Composer of the Week

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Delighted to report that BBC Radio 3 Composer of the Week are paying tribute to Ivor Novello with a series of five hour long programmes exploring his life and music – with many new recording by the BBC Concert Orchestra.

I have been delighted to help the producer Luke Whitlock with the script for the five programmes, and also contribute to the programme by being interviewed by Donald Macleod. Also featured are Rosy Runciman, the archivist for Delfont Mackintosh Theatres and Billy Differ, also from Delfont Mackintosh Theatres. It will be a truly wonderful programme and a fitting tribute to Novello who has never previously featured on the programme in its 70 year history.

We had a lovely day at Broadcasting House, The Novello Theatre and also in the Flat atop the Novello Theatre where Novello lived from 1913 until his death in 1951.

The programmes go out from 26th to 30th December 2016 – a real Christmas Special from BBC Radio 3!

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The Mistletoe Haunting - Legend of Minster Lovell

Christmas book for 2016!

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The Mistletoe haunting – Legend of Minster Lovell  is a must for your Christmas reading list. One reviewer declared it has “all the hallmarks of a classic” and that it is “a beautiful book, and beautifully written.” Get your copy now – available at Amazon and all good book stores! It would also make a wonderful Christmas gift. More details at www.christyplays.co.uk

The Mistletoe Haunting - Legend of Minster Lovell

Back to Normal!

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Hi, Just to say I am back to posting my weekly news blogs. Sorry for the recent mess up but I have been having some work done on my site and also busy sorting out other project details and deadlines. So it has been pretty manic really. Anyway, with luck, I will be back to posting a weekly update.

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Looking forward to next week and recording my sections for the new BBC Radio 3 Composer of the Week programmes at Broadcasting House in London. I will let you have more details once this is complete and will of course let you know when the programmes are scheduled to go out. This is a very exciting project.

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Royal Palace Gardens

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Delighted with the new cover design – brilliant work by Ed at Deeper Blue Designs.

http://www.wearedeeperblue.co.uk/

Also the marvelous colourisation of a B&W image of the gardens undertaken by Tom Marshall at Fotografix

Tom Marshall (PhotograFix), Bluebell Cottage, 9 Queen Street, Much Wenlock, Shropshire, TF13 6BX
FIND US ON FACEBOOK HERE

A friend of mine, Peter, sent me some brilliant images of the Raikes Hall prior to its transformation into the Royal Palace Gardens in circa. 1860 and also one at a later date along with a very fragile guide from the 1890s. They will be unique additions to the book.

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Ken Dodd

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Delighted to see Ken Dodd again and still performing to a packed Grand Theatre at 88 years of age! I first saw him in a summer show at Blackpool Opera House when I was about 7 or 8 – that’s nearly 50 years ago. He was one of those artistes who drew me into the theatre and made it a passion for life.  He truly is the last of that great generation of 20th Century comedians who worked through the Music Hall and Variety traditions – we shall not see his like again and I urge you to see him while you still can. Travesty that he has not yet been given a Knighthood. He deserves it in spades for all the laughter and happiness he has given for decades and to millions!

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