I went to see Clive John sing the other night. Nothing unusual in that, as he lives in Malvern and performs at many a local venue, but he was in Leeds and I didn’t even know he was going to be there.
To cut a long story short – not something I normally do – I was in Leeds doing the cricket but had to change hotels on Saturday night. No, nothing like that, the one I was in was full.
So at random, I picked one off the tinterweb and booked it.
I pulled onto the car park of this small hotel on Saturday evening and a saw a bloke who looked just like Sean Jones, the well-known financial adviser and drinker of Guinness.
Well, it was him, and he was acting as Clive’s roadie as he was doing a gig nearby.
What a co-incidence, thought I, as I got invited to the do. Free drink, free food and the like, so not a bad night out.
Clive was on top form – well, so he told me, but he was very good.
He’s got a new CD out soon and is selling out at the Swan as well.
Quite a day last Saturday at Headingley. Watched the cricket in the morning, watched the rugby league between Wigan and Leeds on the ground right next to the cricket in the afternoon, and got paid to do it.
On a sad note, this week I heard of the death of an old pal, Ivor Powell.
I hadn’t seen him for a while but Ivor was one of those people you didn’t have to see every week, but still would be your friend.
I first met him when as a callow youth I joined the old Evening News in the Trinity in Worcester, and he taught me a lot.
The first day we went for lunch in the bar at the British Legion and it kind of went on from there.
As a boy from the country, Ivor taught me a lot about the town and I can still recall the night England won the World Cup in 1966 – well, the first part of the evening I can, at least.
Ivor took early retirement and, like the rest of his life, enjoyed it. A great character.
I’ve just remembered how he used to get into the cricket at New Road by showing the gateman his blood donor’s card!
Sadly, I was unable to go to his funeral as i was working in Manchester, but my thoughts were with his family. He is a man I will not forget.
l Dave Bradley is the BBC Hereford & Worcester sports correspondent.