Creedence Clearwater Review - The Robin Bilston

Bit of a strange one this.... Who would think of a two hour midweek drive to see a Tribute Band?? My wife would that's who.  I think when she first told me my response was that I wasn't too sure that I would make that much effort to see the original Creedence Clearwater Revival. It wasn't well received let me tell you.

I thought it was strange that the satnav took us a roundabout route via Hinckley and Tamworth. Every time we neared a motorway junction it sneered and stuck two fingers up at it. 'Must be an accident on the motorway' I'ts taking us the quickest route'. Are they really that clever ??

I was travel sick and my back was playing me up , not a good combination. An ambulance overtook us on the dual carriage way, for some unknown reason a BMW slammed it's brakes on , the ambulance smashed straight into the back of it.
The signs were not looking good already. Miraculously we arrived, and were first on the scene some 20 minutes before the doors opened. Nobody else was in sight , I double checked with the ticket checker/doorman/barman who were all the same person that we had the right night.
Assured that it was the right night we eased ourselves  into the adjoining hotel bar at The Robin. It is name the 'Woody Room' after local legend Roy Wood of ' Wizzard' and 'The Move' fame. Aside from all the pictures of Roy it was a characterless place, something akin to a 1970's British Rail waiting room but minus any matching furniture. I just had time to order a pint of Banks's Mild (3.5%) before the same gentleman hurriedly put the shutters up behind the bar. Must have thought that I looked a hellraiser on the 'Mild'.

The concert venue is good though and there is plenty of room. Early arrivals are all seated around the edge of the large auditorium. It suits me to sit down though with my back getting steadily worse. Another pint of Mild just isn't the painkiller of choice. Time to call for 'Dr Jack' perhaps ? Mindful of my travel sickness and the journey home I resist.

Enough of my woes, Dale Taylor takes up the role of John Fogherty on guitar and vocals. We are promised; rootsy, swampy , bluesy and country rock tonight. As the lights dim the majority of those seated make their way to a standing position. I'm guessing there were about 150 maximum ? Not a great turnout. We are treated to the classic 'Bad Moon Rising' very early in the set along with 'Susie Q'.  Green River, Born on the Bayou and 'Rockin All Over the World' (more famously covered later by Status Quo of course). No everyone knows that this was written by John Fogherty.

Its all good but I'm just not feeling the love tonight with the pain. The band break for an interval and we head back tothe 'comfort' of the chairs. The band are off for what seems an eternity, a decision is made to call it a night there (by us not the band). 

We leave the venue and it is chucking it down, miraculously it stops as we reach the car. It's been that sort of night.  
On my insistance Marina checks the satnav and low and behold it is set to 'avoid motorways'...... ........With the box 'unchecked' we head for home taking in the M6 ! but not for long though , two junctions down it is closed.... So we detour through Coventry and all is well again. 

In truth this won't going down as one of my favourite gigs but I don't suppose it was ever going to really . 
 

Linwood Barclay Book Signing

Been waiting a long time for this event to roll around. Booked the tickets immediately I heard about it , some time back in March this year. I was quite surprised to that Milton Keynes was on the list of designated venues.

Born in the USA,  but Toronto based since the age of four a New York Times bestselling author, with nearly twenty novels to his credit.

His books have been translated into more than two dozen language, sold millions of copies, and he counts Stephen King among his fans

This isn't just a book signing though and we are given an hour long insight into his writing. He tells the guests of around 80 or so about his three decades in the newspaper industry.

Barclay got his first newspaper job at the Peterborough Examiner, a small Ontario daily. In 1981, he joined the Toronto Star, Canada’s largest circulation newspaper.
He held such positions as assistant city editor, chief copy editor, news editor, and Life section editor, before becoming the paper’s humour columnist in 1993. He was one of the paper’s most popular columnists before retiring from the position in 2008 to work exclusively on books.

The first book that I read was  ' No time for goodbye' published in 2007. It did seven straight weeks at #1 on the UK bestseller list, and finished 2008 as the top selling novel of the year here.

 I then read the four Zack Walker murder mystery series. I have heard that the 'Promise Falls' trilogy are also  a very good read.

