Recorded Ian’s song, “The Men Who Make the Steel” in 1973 to raise funds for Shotton Steelworks campaign against closure (and the possible loss of 6,000 jobs) with 6,000 EP’s being pressed to raise funds for the campaign.

Recorded the album, “Songs for Tomorrow if not Today”, on Joe Stead’s “Sweet Folk All” label in 1974, featuring 5 of Ian’s songs, including the title track.

1976 to 1980: Solo and, on occasion, as a duo with Brian Jones.

Sang own song, “Over the Moors”, on BBC Wales TV show featuring Max Boyce in 1976.

Played on local Radio, including Radio Deeside.

1981 to 1985: A period away from music, in general, whilst building up a self-employed business.

Only occasional gigs, solo and in duo with Brian Jones.

1985 to 1986: “Pedigree” (John Evans, Dave Russell & Ian Chesterman).

A short-lived collaboration that came to a premature end due to health problems.

1987 to 1990: Solo and duo with Brian Jones.

After returning from ill health, Ian achieved a long-held ambition by recording a solo album of his own songs called “Over the Moors”. His good friend, and sometimes musical partner, Brian Jones produced, engineered and played on the album that was recorded at Brian’s Openhouse Studio in The Wirral. It was released in March 1988 and well-received by the folk press. As a result, BBC Wales took the track, “Candles to Caplamps”, from the album to include on their “Children in Need” compilation album that year.

In a short space of time, Ian wrote a song for Plaid Cymru’s campaign for election to the European Parliament that appeared on a compilation Welsh album called, Llais Cymru and was commissioned by BBC Wales to write a song for the international Eisteddfod in Llangollen. That song, “The ladies of Llangollen”, was sung by Ian in a BBC live outside broadcast from the Eisteddfod field and has been played every year since during the BBC’s Eisteddfod coverage in July.

Ian was asked by the editor of The Wrexham Leader to write a folk column, “Folklore” in the paper every week. This started in May 1989 and he never missed a deadline over the next 30 years plus – see below.

Ian also wrote articles and reviews in the quarterly folk magazine, “Folk North West”.

1990 to 2017: Offa (Goff Jones, Ken Prydderch, Drew Hurley, John Evans, Brian Jones and Ian Chesterman in various line-ups).

After playing at Wrexham Folk Club on a regular basis during 1988 and 1989, Ian was invited to join Wrexham Folk Club resident band Offa. He accepted and, from January 1990 a 28-year long association with the band and the club started.

During this period Offa recorded the album, “Offa”, (1990) at Brian Jones’ Openhouse Studio, Wirral, featuring 5 of Ian’s songs. They also played on BBC Radio Wales.

During the short-lived Wrexham FM Community Radio station in 1995, Goff & Ian produced and presented a 2-hour weekly folk programme, “Folk at Eight”.

In 2001 tragedy befell Offa when John Evans was diagnosed with cancer. The band recorded the “Yardarm/Offa” album, “Once Upon a Winter’s Night”, a live recording at Wrexham Folk Club, The Nag’s Head at Christmas that year. It remains a fitting tribute to a great singer and good friend as John, sadly, died the following year.

After a 12-month break through illness, Ian decided to leave the band in May 2017.

2017: Solo, recording and in duo with Brian Jones.

Since leaving Offa a long-term project of recording and archiving songs was continued with Brian Jones with the odd gig played now and then. Ian’s folk column, “Folklore”, in The Leader, a Wrexham daily paper, came to an end on 03/01/2020 after an unbroken weekly run of 30 years 7 months. However, Ian continued to write articles and reviews in the quarterly folk magazine, “Folk North West”.

Monday 3rd January 2022

Our very good friend; Ian, sadly left us in January 2022. Ian was a lovely man and a gifted singer-songwriter who will be greatly missed by all who knew him. We are very fortunate that through his music, songs and friendship, he will always be with us.