WC AUGUST 30.
It’s been a sad few days with the deaths of Lord Montagu and Joy Beverley. I had a great few hours at Bealieu a few years ago in the company of Lord Montagu. He gave me a wonderful interview and was a perfect host. A few days later my wife and I sat next to him at the Mayflower, Southampton. We also became close friends in the 80s with the Beverley Sisters and we had such fun. They would ring me up and all talk at the same time. I was even their makeshift roadie on a few Island gigs. They must have trusted me with their dresses. Sadly Joy has just died at the age of 91. She once introduced ne to Billy Wright and I did an interview with him. They were the Posh and Becks of the day – but much more laid back. Billy and David were great footballers but Joy a far better singer than Posh.
Seventeen years ago I went to the Apollo Theatre to watch my first show for the newly formed Isle of Wight Amateur Theatre Awards. On Thursday night I went to my last show of the 17th year at the Apollo. Ladies In Retirement was entertaining but not as good as the very first one I saw, which won an award.
Saturday night was special with Jasper Carrott and the Bev Bevan on stage at Shanklin Theatre for the second night running. I had already played in-person radio interviews with Jasper and Bev to plug the show. There were two full houses and I went to the Saturday show and it was quite brilliant. I had been told by others, who went on the Friday, just how superb it was. What value, too! Three hours of comedy and music from such a talented company. Jasper was in great form and has still got the quality to outshine many of today’s newer breed of comics. No nasty and unnecessary four letter words either. The audience loved him. The Bev Bevan Band, led by the former member of The Move, ELO and Black Sabbath, were one of the best ever seen on the Shanklin stage. Their guest stars were Geoff Turton the former lead singer of the Rockin’ Berries and he sang on their huge hits like He’s In Town and Poor Man’s Son. He also had solo hits as Jefferson. He was an instant favourite and still has that strong falsetto voice which he used to great effect on Roy Orbison and Walker Brothers songs. It would have been nice he if he’d sung one or two of his hits in the show. Another crowd pleaser was singer Joy Strachan-Brain who has a background in folk music but proved she can rock with the best of them. A fantastic night of entertainment.