon each visit. TAG was formed to do the Steps Project which we have now completed. To care for the Tree site on a long term basis. So that hopefully the site will never again be described as 'more like a shit-hole than a shrine' as it was in 1995 in the 'Bike Magazine' article and to do a project which benefits as many people as possible and not any specific small group.

Back to the Main History of Marc Bolan's Rock Shrine