Early Years

John Christopher Maughan was born on 26th May 1947 and grew up in Bewcastle, Cumbria. At the age of 11 he went to Keswick boarding school where 5 years later he began dating (the lovely) Cheryl, asking her out with the chat up line 'how's about it then?!' After being told that their relationship wouldn't last, they were married in 1970 and are still happily married to this day!

By the early 1970's they were living in Whitstone and and helped set-up the local school for disadvantaged children, at which John taught woodwork.
   
  1973 saw the birth of the first child, Ben and Anna was to follow soon after in July 1974.


The Busker Begins

Around this time, encouraged by old friend Derek Lloyd, John learnt his first song, 'The Hart He Loves The High Wood' and began to gain confidence in his singing ability. Not bad for someone who had been advised at school not to join the choir!


Taking this new found confidence and a love of folk music, John and Cheryl set up a folk club at the Tree Inn, Straton and over the years had house guests such as Vin Garbutt, Dave Swarbrick, The Barely Works, The Poozies, Kate Rusby and John Kirkpatrick.

During this time John and Cheryl had a third child, Emily (also a singer, check out www.fullerenes.co.uk.)  The family were all very into music (and are still!) with Cheryl singing harmonies with John and Ben learning to play the accordian


 
 
The Damnbuskers

In 1990, John, Cheryl, Ben (accordian,) Morgy (guitar), Julie (harmonies) and Martin (fiddle) formed the Damnbuskers. Playing raucous good time folk music they had great fun and were a fantastic live experience playing such venues as The Golden Lion in Port Isaac, The Welly in Boscastle and Wadebridge Folk Festival (where Morgy caused chaos!)
Birth of the Busker

In the late 1990's, John and Cheryl's very good friend and fellow Damnbusker, Morgy, was taken ill. He was admitted to Mount Edgecumbe hospice with terminal cancer. Ever the optomist, Morgy proclaimed 'these people have looked after me so well, when I get out of here, I'm going to raise £1000 for this place.'

Sadly, Morgy was never able to fulfill this promise, but he left his hat to John, who wears it busking by the bridge in Boscastle harbour to this day.  The promise to raise £1000 was surpassed and The Boscastle Busker now raises money for various charities.