Tony's Retirement Party/Brian Jessup's Birthday Party, May 26Th
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www.tftw.freeuk.com £1/19/11d - £2.00 - €3.00 - $3.75 Covering all types of roots music including Rock'n'Roll, R&B, Issue No. 53 soul, jazz, folk, Produced from a sustainable resource – the local stationer’s country and much more Tony's I see there is a TFTW 'Thank You Party' booked here for September (however not Saturday Retirement September 25th as stated in TFTW #52 as this is Party/Brian a Tuesday!) (Dates taken from the Keith Woods personal calendar that bears no relation to either Jessup's the Gregorian or Julian calendars, as is evidenced Birthday every time he provides a 'TFTW' publication date Party, May – H) 26th, Freemasons' Arms, Covent Garden On the day it all went well, and most people thought it was fantastic. I certainly enjoyed it, and couldn't have wished for anything better. What Rather than me spouting off about my own party, I made it so special for me was that cousins from repeat here just some of the comments I received both my mother's and father's side of my family, by email. (There were also many verbal praises.) their friends and partners, people from work, plus other friends of mine who are not into 'our' kind of 'Just to say we both enjoyed your party on music came along and all enjoyed it. Some were Saturday night, the music was brilliant' (Jennie clapping and bopping to the music. Even my from my work, and her partner Barrie who went to cousin Laurence, who had to be at work early the school with Bill Millar, who unfortunately was not next morning, stayed on until the end because he there.) was enjoying the music and atmosphere so much. His sister Yvonne was bopping madly to Wee 'Belated "thank you" for the retirement/birthday Willie Harris. bashes last Saturday. I am sure you must be well pleased with the turn out and atmosphere' (Ken Credit must be given to Keith Woods, Ron Collins Major) and his family, all the performers, and all the Woodies, Jerry Lee fans and others who crowded out the upstairs bar at the Freemason's Arms and made this such a special occasion for Brian and myself. Also to my personal guests, many of whom travelled long distances to be there, including my partner's nephew and grand nephew who flew down from Glasgow. 'We enjoyed your party... went upstairs and saw this huge crowd... disappointed to find out The music was excellent as always, and the buffet MaryJean wasn't performing and I guess we (served very early for those who missed it) was weren't the only ones, but you had some good top notch. This is a venue we must use again, and musicians as well and we enjoyed Corliss Randall' 1 (Piet and Els, Jerry Lee fans and friends of events and nights in London' (Roy Colgate, a new MaryJean who came over specially from the rockabilly friend of mine who I've just made on the Netherlands) Internet, and who travelled up from Brighton). 'Just want to say how much we enjoyed our 'Steve and I just wanted to say THANKS so much weekend in London... We thought the party went for inviting us along to your party on Saturday. It extremely well - you and Keith are to be was a brilliant night and so glad to see you and congratulated on all the hard work that went into your friends, and Wee Willie Harris was excellent. arranging it... What a tough lady your mum is... It is a shame we can't make the 100 Club as that (coping with stairs and escalators at 92)... I think sounds good as well, but we are away on holiday. she was surprised by how many friends you have. Maybe another time. Hope you had a good She said to me a couple of times "does Tony evening and enjoyed it as much as we did, it was know all these people?" (My friends Derek and GREAT.' (Lesley Cassidy and Steve Bryant, a Peter who came down from Norwich to attend.) couple from my work place.) And these are just some of the comments from people who attended, there were loads more from people who wished they could have attended but couldn't, including Virginia Kelley and my pen pal since 1964 - Screamin' Dee Snoble, both in New York state. 'It was a great night and it was very good to see so many long time Jerry Lee fans there. I also met group member Chris de Bruin for the first time. And it was good to see group member Krisof © Tony Annis Fabry who I haven't seen since Kay (Martin) organised the Ferriday Ride. It was a great night I'm sure Brian Jessup had similar reactions from but it was also very busy and I never found Piet his guests who attended or would like to have and Els who had travelled from Holland. Thanks been able to be there. Tony, and it was good to meet your mum - 92 and still rockin' - (Graham Knight who flew down from Of course there were disappointments. MaryJean Aberdeen to attend.) not being able to make it, for instance, but Wee Willie Harris stepped in and headlined for us. 'A wonderful night, one of the many highlights was People from my work were amazed when I told seeing Tony duckwalking!!!! it was great finally them that he and the house band had not even meeting people that I had only heard of by name. had a chance to rehearse - they were all so tight Great meeting you Graham!! A fabulous house and professional sounding together. band and musical guests.' (Chris de Bruin) Then there were some sound problems, due to an amp being left behind en route to the venue. But I found this hardly noticeable - I just put it down to the number of people in the room, and the general chatter. I think if it had been too loud, some people would have left early not being used to loud, amplified rock music. And those tables should never have been in the middle of the room, they were meant to be only along the walls or removed altogether to make more room. But these were comparatively minor 'Thanks for a great night. I didn’t see Piet and Els, problems; it was in my view a great success. Not mind you there was a crowd wasn't there? What least because it introduced Roots music and would Madame Moussaka have made of it? This some great performers to people who had no is a good venue.' (Darren Vidler) contact with this kind of music before. At last my relations, friends and work colleagues were able 'First and foremost, thank you so much for having to see at first hand what it was that made me so me on Saturday. It really was a fantastic night and keen on this kind of music, and what fun they'd a pleasure to meet you and your friends. Each of been missing all these years! the singers were great and the band really were very good too.... I'm very keen to do a few more I'm sorry for those who missed it, including my 2 brother Philip and his wife who were in Spain, my The one-party State leading to a classless, self- old school/college mates who didn't even bother governing utopia with the State finally withering to reply to my invitations (we don't seem to go for away I now consider to be unachievable. This final class reunions like they do in the States), my work stage of Communism is probably only possible in colleague of 21 years, Sylvia, who was small communes of dedicated idealists. But babysitting, etc. Madame Moussaka sends her Socialism is perfectly achievable, and even in the apologies, but not enough people sent her £100 in old Soviet Union and its allies, despite all the advance for her priceless predictions, so she corruption and inefficiency, much was achieved. stayed in her booth on Brighton pier. Mercenary In 1989/1991 they threw out the baby with the old cow! bathwater, in my opinion. Worse, they threw out the Socialist baby and kept the corrupt bathwater. Of course, apart from MaryJean who we really The exploiting ruling class in power in the so- hope can make a future TFTW jam session, the called Socialist era are, to a large extent, still one most missed was the late Rick Hardy. Thanks either in power, or are still in control of the to John, Pete and the band for that great 'Sling wealth/assets of these countries. So the people Yer 'Ook' tribute to him. But, humanist or not, I am now have the worst of both worlds - they have lost sure Rick was there in spirit, along with lots of all the social security and full employment of other friends and partners now on the Other Side. Socialism, and are still exploited by the same (I should have invited Colin Fry or Tony Stockwell corrupt ruling class. Do we really believe, for along to confirm they were there, and then Rick instance, that Putin, the ex KGB man, is now a could have made sure John and Pete got the great democrat? words right first time round!) Enough of politics. I want to now clarify some of I had another Retirement Party at my work about my other beliefs as many of you will definitely be two weeks later.