tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post2788440057236731663..comments2023-08-02T10:45:41.531+01:00Comments on In the footsteps of the Fool: living in the past Dave Leekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17971308602082668644noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-26364192136624976612013-02-01T17:10:53.669+00:002013-02-01T17:10:53.669+00:00Hmm, given how much I play nowadays, I might be ab...Hmm, given how much I play nowadays, I might be able to manage to do a tribute to Arc/Weld!Dave Leekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17971308602082668644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-66619700806544334402013-02-01T10:23:11.560+00:002013-02-01T10:23:11.560+00:00Ooooh a NY tribute band? Sounds like a lovely idea...Ooooh a NY tribute band? Sounds like a lovely idea. If only we could ever get together for practise, I'd suggest you could probably find yourself a backing band amongst your loyal readers.<br /><br /> eeyornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15933757489269873196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-35168108875554659222013-01-31T18:41:57.159+00:002013-01-31T18:41:57.159+00:00Er, that suggests that I might actually understand...Er, that suggests that I might actually understand what that means - the link comes up as an address. If anyone wants to follow it (Andy) than right click and click on "open".<br /><br />Ah! NY - a great song from one of my all time favourite albums. There's nothing like a friend to tell you you're just pissing in the wind. Many of my friends have told me exactly that.<br /><br />My three kids and me once planned to form a Neil Young tribute band when daughter number 2 was learning the bass and son (third born) was cheering the neighbours up with his drumming. This mostly consisted of "We Are The Champions" played at John Bonham levels. First born was going to play rhythm guitar and fiddle leaving me to squawk and play lead. We were only going to be a tribute to the "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" album. One of my great regrets that it never happened. However, as First born soon relocated to Mexico and the other two gave up playing musical instruments you might guess that it wasn't one of my best ideas.Dave Leekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17971308602082668644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-53225459814876213742013-01-31T09:23:59.824+00:002013-01-31T09:23:59.824+00:00ps am I ok to use imbedded links n your blog, Dave...ps am I ok to use imbedded links n your blog, Dave?eeyornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15933757489269873196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-50099270125591760002013-01-31T09:21:29.616+00:002013-01-31T09:21:29.616+00:00Not at all Dave. There's big business in ambul...Not at all Dave. There's big business in ambulance chasing, provision of social and health care has/is been stealthily privatised....welcome to American style healthcare.<br /><br />Seems like a good excuse for an NY song<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LLS1WVGv0weeyornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15933757489269873196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-13378438126040115122013-01-29T20:47:15.986+00:002013-01-29T20:47:15.986+00:00I hope you didn't think I was making light of ...I hope you didn't think I was making light of counselling, eeyorn. I was really commenting on our Litigation-mad World we seem to live in now.Dave Leekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17971308602082668644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-17155342584426603062013-01-28T13:43:23.301+00:002013-01-28T13:43:23.301+00:00Actually, decent counselling is still hard to find...Actually, decent counselling is still hard to find, even though awareness of PTSD is much better these days. I finally got my head straightened out about 8 years ago with the help of a really good Jungian therapist. eeyornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15933757489269873196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-56947301517958439732013-01-26T11:17:29.107+00:002013-01-26T11:17:29.107+00:00Nowadays there'd be Trauma teams and social wo...Nowadays there'd be Trauma teams and social workers and years of therapy with the baying packs of hyenas, sorry, lawyers circling close behind. But no, we probably went and had a drink,or in Nicky's case something slightly more herbal.<br /><br />I only mention it occasionally - in truth, it's more the sadness for a lost young life that impacts upon me.<br /><br />There have been a lot of fellow travellers passing - the most upsetting thing is there seemed to be so many of them in those formative years.<br /><br />By the way, eeyorn, I did reply to your last comment back on "consider the ravens".Dave Leekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17971308602082668644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-51761516238142327472013-01-26T00:58:08.894+00:002013-01-26T00:58:08.894+00:00I missed out on much festival-going in my teens so...I missed out on much festival-going in my teens so didn't know Andy, though Zouk has told me the story. Very tragic. Did you or Nicky get any psychological support afterwards?eeyornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15933757489269873196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-25715746951223283742013-01-25T22:22:58.180+00:002013-01-25T22:22:58.180+00:00Thank you Martyn - I should not have forgotten his...Thank you Martyn - I should not have forgotten his name. I only knew him for a few short months and he seemed like a lovely guy. I can't forget going straight from the festival to St Ives (Cornwall) and as soon as I mentioned what had happened I think I wrecked several people's holiday as they were all good friends. So apologies to Ray Halliday and co. Unfortunately Nicky Hearman and I sat watching the river and saw the police pull his body out of the water. It was devastating for those older lads.