Our series of photographic portraits by Neill Menneer shows Bath people at work
I’m known by my middle name. It was only my mum who called me Eric and Scottie suits me better – it’s a good jazz name. I was very musical from an early age, at the age of eight I was the No 1 vocal in the Trowbridge choir.
My dad played the mandolin for fun but generally he was a rather mysterious man. My mum raised eight kids but I have lost touch with most of my relatives. In fact I’m now a bit vague as to how many are still alive. I learnt some banjo from my dad but a fellow called George Kemp taught me the guitar, which was a rather exotic instrument in those days. I can pick up any tune almost immediately, a consequence, I believe, of my early exposure to music of all sorts.
I’ve travelled all over the country with my music and even had my own orchestra in the 1960s (The Eric Scott Orchestra). Despite seeing myself as primarily a musician I’ve always made more money from antiques.
I had a shop during the 60s in Oldfield Park. The premises in Maybrick Road was curiously both a hairdressers and an antique shop. It’s an odd combination I know but I had originally trained as a hairdresser in Bristol. I’d be cutting someone’s hair and then a customer would come in asking about a grandfather clock so I had to leave the hair until I closed the sale. I explained that the haircut was only bringing in five shillings (25p) so they had to wait while I sold the clock.
I was primarily a session musician and have played with some of the greatest jazz artists. Men like Tubby Hayes, Bobby Mickleburgh (Temperance Seven band leader) Ronnie Scott and Bill La Sage. I became best known for my favourite instrument the double bass but I could also play the four string tenor guitar and banjo (thanks Dad!). I’ve played a lot in Bath, including at The Hat and Feather, The Bell and the Pump Room.
When Bradshaw ran The Bell we had some great times and would often end up dancing in the street. There are some great buskers in Bath. If I could join up with a few of them I reckon we’d have a hit on our hands.
After I sold the Oldfield Park place I bought an elegant Georgian building in Walcot Street. It had been a grocer’s shop (where Neill took this photograph of me) and still had the gas lights. It may be familiar to many, standing as it does, with my name over the door, at the end of Walcot Street. I have run my antiques business from these premises since the 70s, but the property is now on the market. My specialities have been Chinese porcelain and bronzes. I still do a bit of trading as I always kept the best pieces for myself.
Although I’m now in my 80s I’m still playing music. I joined a band in St Swithin’s church in Walcot and love to use my God-given talent. We play on Sundays and I have to keep myself in check because I have a temptation to jazz up the score somewhat. Old habits die hard.
Actually I’ve always been an independent soul (and a bit of a show off) which is probably why I never married. I’ve had many offers and still they come but I’m not ready just yet.
PORTRAIT: Neill Menneer at Spirit Photographic. Visit: capturethespirit.co.uk, tel: 01225 483151.
The post Bath @ work: Eric ‘Scottie’ Ivor – Musician and antique dealer appeared first on The Bath Magazine.