The Innocent - a Tale of Injustice by Mick Ryan and Steve Faux

Thomas Helliker - The Trowbridge Martyr (1784 - 1803)Thomas Helliker is remembered for his tragic and unjust death on his 19th birthday.
He was born near Trowbridge and became a shearman's apprentice in a woollen mill in that town.
This was a time when the introduction of machines threatened jobs and led to unrest in the workforce.
In 1802, a group of workers burned down a local woollen mill in protest. Although Helliker had an alibi, he was accused of taking part and arrested. He may well have know who had done the deed, but he refused to name them.
Despite his steadfast claim of innocence, Helliker was convicted of arson. O the 22nd of March 1803 he was hanged in Salisbury.The Writers/Performers:
Mick Ryan (vocals) is a highly respected singer songwriter, well known for
His rich and powerful voice, expert delivery, and gift for storytelling in song.
His career spans many years in duos and with the group 'Crows'. He has
written and performed in his popular folk operas such as 'The Navvy's
Wife' and 'Here at the Fair'. His other songs, such as 'The Widow's
Promise', 'Love is Life', and 'The Song Goes On', are widely sung on the
UK folk scene and beyond.Steven Faux (keyboard, fiddle, viola, vocals) is a consummate musician
and composer. Amongst his many media credits are 'A History of the
World in a Hundred Objects' (Radio 4) and 'David Attenborough's Life of
Birds', for which he and his co-composer, Ian Butcher, were nominated for
an Ivor Novello Award. He was in 'Crows' in the 1980s, and featured on
The band's much acclaimed second albumThe Performers:
Bob (vocals, bouzouki) and Gill (vocals) Berry are well known and much
Respected as a folk duo noted for their rich harmonies and deep connection
to traditional English folk music. They are both very fine singers who bring a
Lifetime of experience to bear in their expert delivery of the songs they love.
The expertise and authenticity of their performances makes them a much
Loved part of the folk scene.Bryony McGinty (vocals) is an excellent singer of traditional songs and a
fine songwriter. She has been performing in clubs, concerts and at
festivals, in duos and trios, for fifty years. An excellent solo and lead singer
She is also adept with vocal harmonies, for which versatility she is much in
Demand.Dave Bordewey (fiddle, vocals) is a superb fiddler and an expert exponent
of plucked instruments. He has an incredible high tenor voice which he
uses to unique and powerful effect as a long-time member of 'Crows' in the
harmonies for which the band is famous. He is the lead singer in his own
trio, 'Bordewey, Young and Gittens', and is a member of the ceilidh band
'Stone the Crows'.Dave Webber and Anni Fentiman (vocals) have been singing together for
many years, touring extensively in the UK and the USA. They are both very
fine singers, and Dave is a really excellent songwriter whose songs, most
notably perhaps his very beautiful and much loved 'Lady of Autumn', have
Entered the repertoire of singers worldwide.Rosie Upton (vocals) has a fine, unique and vigorous, contralto voice
Which is highly effective in the delivery of the songs of social and political
comment which she loves. She is well known on the folk scene as a solo
Singer, with an amazingly powerful voice which she uses to tell stories in song.