Issue 59

Mike’s Pith & Wind cont. Suffice to say, the most interesting point in the show (up until we left anyway), was when one of the ‘Johns’ ripped off his headgear in full view and tried frantically (and unsuccessfully) to detach his ‘John’ placard (which admittedly must have been quite an encumbrance), before replacing his mask…

..also was invited by landed gentry and aristocracy into the country houses of Central Europe.’ These days he is a relatively unknown figure, but during WWII he pulled off one of the more extraordinary stunts of the conflict. It was made into a passable film with an entirely miscast Dirk Bogarde, but achieved true immortality…

The Cathedral Boys’ Choir in 1958. Or perhaps 1957. I’m second from the top next to the pulpit and next down from me is David McPhail. Hamish ‘Gubby’ Guthrie is sixth down from the left. (Reproduced without permission from David McPhail’s auto-biography, The years before my Death).

Mike’s Pith & Wind cont. But then some silly words jumped out and put themselves to the silly little tune, and before long a verse, and another, and a chorus.. Bugger me! I had a song bloody writing itself. I couldn’t resist it any longer and rushed, rushed I tell you, into the barely used…