WC JULY 1
on Tuesday I popped in to see one of the Island’s most successful genuine all-round Island sports stars of the post-war years – EDDIE WALDER. Ed was great at football, cricket and badminton. He’s one of the nicest guys I know and will be featured in the August edition of The Beacon.
On Wednesday I was at home with former Newport baker NEIL SHUTLER – who was recently 95. I have plans to feature him in the August edition of The Beacon. He’s got a few stories – and had 10 children, in between baking bread and making doughnuts.
Sad news on Thursday with the death of Bernie Nolan. I only met her once but she was so nice and a joy to talk to – and what a voice! I hope to repeat my 2006 interview with her to celebrate her life, in a couple of weeks time.
I headed for Faringdon, near Oxford, on Friday to attend Sean’s Saturday wedding. It was a day I had never anticipated – and neither would have my late wife Heather. Sean and Susie are such a lovely couple and perfectly suited. A great time was had by all. The weather was perfect for the happy couple and their 150 guests. The reception contained some great real music, from genuine stars, some super live performers and three brilliant and funny speeches – and the bride’s new father-in-law had to follow the bride, her father and new husband.
My partner, Bertie, who only had a glass of white wine, arrived back at the hotel sober and in a great mood, after a perfect day. At 2pm she was rolling all over the bathroom floor in agony and was sick on so many occasions. At 7-30pm the hotel phoned for an ambulance and we ended up in a Swindon hospital. They kept her in for 4 hours and she was not fit to travel back to the Island. I had people to take back to Lymington, who had travelled with us, so I had a four hour round trip that ended back at the Sudbury House Hotel, in Faringdon. We stayed an extra night and travelled back on Monday. It was just as well I had pre-recorded by radio show for Sunday.