Bromley FC
My son Ben, his friend Austin and I could be found at Bromley FC’s Hayes Lane ground for the National League match versus Altrincham this evening. An absorbing game, in which the home team failed to take advantage of some early chances to take the lead and saw Altrincham leading 1-0 at half time.
Birdcage revisited
The plan to make my Birdcage album available as a download accompaniment to Waterloo Sunrise gathered pace today, as I motored down to Canterbury in driving rain to Greg Fitzgerald’s studio. We worked on Radio Play, which is the one track in need of revisiting from the original tapes. The legendary Ralph Salmins has kindly agreed to add his drum mastery to this in the coming days.
BBC reception
I attended a drinks reception in the Council Chamber at Broadcasting House this evening, hosted and arranged by the BBC Corporate Affairs team.
Ringside at Worthing
Julie’s cousin Mark is an amateur boxer and we drove down to Worthing this weekend to offer our support at the Coast to Coast Boxing Club’s ‘Twas The Fight Before Christmas’ event at The Charmandean Centre.
On the town
I met up with Mark Batchelor this afternoon in the Royal Opera House bar in Covent Garden, at the start of a relaxed night out in the West End. We first walked across the crowded piazza and along King Street and into New Row, stopping at the Castle Fine Art gallery and appreciating the Bob Dylan prints in the basement.
Groucho Club
A very pleasant lunch in the Gennaro Room at The Groucho Club in Dean Street, Soho, courtesy of UK Music and their annual December event for music industry communications personnel and name journalists.
Duchess Theatre
An extremely fun evening as Julie, Ben and I enjoyed the rollicking fun that is The Play That Goes Wrong at the Duchess Theatre in Covent Garden. We had superb seats in the back row of the stalls and time flashed by as the cast of nine grappled with the series of dramatic disasters that befall them. Great stuff.
The Musician (winter)
The winter edition of The Musician magazine is being distributed to members of the Musicians’ Union this week. This issue is my last as editor and includes a two-page review of my career as an MU Official.
Soho parties
A very enjoyable few hours in Soho courtesy of two invitations. Namely, the annual lunch arranged by magazine publishers Future at the Sanctum, followed by Ian Shaw’s album launch at Gerry’s Bar.
Vince Dunn Orchestra
A classic afternoon at The Bedford in Balham as the Vince Dunn Orchestra performed an array of standards and festive hits led by a quarter of vocalists including the multi-talented John Park and rising star Zara McClellan.
PPL drinks
I caught the train back from Manchester this morning, in good time to make the legendary annual drinks party hosted by PPL. This year the event found a new home in Park Row, Brewer Street, Soho.
Junkyard golf
A fun evening in Manchester playing indoor junkyard golf with MU colleagues from across the UK. We played the Bozo course and I completed the gently challenging nine holes in a respectable 23 shots.
Pete Thoms
A very pleasant lunch with my former MU colleague Pete Thoms today at The Rose in London Bridge.
Mo Foster tribute
Mo Foster was a respected session bass player, author and a true gentleman. He was extremely popular with his peers and this was reflected in the huge turnout for a tribute concert to him at the 229 Club in central London tonight.
Nigel Price
A delight this evening to find superb jazz guitarist Nigel Price playing locally at Spike’s Place, Club Langley, Beckenham, in the excellent company of French guitarist Alban Claret, drummer Laura Klein and bassist John Williamson.
ENO letters
Officials from the MU joined members of the orchestra of English National Opera at the Coliseum this lunchtime, in delivering over 150 letters from musicians, audiences and public figures urging ENO management to reconsider proposals to axe 19 jobs in the orchestra, and make the orchestra and music staff part-time.
Masterclass
My son Ben has signed up for a series of cricket masterclasses at the Ames Levett Centre at the Kent County Ground in Canterbury for the next five Wednesday evenings. This involves a fairly lengthy round trip from Beckenham, but is fully worth the commitment.
Hilton, Liverpool
A day trip with my MU colleague Amy Grimes to Liverpool, specifically to visit the Hilton Hotel with a view to confirm its suitability as a future Delegate Conference venue. My thanks to sales manager Kerry Hughes for a comprehensive guide to the Hotel’s extensive facilities.
Martin McAloon
I joined my nephew Steve Ames and drummer/vocalist John Park at Bush Hall this evening for a night of music by Prefab Sprout presented by band member Martin McAloon, brother of the group’s leading light Paddy.
Mag sign-off
I have been in Bath for the last two days courtesy of magazine publishers Future, as I worked on signing off the winter 2023 edition of the MU journal, The Musician.
MP4 in the House
My thanks to parliamentary rock band MP4, UK Music and sponsors Allwyn for the invitation this evening to a reception celebrating the 20th anniversary of the pop/rock foursome in the State Rooms, Speaker’s House, at the House of Commons.
Remembrance Day
Proud to witness Ben as an army cadet carrying a standard at the Remembrance Day event in New Addington this morning.
Lord Mayor’s Show
A pleasant morning in the winter sunshine in Fleet Street for the Lord Mayor’s Show. Our son Ben was marching alongside colleagues from his cadet detail and was entrusted once more with a banner for the length of the route. Well done son!
Guitar Show 24
I met long-term friend and business colleague Jason Hunt this lunchtime in The Rose at London Bridge. Jason has been the organiser of the Guitar Show in Solihull for a number of years and is well-known in the industry for his hugely successful shows, including the fondly remembered Music Live at the NEC.
Remastering
Another decisive day with producer Greg Fitzgerald in Canterbury as we explored the options for delivering my album from the 1990s, Birdcage, as a sister release for the forthcoming vinyl release, Waterloo Sunrise.
Lancaster House
During the Labour Party Conference I was asked to assist with arranging a CSF Evening Reception at Lancaster House FCDO, Stable Yard, London SW1 and tonight I was delighted to attend the event itself in the very salubrious surroundings of St James’s.
Chelsea photo shoot
My thanks to photographer Joseph Branston today as he kindly completed a photo session with yours truly at Pizza Express Live on the King’s Road, Chelsea. This was principally to capture a suitable frame to accompany my farewell column in the forthcoming edition of The Musician, my 75th as editor.
