English
Tour - April/May 2006
|
|
| Friday,
5th May
Brian Pretty has organised this
concert in the Guildhall in Lichfield
for many years and it is always a pleasure to
come to this venerable hall in the birthplace
of Samuel Johnson – of Dictionary fame
– and Erasmus Darwin – grandfather
of the champion of evolution. We are specially
honoured tonight for in attendance are both
the mayoress and the sheriff of Lichfield
.
While perusing the Lichfield
Cathedral before the show, we come across
a placard, which informs us that the Cathedral
was founded for a St. Chad. I was always under
the impression that Chad was a surfers name
– I have only met Chads in that sort of
milieu so this is a surprise. Perhaps St Chad
is the patron saint of Surfing and Lichfield,
though completely landlocked, is some sort of
surfer’s Mecca. Perhaps this is an omen
for a drastic climatic change to come. 'Roll
up roll up; buy your beachfront property in
Lichfield'.
|
Chad:
The most gnarly of Saints
|
|
|
Saturday
6th May
Alan
tells us that we are playing in a 'right cattle
market' tonight
“Oh ya dancer!”, think we as we
apply our best togs. However, the Mart Theatre
is actually a cattle market where the
auctions take place and the stage is the ring
where the animals are paraded and bid for.
No romantic liasons ensue.
We are treated to further celebrity as in attendance
tonight is not only Jeremy Heaton, the chief
auctioneer, but Kevin
Griffiths, Skipton’s champion towne
crier. After the concert, we have a few pints
with Kevin in The Craven Hotel. Our digs for
the evening and home to the finest 60’s,
70’s, and 80’s Disco Skipton has
to offer.
In this Hotel.
|
| Sunday
7th May.
Our
final date in this brief tour takes us to Johnstone
near Paisley in Scotland. Alasdair
and myself take the wee van up the road early
and are crossing the border just in time to
hear Robbie Shepard’s The
Reel Blend belting out accordion music through
the miracle of radio waves: A fine homecoming.
As
an added bonus we stop at the Park Bar in Glasgow
to watch some of the Hearts v. Rangers football
match, by now a completely meaningless game;
but Scottish meaninglessness nevertheless –
a novelty after a week in the balmy south.
Upon finishing an excellent afternoon repast
at Café Mother India, we make our way
to the gig where we have a very nice crowd among
which are Alan and Alasdair’s relatives
– these are two different families –
and my old chum Duncan Nicholson, a great piper
who must be the only man ever to leave the Tannahill
Weavers to become a policeman. Duncan now plays
with the world famous Strathclyde
Police Pipe Band.
|
| From
Johnstone we head now to Kuala Lumpur.
Of course.
|
|
click here to get back to the tour diary archive
Photos
were taken by various people, one of whom may, or may not,
have been Rob Van Sante.
|