There is a lot of talk naturally about his new offering 'Elevator Pitch'. He first of all those gathered if they are aware of the term 'Elevator Pitch'. Not many, me included had I must confess. He explained that An elevator pitch is a brief, persuasive speech that you use to spark interest in what your organization does. ... A good elevator pitch should last no longer than a short elevator ride of 20 to 30 seconds, hence the name. 

The story is set in Manhattan, an area that he knows very well. All the action takes place in the space of a week. 

I had a nice chat with Linwood afterwards , he told me that my favourite band RUSH actually did a gig at his High School. He is more aware of them rather a fan though.More of a Jazz man , in particular the Canadian Jazz Pianist Oscar Peterson. 

“Read Elevator Pitch as soon as possible. It’s one hell of a suspense novel.”―Stephen King

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Hats off to Led Zeppelin - The Stables

The first of three upcoming 'Tribute band' concerts in the near future. Not bad for someone who doesn't really do Tribute Bands'.

Hats off to Led Zeppelin come with a high reputation. the  band,whose name is a reference to the Led Zep song Hats off to (Roy) Harper and voted best TB in the UK in 2017.

Its a busy night , the army of car park attendants have their work cut out to squeeze everyone in. 'It's a full house tonight ' one tells me as I deliberately avoid the awkward space he tried to direct me into.

We are safely inside and I buy the obligatory raffle tickets (still never won) it saves further harassment at least. It's a bit like paying protection money I find.

After a drink and smuggled in peanuts we moved into the Jim Marshall Auditorium.
We were pleasantly surprised to find seats that we were front row stage right! Or at least we would have been if a couple hadn't been sitting in them. The situation was not entirely helped when the steward tried to eject the wrong couple.

Eventually safely seated the surprises continued! The band were introduced by 'Warren Grant'. Only the son of Peter who was Led Zeppelin's Manager.  'HOTLZ are the closest you are going to get ' is what he said after first seeing the band.Lets face it we are never going to get the chance to see the likes of Plant, Page and John Paul-Jones all on the same stage again.

The second surprise came when singer Peter Etheridge encouraged the audience to take as many photos and videos as possible !!   What ????? I've been coming hear for years and never allowed so much as a snapshot with the risk of being forcibly ejected. Just my luck not to have brought my camera with me on this of all nights.

Peter Eldridge (Robert Plant)

 

Jack Tanner (Jimmy Page)

In the 1970's Led Zeppelin were the undisputed giants of the Rock scene.The shows were massive and the band members all larger than life, masters of their craft. So huge shoes to fill for any tribute to try and measure up against.

The night gets off to a rip-roaring start with the classics; Rock and Roll, Immigrant Song, Black Dog and Ramble On. The audience spans the ages with young and old in attendance. Some of the songs that follow I'm not quite so familiar with apart from the awesome 'No Quarter'. The first set is very much the earlier years of the band. The great thing is they don't try and impersonate the original band with wigs  etc, relying on replicating the original sound , note for note.

The second half sees guitarist 'Jack Tanner' return in a 'Dragon suit, just as Page used to wear'

The second set is more of the band when they were at their mid 70's peak. Highlights for me were, Good Times Bad Times, Kashmir and Since I've been Loving You which really showcases the power of Eldridge's voice.
There are times when you could close your eyes and think you are listening to the original Led Zep.

Guitarist Jack Tanner calls upon the trusty Gibson 12 string for the epic 'Hairway to Steven' as it is introduced by Eldridge. It's perfect of course , sends a chill through you as the first note of the solo delivers.

As if things couldn't get any better,  we are then treated to one of my all time favourites ' Heartbreaker'.

The show finishes with the legendary ' whole Lotta Love' (Once the theme music for TOTP) with a bit of 'Dazed and Confused' thrown in. By now the crowd are on their feet and few are dancing in front of the stage. One or two get a bit carried away and decide to actually get on the stage. This isn't going to end well........Sure enough one particular idiot falls off and is lucky not to injure himself.

Its been a fantastic night , the only disappointment being that they didn't do my all time favourite 'When the Levee Breaks'.

