Sue Merlyn Farebrother has passed away

[Wybe]

Just a few minutes ago we've seen this message on Facebook.

Sue Merlyn Farebrother's family are very sorry to announce that Sue died on Sunday night.

They are heartbroken and ask for privacy at this time.

Further announcements will be made in due course.

Thank you

She will be missed at the Leonard Cohen Events and Hydra meetups.

Willy and Wybe

[jarkko]

So sad to hear that we have lost a long time active member and friend.
Sue participated often in our gatherings on Hydra and the Events, and was a regular performer in Open Mic sessions and the Roloi nights. We had often nice chats with her.
The photo is from the 2012 Event in Madison, Wisconsin. She performs with Joe Way, organizer of the happening.

Rest in Peace, dear friend

Eija and Jarkko

[Mabeanie1]

I am so shocked. Sue was a constant at gatherings and events. I will miss her.

RIP Sue.

[John Etherington]

Sue Farebrother passed-on earlier this week (I first heard the sad news on Tuesday). I believe that Sue died of lung cancer, though her illness was kept very quiet. I have known Sue since the 80s, when I worked in Watkins Bookshop near Leicester Square, and was intoduced to her by a mutual friend. I also saw Sue quite often when I had my own shop in North London (Midheaven Books). Sue studied astrology and got a diploma in the subject. She went on to lecture and teach for the main astrological schools and groups in the U.K. She also wrote two major books on astrology. Since I was working in the same field, I saw Sue at numerous events and we had several mutual friends.

I found that Sue and I had some favourite musicians in common; most especialIy Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan and the Incredible String Band. I ran into at Sue at one of Leonard's Royal Albert Hall concerts ('88 or '92). She didn't have a very good seat, and since there was a spare seat next to me (central and near the front) I told her at the interval, and she couldn't believe that she was seeing Leonard so close! I think it was me who introduced Sue to Jim Devlin and also to the Leonard Cohen Forum. I went to many of the same concerts as Sue, and we went to a few together. I remember meeting up with her when Leonard played at Weybridge in Kent, and it was pouring with rain. Sue also went to some workshops by Robin Williamson, of Incredible String Band fame (I have passed the sad news on to him).
Sue was a lively and enthusiastic Geminian, and I know she will be missed by many of us (John Etherington)

[Joe Way]

Such very sad, tragic news. We became close to Sue at the Madison event and caught up with her on Hydra in 2015 and I believe in Amsterdam in 2016.

We will hold her in our hearts now and remember the great times together. I will always appreciate the honor of playing guitar for her (per Jarkko's & Eija's great photo) while she sang at the Madison event (I believe it was The Stranger Song as that was one of her favorites).

RIP dear Sue-you will be sorely missed!

[Janetld]

I am so sorry to read this, and thank you, Wybe, for letting us know. I was thinking of her at the Ghent event and remembering the last Hydra event where a few of us left on the same ferry and my last memory of her is a happy, friendly chat as we manipulated our luggage through the train station in Piraeus. RIP Sue.

[Bill's Bar]

Very sorry to hear that. Sue was one of the first I met in Hydra in 2009. I remember her singing us through 4am on many occasions. I met her at other events over the years. She was a true Cohenite. May she rest in peace.

[anneporter]

I also have many fond memories of Sue on Hydra. She loved to sing and lead singalongs. We shared meals and laugh. She introduced us to the excellent tavarnas Krypto Limani and Taverna Sophia when Leonidas and Panagiota Spinkakis were running it. She was one of several people who have birthdays around the meetup dates. I remember once Giannis bought and served her a beautiful birthday cake and put “100” on it, for a laugh. So sad that she is gone so soon. I will miss her. I hadn’t seen her since 2015,but always hoped she would comeback to a meet- up.
I always remember her singing Lady Midnight, Which I thought really suited her, since she was really into astrology and tarot and all things mystical.

https://youtu.be/PdauyrwcY8Q

[ScottM]

I was so sorry to hear of Sue’s passing. My wife Helen and I first got to know Sue in 2008 around a Leonard concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London. A number of Forum members met at the legendary Troubadour in Earls Court, in advance of the concert and then in South Kensington at a bar then called Pam’s Place. I distinctly remember enjoying a couple of whisky’s (Scotch) with her and finding out quite a lot about her other interests, which John covered in his earlier tribute. We subsequently, often spent time chatting at concerts and meet-ups over the years. We once, in 2011, inadvertently bumped into her at the “London Feis” event in Finsbury Park where Bob Dylan was headlining and had a nice catch-up. Another memory is of climbing with her up to the Eliah Monastery on Hydra in 2017. She admitted she wasn’t at her fittest but surprised herself by reaching the summit, with the rest of the group, and being justifiably pleased to do so. We last spoke with Sue on Hydra in 2019 and she seemed to be in good spirits and happy to be back on the island she loved. She will be missed. RIP Sue.

[Andrew (Darby)]

Oh dear, it’s so sad to read just now about Sue’s passing.

Like a number of us here, I’ve known Sue for many years, from contact with her at various events right up to the 2019 gathering on Hydra. She was a committed and enthusiastic member of our community.

Sue was a regular and keen Open MIc performer at our main August events, so I mainly had contact with her in that context.

However, I also had more relaxed contact with her at the 2019 Hydra gathering, as we were in neighbouring rooms at the accomodation we each independently and coincidentally found for that event. It was a nice surprise when we discovered we were neighbours and I have fond memories of her relaxing on the patio we all shared, with the passing conversations this afforded us.

My sincere condolences to her family and friends… RIP, Sue.

Andrew D.

[Wybe]

A new update on Sue her Facebook acount.

** UPDATE **

Sue's funeral will be held on Monday 12th September 2022 @3:15pm at the City of London Crematorium.

This will be a private family event. The intention is for this to be a short & simple service lasting about half an hour in total, during which a few words will be spoken and some music Sue has chosen, will be played.

Sue's main send off will be a ‘Celebration of Life’ event that we intend to host at a later date, where we will toast her with stories & contributions to remember the best of who she was and how she is fondly remembered. This will be open to a wider group of her friends, colleagues and family. Details to follow.

Sue's family.

[Suemerlyn]

Hi Leonard Cohen fans & friends of Sue. I'm Sue's eldest son Davin and I'm posting this using her account as I have no other way to post otherwise.

The family have arranged a 'Celebration of Sue's life' event and I thought some of her Cohen friends might like to know. You are welcome to attend (London 20th Nov) or you can also send us a video anecdote/memory etc which we will show at the event if you are unable to attend in person.

Details here: https://www.eventcreate.com/e/suecelebrationoflife

Thanks Davin (Sue's eldest son)