WC MAY 23 and 30.
By choice, I decided to have a couple of quiet weeks to forge ahead with my new book. It proved a good decision and it was virtually finished, from a writing point of view, in very early June. This had been my plan. In the end I wrote six more chapters than expected. They have been sub-edited by one of my own local journalistic mentors, Maurice Leppard. He worked for the County Press and Southern Evening Echo for many years. He likes the contents, which is a welcome relief.
I did head for London on Tuesday May 31 with Josh Barry, his father Alan and his carer Will, to meet up with top scriptwriter Colin Edmonds, West End and TV musical director Mike Dixon and TV archive expert Dick Fiddy. I interviewed the three of them for a special John Hannam Meets podcast to help promote Josh’s special evening at the Gurnard Pines on Friday June 17. This is now available on line all around the world. A very successful day but real traffic problems en route to the BFI on the South Bank. There was a bonus on the way back – my first ever meal on a Red Funnel car ferry. Good it was, too.
Two days later I went to Newport Football Club to see the special old photographs night arranged by local historian Brian Greening. They were old photos of Island sports teams which went down so well, with some great quips from Mr Greening and members of the audience. I took my share, as to be expected.
The following day I interviewed the wonderful RAY FAULK, one of the promoters of the original Island pop festivals of ’68, ’69 and ’70. This was to tie in with his exciting new book, The Last Great Event, which was the story behind the 1970 Afton Festival, which was the biggest one the world has ever seen. Ray’s interview goes on line on Friday June 17. The following night I went to his brilliant evening at the Memorial Hall. Met old friends and made a few new ones. Great nostalgia from the 1970 festival.