Hey Serge, did you know that the esteemed historian and songwriter Ralph McTell wrote a wonderful tune about the greatest of all English patriots, William Conkere? You must remember William. He was the legendary English hero who fought off the invading hordes of Harold Hard at Hastings, and famously told “his lusty yeomen true” (I quote Ralph) to fire conkers from their longbows – one of which killed old Harold by hitting him in the eye. It was sad that William’s uncle was killed in the battle, but such was the nation’s gratitude that for years “all young men lusty and true” (Ralph again) were named ‘Norman’ in his memory.

Although it wasn’t really like a 100 Club gig – more like a Convention of Conventioners, a mid-season Cropredy reunion without the rain - why they’d even brought along their fishing chairs, and I swear there was a stall selling (the famous West Midland’s delicacy) hot Ozzies and mushy peas outside on Oxford Street. I’m not even sure if many of them were there for the music, more for the chat and familiar friendly faces (apart from the one that The Photographer had a spat with at the bar, but that, as they say, is another story) four of whom just happen to be on the stage.

From left to right: Ric Sanders, Simon Nicol, Gerry Conway and Chris Leslie.

Chris Leslie

Sanders is sublime, good humoured, and playing up to a Convention of Sanders fans seated determinedly in front of him on the left of the stage. Leslie spends most of the evening grinning away to himself as he swaps instruments, introduces songs (modestly neglecting to tell us that he’d written most of them) and sings. Now as I’ve already mentioned elsewhere a lot of this new material isn’t really as strong as the Fairport classics of the Thompson, Denny and Swarbrick days. But give the guys their credit – they don’t rest on these laurels - much of the material is of a more recent vintage and played with considerable gusto. And it’s just … nice. Easy, undemanding, fun … errr, nice.

And of course Ralph McTell’s gushing but nice ‘The hiring fair’, which is a suitable vehicle for Saunders to really put his fiddle through its paces. In between we get a not-so-nice drunks Convention, who appear nosily out of nowhere, but are soon put in their place by a collective turn of heads and glowering glare from the fishing chairs. And of course, as encore, the very nice ‘Meet on the ledge’, by which time, with the wine and beer fully kicked in, its nice hugs and tears and “see you next year at Cropredy’.

	Actually I think I might give it a miss next year, and find something a little less predictable (and less nice) to cover for you Whiskyfun rock fans, but on the other hand if I don’t go, what on earth will I do with my nice fishing chair? - Nick Morgan (concert photos by Kate)

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