TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Maart I understand you are a mate of Geoffrey Hughes.... how did you get to know him?

Amethyst

In 1977 was living in Middleton, Manchester, with my mam and dad and gran. One Friday night I went along to the folk club at The Ring O'Bells in Middleton to see Nic Jones or whoever was booked and it was sold out. Anyway, an impromptu session started off downstairs, which I joined in with. Towards the end of the night Mike Harding came in. Everyone was reet excited as Mike was a big name on the scene even then.

During a lull he asked me what I was doing for the next month. ‘Signing on’, I told him. He invited me to join his tour which was 40 great gigs in proper theatres and which was recorded for a live double album, Captain Paralytic and the Brown Ale Cowboys.

Mike was also living in Middleton at the time and used to pick me up to go to the gigs. One day he rang up and said,  ‘I’m running a little late. My friend Geoff will be up to collect you’. It turned out to be Geoffrey Hughes, who was playing Eddie Yates in Coronation Street at the time.

My gran used to discreetly watch the world going past on Windermere Road and she saw him come up the steps. I thought she’d be excited, but instead she rattled the newspaper and huffed. I came home the next day and she said, ‘I don’t like you hanging about with that sort’. ‘Who do you mean, Gran? ‘That Eddie Yates, he’s a bad lot’. No, Gran, he’s an actor, his name’s Geoffrey Hughes and he’s only playing Eddie Yates on the telly.’ Hmmph! Well I still don’t like you hanging about with that sort…'

A couple of years ago I was very pleased to be invited along to Geoff's This Is Your Life. I sat next to ex-Status Quo drummer John Coghlan and another friendship began.

Maart

Geoff Hughes is playing Smee in our local production of Peter Pan at the moment.

Paul

He's living in the Isle Of Wight now.

Maart

I guessed he was local, I saw him in the audience when Fairport were playing Southsea. I wouldn't fancy having to get the ferry back after an evening performance in Fareham.

Paul

Surely he has a private yacht?!  :D

He's a long way from Goathland now..

Amy ;)

I thought he was still on the bins !!!

I have to say that Onslow gets me laughing, just thinking about him  ;D