<br /><br />So many shortened lives. So many could-have-beens.<br />Dave Leekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17971308602082668644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-64122997751889475032013-01-25T21:05:18.912+00:002013-01-25T21:05:18.912+00:00Andy Haigh was the guy who drowned: he was in the ...Andy Haigh was the guy who drowned: he was in the year above Bruce C and Mike at AGC, ie the year below me, and with me at Sussex Uni (because I took a year out) - Bruce was in the year below us at Sussex. I heard that he followed everybody else into the river for a midnight dip and was never seen alive again. I remember clearly ringing my parents from Brighton and being told he was dead, and going out and getting totally blattered.Martyn Cornellhttp://zythophile.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-35070552097805953632013-01-25T17:16:10.225+00:002013-01-25T17:16:10.225+00:00Andy,
And I only got two O' Levels. It was in...Andy,<br /><br />And I only got two O' Levels. It was indeed Tuborg - they shattered incredibly when coming into contact with a concrete floor. <br /><br />eeyorn,<br /><br />No intellectual snobbery noticed, actually. Some of us in that class really were not "Grammar School" types - particularly me. I like to think that as I sank to the bottom of AGS I probably would have been at the top of Barclays.<br /><br />However, to be truthful, I'd have sunk to the bottom there as well. And I would have been beaten up more by the Whitesmead bully boys.<br /><br />But, all in all, Andy's dad was spot on. Dave Leekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17971308602082668644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-16122194488583298402013-01-25T09:21:39.681+00:002013-01-25T09:21:39.681+00:00I do remember the beer passing service that you of...I do remember the beer passing service that you offered on show nights! I think they were bottles of Tubourg (I wonder if you can still get that particular brand......I guess Les Ransley would know) As for being classified as outside the academic and intellectual elite at AGS, well to quote my dear Dad ,'You did allright for a five O level boy son' and so did you Dave, so did you.Andy Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14131431242371886428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-58590715816124243912013-01-24T23:46:25.935+00:002013-01-24T23:46:25.935+00:00I realise with your gentle prodding that my previo...I realise with your gentle prodding that my previous might be taken as intellectual snobbery. Twas not intended, it was merely intended to say that Ray was in a different class and so I didn't know him very well at school. eeyornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15933757489269873196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-75893730133319872142013-01-24T21:48:21.257+00:002013-01-24T21:48:21.257+00:00Andy! Welcome back - a former member of the "...Andy! Welcome back - a former member of the "B Stream" just mentioned - any comment on that?<br /><br />I'll never, ever, forget a comment that George wrote on an essay of yours: "Have you been talking to Dave Leeke again?"<br /><br />I think dropping a couple of bottles of beer on the last night of NF nowadays would have got me expelled! I seem to remember passing bottles up to you during the final night performance whilst you were on the Ark.Dave Leekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17971308602082668644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-47107005820920276752013-01-24T21:35:42.471+00:002013-01-24T21:35:42.471+00:00Hi Dave.....Crikey this post has generated more in...Hi Dave.....Crikey this post has generated more interest by way of 'comments' than any of your previous offerings I think.<br />You are right, I do understand entirely about drinking at the Well at the World's End, we have done a fair bit of that over the years but probably nowhere near enough. I'm fine with 'nostalgia' and anyway the bottom line is I like how and what you write, so please keep it up. (By the way I thought you were the most magnificent Lead Stage Hand that ever trod the boards.......George Partridge was in total awe of you!)Andy Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14131431242371886428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-45904781980543945342013-01-24T21:32:01.495+00:002013-01-24T21:32:01.495+00:00Okay, really don't know about Messrs Dent and...Okay, really don't know about Messrs Dent and Blaxhill but I knew Dave Bennett. Actually, I knew his sister Lyn and they had parties at their (what seemed to a Working Class oik like me) posh house near the Roebuck. I thought he went to South Africa gold-digging.<br /><br />John B I knew and did try to "talk" to via Friends Reunited but he didn't seem too interested (although he did reply) - still lives in Reading, I believe.