Blog post

WC JANUARY 11.

The week got off so well with the heartening news that BOBBY VEE, who has been suffering from Alzheimer’s for several years, actually listened to our 2005 interview on my first archive podcast. His son played it on line to Bobby in America and half way through, e-mailed me to say his father was clearly enjoying it and grinning from ear to ear. Hopefully, it might have jogged a few memories for him. The last time I met Bobby Vee was for that interview in Northampton. After we did the interview he took my late wife, Heather, and myself out to dinner. That was such a memorable day and we did enjoy the drive back to the Island.

I interviewed RAYMOND ALLEN, the genial creator of Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, on Monday afternoon for my new interview podcast that goes on line on Thursday January 14. He was in brilliant form. There is a link from this website from my radio page directly to my growing list of podcasts.

On Tuesday I nipped down to Ryde to interview two Island music legends, BRIAN SHARPE and DOUG WATSON, to talk about their latest CD of New Moon. Listen out for them soon on a JH Meets podcast.

It’s proving a busy week. I popped to Shanklin on Wednesday afternoon to interview country singer Luke Guy Reed about his new album. We first met back in the 70s. Listen out soon for a podcast featuring Guy.

Thursday and Friday were not so memorable and I would loved not to have visited either Freshwater or Bournemouth, for the reasons I did. The two events were, sadly, funerals. They were for two great guys – Tony Early from Freshwater and the ex-Island speed cop David Gurd. This year there has been far too many already.

I had hoped to see Newport Football Club progress in the FA Vase on Saturday afternoon but they lost 2-1 at home to Ashford United. With due respect to the improving young Newport team, I think their visitors were a better team.