General News

Hi Folks

This month is going to be another guitar geek one I'm afraid. Here goes.

Last month’s gig in Pembrokeshire was VERY special. I played to a capacity crowd at a two-hundred-year-old chapel in the middle of nowhere.

As I was waiting for the audience to arrive, I saw an elderly chap arrive carrying a guitar case. It turned out to be an old friend of mine a Mr Nick Springett a fine guitar maker and many years ago he had a basement workshop in Leamington Spa.

Anyway, before the show he took me to one said to tell me that he had a guitar for me, one he had made seven years ago, and it was going to be his Swansong guitar because his couldn't do the work anymore because of hand problems. Anyway, as time went on, he decided it should be mine.

When I opened the case, I couldn't believe what I was looking at. It was a superbly crafted guitar. I was speechless! I'm very good at giving stuff away but not very good at receiving things, but of course I accepted.

You can see by the photo selection how lovely it is and that pic of he and I is a nice reminder of a special evening.

The two days stay in Pembrokeshire was a sheer delight. The first night we stayed in the beautiful location of Cresswell Quays at the most delightful B and B. The second night we were told that we were staying with a chap called Hugh.

We were given an address and contact number, so the following morning we rang Hugh to see if we could arrive earlier to leave our bags and explore the local area before the gig that evening.

I rang the number and Hugh answered in a very welcoming voice. We were given rough directions by our B and B hosts at breakfast but weren't prepared for what awaited us. We were told to drive through a pillared gate entrance and to keep going and eventually we would get there.

We followed instructions and arrived at the most glorious 18th century stately home. As we parked up the most affable and welcoming Hugh welcomed us. It was a jaw dropping experience because in all my years of gigging I had never been hosted by the Lord of the Manor in his stunning home!

It turns out that Hugh is a great admirer of my music and deemed it an honour to have us stay in his home. Hugh Harrison-Allen and his ancestors built Cresselly House in the mid seventeen hundreds, and he had lived there all his life. The house and surrounding gardens and land were stunning! It was like visiting a National Trust Stately home. I’m enclosing a few photographs to give you a flavour of the place.

After the gig we followed our host and his beautiful wife Roz back to base and enjoyed a cup of tea and toast before retiring.

The following day we were shown round the house by Roz and given a bit of the family history and names like Josiah Wedgewood and Darwin were mentioned.

You can find out more about the house and it's history HERE

All in all, a fabulous visit and a new friendship was created. Tentative arrangements have been made for a return visit and a promise of GG to set up some of Hugh's collection of guitars!

Hugh and Roz are lovely down to earth and grounded people who like all of us must deal with life's challenges from time to time.

I need to make it clear that wealth and status don’t impress me anymore and it's the quality of people that's of value. Roz and Hugh are shining examples of this.

It was a joy and honour and privilege to meet them, get to know them and stay in lovely surroundings for a night, and all because my lovely Mum (God rest her soul) bought me a guitar when I was 12 years old!

R.I.P. Val Bracher

On a sad note. Many if you may remember I made mention in an earlier newsletter about staying with friends David and Val Bracher after my gig in their area.

Last month I attended a reunion event at Goldsmiths College London on invitation by Dave who was a student there and where I met him when I played at the college folk club.

I travelled up by train and on arrival observed that he and Val hadn't arrived. Upon enquiring I was told that he couldn't make it because of a family issue. I rang him and he told me that his beloved Val had died the day before. I was totally stunned by this news.

Val was a lovely lady and will be greatly missed. I know only too well about losing a loved one and the grief that one must live with.

Rest in peace dear Val.

Hofner Guitar

Well, will I never ever learn.

This GAS (guitar acquisition syndrome) thing has gone beyond a joke.

I saw this pretty Hofner for sale on eBay and bought it expecting it to play and sound special, but of course it didn't and needed serious work and money being spent.

This I did and it's still not right and will of course be sold at some point probably at a loss.

Hey ho.

Brian May’s charity donation clogs

Here's a photo of something very special.

Long story short.

The great Brian donated these many years ago to the Tracy Sollis Leukaemia charity and of course they were auctioned at a private event and raised a pittance.

They have now been kindly returned and will be going into a major auction house and hopefully will sell for what they are truly worth... hopefully thousands, and funds raised will go back to the charity.

Fingers crossed.

Recent nights out

Sue and I attended a cracking couple of concerts last month.

Colin Blunstone and The Manfreds. Both concerts were great.

The Blunstone concert was exceptional with my friend Dave Bainbridge in full flight on keys and guitar. He really is a great player.

The Manfreds were of course pure nostalgia with Paul Jones and Tom McGuinness being original members.

I had a brief chat with Paul after the show, a very pleasant man. He has asked me to take part in a charity concert in the new year. I'm honoured to be asked!