No responses to last blog, so I can revert to complete self-indulgence, secure in the knowledge that there's no-one out there to bore. My elder granddaughter Holly did read it however. She stumbled on it by accident when Googling her name and St. Trinians (see blog of 25 Jan.) Incidentally the St. Trinians movie was on TV a couple of weeks ago and I spent half an hour freeze-framing the crowd scenes trying to spot Holly, only to learn later that I'd been watching St. Trinians 1, whereas she's in the follow-up, which isn't out on dvd until next month. Doh!
Surprise visit yesterday from my old mate Rob Tibble (onetime vocalist of The Stormers). He too remembers the Freddy Frinton sketch, as per earlier blog, so that makes 4 of us. We're still not sure, though, if he performed it on the Arthur Haynes show, so further research required.
Odd bits of music news - ex-Bournemouth guitarists will remember Don Strike's music shop in Westbourne Arcade, where Rog Collis bought Bournemouth's first ever Fender Strat. (I can remember Robert Fripp practising scales just inside the shop door with a Watkins echo unit on full and wondering why anyone would want to practise - never mind scales. Little did I suspect it was a first step towards King Crimson and super-stardom.) Anyway, although Don's no longer around, his wife Renie is still alive and is 90! Ed Roberts gave us the heads up on that so a few of us sent cards, except for Gert (aka Zoot) who thought it'd be cheaper to phone, but dialled the wrong number.
Sadly Brian Kirby, erstwhile leader of Tequila Sunrise (see Biog: The Surrey Years) died. Great turnout for the funeral at Chiltern Crematorium. Virtually all of the old band were there - Dave Crabtree (saxes), Barry Caws (trumpet), Ian Lee (trombone), Tony Eden (bass), me and of course Brian's brother Mick (drums). Chris Shepherd (ex-drummer with Geno Washington and our drummer in the Savanna Showband) there too, and lots of other musos. Alan Swinden (bass) couldn't make it due to illness. John Dunsterville and Tony Eden gave a polished rendition of A Whiter Shade of Pale. (They were inevitably dubbed the creme de la Crem.) Then off to the pub, where yrs truly drank cups of coffee.
As no-one's reading this, a little bit of Lloyds Bank indulgence. Been swopping a few emails with my old friend Mac McAuliffe over recent death of Sir Brian Pitman, former Chairman of Lloyds. According to the Telegraph he was a former "jazz trombonist". Brian once told me that he used to play the tea dances in the Waldorf in the Aldwych, which isn't exactly cutting edge jazz, but whatever.... He was my boss's boss, but could never remember my name, so to this day I feel uncomfortable watching Homer Simpson with Mr. Burns.
Speaking of Lloyds Bank, am now part of a group of ex-Trust Division people who meet up for lunch in Sussex regularly. Great fun! Last one attended by Olga Chubb (she's now a widow but I can't remember her married name), Christine Durham, Richard Wells and Dave Watson. (Previous one was also attended by Stephen Dee, Robin Towns, Derek Booker and Dave Brown.) Richard Wells told me that his namesake in Legal Section, Michael Wells, aka Spike Wells, the jazz drummer, has a new album out and I bought it. It's called "Reverance" and is terrific! So now I know I wasn't just not the best jazz musician in London - I wasn't even the best one in Lloyds Bank Trust Division, Chief Office. Ah well, I bet he can't play Great Balls of Fire while standing up at the piano. (Neither can I actually - I'm too tall).
Time for a bottle of alco-free wine.
Al