<br /><br />Tewin - isn't that near Datchworth and they had a swearing parrot on the bar? Or was that a bad dream after a bad prawn?<br /><br />As for the Free/Harper gig, I mentioned this in a blog a few posts back. No, I was too young for that. I was also too young for Richard Goddard's gig at AGS where he put David Bowie and the nascent Spiders From Mars on - Sixth Form only, I believe. <br /><br />By "B Stream" do you mean he was, er,less gifted than the rest of you? Because in our year group they made a special form for us - there were twelve of us in it. Our form room was the old library opposite the Head's Office. I think that, essentially, we were mostly of average intelligence with a couple of thickies, a fat Uncle Monty type, two gays and a complete airhead. Oh, that was me.<br />Dave Leekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17971308602082668644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-30883364489413314302013-01-24T14:41:24.112+00:002013-01-24T14:41:24.112+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.eeyornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15933757489269873196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-76625388567721413402013-01-24T13:43:26.879+00:002013-01-24T13:43:26.879+00:00Ooh by the way were you involved in the Free/Roy H...Ooh by the way were you involved in the Free/Roy Harper gig at the College, early 1970?<br /><br />eeyornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15933757489269873196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-33604883327410599772013-01-24T13:39:04.716+00:002013-01-24T13:39:04.716+00:00David indulged his passion for big cars and set up...David indulged his passion for big cars and set up as a used car salesman specialising in Jags and the like. Did very well for himself.<br /><br />Ray Blaxhill was in the B stream of our year and was part of the Tewin mob. He joined Barclays as a trainee and worked his up through the organisation over 40 years. Retired very comfortably at 55. Accepted a job as a part-time Consultant to Barclays a day after he retired :) Enjoys his golf :)<br /><br /> eeyornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15933757489269873196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-67621930407223389492013-01-24T09:01:13.910+00:002013-01-24T09:01:13.910+00:00David Dent! Now there's someone who knows abo...David Dent! Now there's someone who knows about being bullied... I'm amazed he talks to anyone, much less shares a pint. Who on earth is Ray Blaxhill?<br /><br />MikeMike C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11279776665185060446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-44952908680194038542013-01-24T03:03:32.418+00:002013-01-24T03:03:32.418+00:00OK: Left to right: John Buckingham, Dave Bennett, ...OK: Left to right: John Buckingham, Dave Bennett, Trevor, David Dent and Ray Blaxhill.<br /><br />These used to be vaguely regular about 2-3 times a year get-togthers for a pint and a laugh. Will retry contacting Ken to see if they're still going. <br /><br />More incriminating/Who the hell's that? photos to follow on my blog soon, I suspect :)<br /><br />I have already spoken to Mike and he has assured me that he considers no lasting damage occurred.<br /><br />Which ironically is exactly what has happened to me, having embarked into the Morris Dance world when I was about 25. <br /><br />My knees are shot so handy-waving is definitely a rare if painful pleasure. I still manage to play the Fool for Stevenage Sword Dancers.eeyornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15933757489269873196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-31355292466277556172013-01-23T18:00:00.563+00:002013-01-23T18:00:00.563+00:00There, it's always better to accept the truth,...There, it's always better to accept the truth, isn't it?<br /><br />Glad the therapy's working.<br /><br />Meanwhile, for Earth-dwellers, "Henry The Human Fly" by Richard Thompson (1972) is reportedly (probably apocryphally) Warner Brother's worst selling album of all time. And yes, I know it was released on Island in the UK.Dave Leekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17971308602082668644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-90845539500215177672013-01-23T16:54:39.986+00:002013-01-23T16:54:39.986+00:00Alright, alright, I had THREE copies of Henry the ...Alright, alright, I had THREE copies of Henry the Human Fly, but let's be clear about one thing: I went to Nobel, not AGS, for goodness sake.<br /><br />I recognised Trevor after a bit, and you're probably right about John Buckingham (but didn't he used to have hair?), but who are the others?<br /><br />MikeMike C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11279776665185060446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339839143636242387.post-23043890652990917052013-01-23T15:56:04.175+00:002013-01-23T15:56:04.175+00:00Apologies to all readers for the poor spelling in ...Apologies to all readers for the poor spelling in the previous comments - the laptop has started doubling up some letters, missing capitals and generally driving me insane.<br /><br />For instance, I meant, of course, Trevor and I would never refer to myself using a lower case.<br /><br />Perhaps my two fingered typing has reached the point where I can type quicker than I can think.Dave Leekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17971308602082668644noreply@blogger.com