March's pics as prints, mugs and t-shirts at photoboxgallery.com/NearTheCoast

sa 15 mr 08

1949  Clothes rationing ended in the UK

If you approach the Snape Maltings in daylight it's obvious something major is happening.  (We've been sliding past in the dark and only vaguely aware something was up.)   What's happening is new rehearsal rooms, small concert room and stuff plus twenty homes grouped round a private courtyard.  Nice.

we 29 au 07

1949  Russia detonated its first atomic device

Despite taking a photo crib we still didn't really recognise Peter Donegan last night when we met him backstage at the Aldeburgh Proms, Snape ... but when he leans back on stage and grins at the audience he's undoubtedly Lonnie's son!  Lots of audience engagement, who knew the repertoire well and kept shouting out requests.  Thinking about it Pete is, comfortingly, a link via his dad and variety back to music hall.  To audience Do you want to sing a song?  YES!!  Off you go then.

No half time dressing room rock'n roll histrionics with some gentle Geordie accents floating about and the house soundman's explanation accepted You know the house better than we do.

Approaching the gig end Rock Island Line♫ got a thunderous reception and we're so pleased we've now shouted Four foot from his tail! with six hundred others (actually we forgetfully inflated it to six feet, silly us).