Hats Off to  Led Zeppelin are ;

Peter Eldridge - Vocals

Jack Tanner - Guitars / Theramin

Kevin Oliver Jones - Bass / Keyboards & Mandolin

Toby Drummond - Drums

Walking the Ridgeway - Letcombe Regis

Our journey along The Ridgeway continues westwards along the section of the Ridgeway known as Downland Villages Riding Route. Still very much in horse racing country amongst 'The Gallops' again.


It's a dry muggy sort of day with sunny intervals . Extremely energy sapping and guaranteed to work upa good thirst.

Three dogs in tow today so they are going to have to be managed to stop them drying out too.

Gallops but no horses

We quickly happen upon a large monument on top of a grassy bank. Its a marble column on a large square base with steps all around.
The monument is dedicated to Brigadier Robert James Loyd-Lyndsay, 1st Baron Wantage who was a British soldier during the Crimean War and one of the founders of the British Red Cross. There are various inscriptions on the faces of the monument with the one on the North East side, being in Latin;

IN OBITU PAX

POST OBITUM SALUS

POST TENEBRAS LUX

IN LUCE SPES

Which translates as: “Peace in passing away. Salvation after death. Light after darkness. Hope in light." 

Ridgeway signpost

From the monument we continue along the Ridgeway past Middlehill Down, Lattin Down and Furzewick Down. The next point of interest we come to is Segsbury Camp/Letconbe Castle. There are no remains of the castle left sadly. The map above shows the 100 metre track we had to take which took us slightly off route.

The Camp is a large Iron Age Hill Fort  in an elevated position overlooking the land to the north.From here you can  see straight down into Wantage and Letcombe Regis.

The boundaries were absolutely full of wild flowers and insects of all colours and description.

The fort has extensive ditch and ramparts and four gateways. Excavation work carried out in 1996/97 suggests that occupation of the hill fort between the 6th and 2nd centuries BC. And  that it was a communal centre for various activities, including sheep management and exchange. Its not hard to imagine the weary traveller stopping off at the camp for some alcoholic refreshment and a spot of bartering  for a sheep or two !

Norwegian Blue

Painted Lady

Dogs cooling down at every opportunity !

Yours truly in thoughtful mood...

Walking the Ridgeway - West Ilsley loop

Something of a strange shape to the route today! I call it the Porpoise. Been a while since we ventured onto The Ridgeway. But today we are back in Horse Racing country the other side of the A34in West Ilsley.

Leaving the motor in the village we found the footpath that leads to the Ridgeway. Initially it was a bit overgrown so a slight detour around the edge of a cornfield was needed in order to get back on the designated path.

Once again the racing gallops ran side by side with the path. Being mid morning any horses had long since gone after their early morning work.

The 2 Furlong Gallops marker

Wild Flowers and insects

It was a beautiful Midsummer's Day, quite hot but bearable nevertheless.  The wild flowers were really flourishing and attracted all sorts of Butterflies from, Marbled Whites, Gatekeepers , Speckled Woods, Ringlets and Red Admirals.

Lots of Ragwort on the edge of the gallops,strange in a way as it is highly toxic to horses. I suppose that they don't hang around long enough to have a nibble though.

The bold black-and-gold stripes make the Cinnabar Caterpillar  easy to identify.  As well as being the cinnabar caterpillar’s main food plant, ragwort supports more than 40 other insect species and is an important source of nectar.

They actually benefit from its toxicity by eating enough of it to become toxic themselves, and their colourful stripes are a warning to predators: I’m poisonous and taste terrible, don’t try to eat me.

Eventually they will metamorphose into red and black  Cinnabar Moths.

Sun and Shade

 It always feels good to be on The Ridgeway, that feeling of all those who have trodden the same path over the centuries. My walking companion wouldn't agree though . Having completed all of The Cotswold way he finds this walk a bit tame and lacking the features of The Cotswold Way. I think the circular routes that we do make the walk more interesting for sure but I would be happy just on The Ridgeway.


It's funny because you do see other walkers and cyclists on The Ridgeway but as soon as you veer off then you don't see another soul. We did see plenty of wildlife though. Birds including the obligatory Red Kites, Buzzards , Kestrels and a Hobby. It was great to see a Hare at close quarters , closely followed by a Roe Deer.

