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WHAT THEY SAY

I had bought a ticket earlier in the week and tried to get my money back, off Lydia this afternoon as I was stuffed to the gunwales with a heavy cold and every cold remedy under the sun. I felt like death warmed up and wanted out but after a little coaxing from her I relented and decided to make the effort but not before another dose of medication. On the way there was an unexpected road closure due to flooding, thus panicked, as I hadn’t allowed for such things. So arrived later than intended as I wanted a front row seat but still in time to buy a can of coke with all the bubbles kindly taken out by the staff.

Entering the hall I thought for a split second I had turned up at the wrong venue as most of the seating was arranged around family tables with a few spare chairs at the rear. The place was packed to maximum capacity which again threw me as I thought perhaps I’d be the only one to turn up, however, I felt reassured once I spotted the gleaming champagne white Premiere kit placed centre stage.

The show kicked off with the Cadbury Gorilla sat at the kit beating out a heart thumping pulse and then the larger than life charismatic entertainer himself appeared in the wings yielding a 1kg block of yummy chocolate. Well most of us had wrongly concluded it was Lloyd in the gorilla suit but after the finale the Gorilla returned to play out and the secret of the wearer was revealed when Lloyd removed the facemask. A very lovely twist that will remain undisclosed for the sake of future patrons.

At £8.50 this was worth every penny and he had the crowd from kiddies to oldies eating out of his hand with his fascinating stories and rapid off the cuff good humour. His playing was as remarkable as the man himself with over 40 years in the business having worked and brushed up against some of the very best, sadly many no longer with us.

I bought his book Lloyd Ryan The Autobiography “A View from the Rear” which he kindly signed for me and we both agreed it would be worth £1m in a few years.

He’s hoping to bring his Jazz Band up next year as he took a real nice shine with Huntingdon and its great folk.

Well recommended and I’m so glad I made it, now for a hot toddy and bedtime read.

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