This stage of the walk is very interesting for historians with ancient burial mounds and hill forts regular sights. The first of which is the 'interestingly' named iron age site Scutchamer Knob. We had to divert a little off the track to find out a little more. It is also known as Cuckhamsley Hill is an early Iron Age round barrow surrounded by a copse of trees.
Originally called Cwichelmeshlaew or Cwichelm's Barrow, it is recorded as having been the place where King Edwin of Northumbria killed Cwichelm of Wessex in AD 636. It is now is a semi-circular bank with a round front. Its appearance may have changed in part due to vandalism based on the belief it was used to hoard treasure.In truth there is little to see now but worth the detour nevertheless.

Scutchamer Knob

Leaving The Ridgeway

Leaving The Ridgeway we follow paths that will eventually takes us back to the village of West Ilsley. Didn't see any shops in the village but there was a decent pub 'The Harrow' and a nice looking cricket club. Had a decent pint of 'Tribute' in the pub sitting outside overlooking the cricket pitch. a nice 10 mile walk .

The pond in the village of WI

WI Cricket Club

Castle Hill, Victoria Tower and Holmfirth

Stunning views

A short drive out to Castle Hill to see the Tower that always seems to be in sight wherever we go ! Castle Hill goes back over 4000 years. The site was developed as an iron age hill fort, surrounded by defensive ditches and ramparts. In the Middle Ages there was a castle on the hill, of which the well remains. The present tower was built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee of 1897. Not surprising really as the The grade II listed Victoria Tower on the summit of Castle Hill is by far the most conspicuous landmark in Huddersfield.

Victoria Tower

I can see for miles and miles

 The hill has been a place of recreation for hundreds of years and the easily discernible remains of past occupation have made it a subject for legend, speculation and scientific study. The views from the top are absolutely spectacular looking across Huddersfield, Halifax , Emley Moor and Wakefield.

Emley Moor Mast (Transmitting Station) in the distance

It was a  shame that the Tower itself wasn't open today , I should have liked to have gone to the top. There was someone there from the local council who said it only opens at weekends . We moved on to the small town of 'Holmfirth', famed for being the home of the long running TV 'comedy' 'Last of The Summer Wine'.
At this point I will confes as to not being a particular fan of LOTSW,finding it quite tedious if truth is really being told. However as we were so closed it would be rude not too as they say.

Thousands of tourists flock to the area each year to enjoy scenery and locations familiar from the series.

Holmfirth Cricket Club

 Being good tourists we followed the Heritage Trail map which took about an hour to complete. I particularly wanted to see the Holmfirth Picturedrome which still attracts decent bands and is a fairly iconic venue. It was opened in 1913 and held over 1,000 people originally , mostly watching silent movies and vaudeville acts . The building today retains valuable period features and and a tin plate ceiling! In the 1940's cinemagoers were sprayed with disinfectant to keep fleas  and other diseases at bay. 

The Holmfirth Picturedrome

Other notable highlights that I procured from the walk were a local Joiner and Entrepreneur named John Bailey, turned his backyard into the Holmfirth Lido !

The cold spring waters attracted up to 400 visitors a day would you believe? Heating was installed bringing the temperature up to 19 degrees. there were even diving boards, a slide and changing rooms , not to mention hot beef drinks always available.

Sadly the pool fell into disuse in 1949  and now lies hidden in a private garden. 

As if that wasn't enough a real life Tigress called 'Fenella' lived in Holmfirth throughout the 1940's ! Fenella could often be seen being taken for walks around the town and children would come and stroke her. One day she made international news by holding up a funeral procession. If I ever get to go in a time machine I want to go back to Holmfirth in the 1940's !

The famous home of Norah Batty with the steps

A Heron in the River Holm by the Bridge

Tucked away down a back alley behind some old garages and sheds you happen upon Holmfirth Cricket Club. It did look a little run down but like so much of the town it possessed great character . I felt like I would want to play for Holmfirth C.C.

'Sid's Cafe' from LOTSW

The River flows by Nora Batty's house

We walked past the Cafe that featured heavily in the TV show, it hadn't  changed at all from what I remember of it ? It is still very much functioning as a cafe.

Whether you are a fan of the show or not Holmfirth is a great place to visit!