A Tribute to a Comedic Genius - RIP David Croft

It was with great sadness that I heard yesterday that the great, indeed possibly Britain's greatest ever comic writer, David Croft has passed away. At the age of 89, he outlived his wife of 61 years Ann Croft by a matter of just months.

It was only last month that I blogged here about the death of the legend John Howard Davies and now the comedy world has lost another great man from that golden era of comedy in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

His writing and producing credits are like a Who's Who of Britian's best comedy through the decades.

With Jimmy Perry, he wrote Dad's Army, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Hi-de-Hi! and You Rang M'Lord? With Jeremy Lloyd he wrote Are You Being Served? and 'Allo 'Allo as well as others. His final comedy piece was Oh, Doctor Beeching! which he co-wrote with Richard Spendlove.

His writing was refreshing as it was targeted for a family audience and as a result has remained timeless down through the decades. I must admit that I am a huge fan as my DVD collection will testify. The almost full range of Dad's Army, as well as many episodes of Hi-de-Hi, You Rang M'Lord and Oh Doctor Beeching! sit proudly on the shelf at home. I'm also a fan of Are You Being Served? and 'Allo 'Allo. He also introduced us to some of the now most well known comic catchphrases that have lasted the stretch of time. Such favourites as "Stupid boy". "They don't like it up 'em", "Don't Panic!" and "We're doomed!" all come from Dad'd Army alone!

It was David Croft who, as a producer, introduced the famous vignettes of the main cast after each episode of his various series following the now immortal words "You Have Been Watching ...".

Here is just a sample of my favourite David Croft inspired comic creations...





 

 
But I'll leave the final word on these classic comic creations with Croft himself,,,
 

 

 

You Have Been Watching...a Comedy Genius

The Death of a British Comedic Legend - RIP John Howard Davies

He may not have been a John Cleese or a David Jason or a Ronnie Barker, but the name John Howard Davies for me resonates throughout my youth as a man who from behind the scenes, played an instrumental part in the golden era of British Comedy.

It was with great sadness that I heard this evening that he passed away yesterday at the age of 72.

An Extraordinary Career in Comedy
Having been a child actor, John Howard Davies became a BBC producer from 1968 and he produced the first episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus, The Goodies and a late series of Steptoe and Son.

In the mid-70s, his period at the BBC saw him produce the first series of Fawlty Towers and the entire series of The Good Life between 1975-1978.

He became the BBC's Head of Comedy between 1977-1982 during which time he helped launch cult classics such as 'Allo 'Allo and Yes Minister and possibly the greatest British sitcom, Only Fools and Horses. Blackadder and Not the Nine o Clock News are more famous names that owes great credit to Davies.

He moved on to became the BBC's Head of Light Entertainment and then moved on to work for Thames where he produced Rowan Atkinson's popular Mr Bean.

The depth and breadth of Davies's work throughout his career is quite simply breath-taking.



Here are a few of my personal highlights from a career that brought the world that most wondrous commodity - laughter. It really is the best medicine and for me, these programmes below retain an indelible mark on what was a happy childhood.













We finish with John Howard Davies in his own words, speaking about Fawtly Towers.

RIP John Howard Davies. Thank you for the laughter.

Goodbye to Bubba 'Hightower' Smith

An an 80s child, the Police Academy series of films were a rite of passage and I lapped them all up (well, apart from the final installment).

The ludicrous characterisation of the main characters is what made the brand such a popular and long-lasting one.

It was therefore with no small degree of sadness that I heard a few days ago that one of its giants, both literally and metaphorically speaking, has died aged just 66.

Bubba Smith
It can be far too easily forgotten that Charles Aaron 'Bubba' Smith was in fact first and foremost, a famed professional sportman who won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Colts in 1970.

But for those of my generation, it was his gentle giant Hollywood turn as Moses Hightower that will go down in the memory. Here is a brief compilation that has been put together by ITN to mark this sad occasion.

RIP Bubba 'Hightower' Smith

No One But You (Only The Good Die Young)

It's been a tough few days. Indeed, as June closes, I look back at what has been a distressing month.

I've already commented about the sad and premature death of Andrew Reeves at only 43 of a heart attack and of my journey to his funeral in Edinburgh. The following week I attended the funeral of a well respected elder statesman of the Cardigan community who passed away in his early 90s.

Over the course of the past week I've done my best to support Alyson as her family have prepared their farewells to her grandmother who also passed away, aged 94. On leaving the funeral yesterday and coming back north from Llanboidy to Cardigan, I heard the heart-breaking news of the premature death of a lovely lady who though is only related to me through marriage, has along with her husband and children, always felt a part of my wider family. She was only in her 60s and it just made me despair again at how, as the old saying goes, 'only the good die young'. It very much brought to the fore the memories of my father's early death back in 2003 at the age of 66. Last night I broke down in tears for the first time in a number of years and I'm thankful that I had Alyson there to console me.

So as a tribute to all of those who have passed before their time, one of the most under-rated of songs from the best band of all-time.

No One But You
The impetus for this Queen production was the death, at the age of just 36, of Princess Diana in August 1997. It is however, largely a eulogy to Freddie Mercury who passed away aged just 45 in 1991.

The song features the three remaining members of Queen and was the last new recording to feature John Deacon, who subsequently retired from public life.


Queen - No One But You (Only The Good Die Young)... by M_Ouyhey

It is a truly moving piece of music and the video for me adds to the poigniancy of the lyrics, sang so well by Brian May and Roger Taylor.

A Service in Memory of Andrew Reeves

It's been an emotional rollercoaster couple of days.

When Jon Aylwin notified me on Tuesday that Andrew Reeves' funeral was to be on Friday, something in me said that I should go. As I stated in my blog after his shock, sudden death, it wasn't that I knew him that well but that I knew him well enough and respected him to feel it only right to make the journey to Edinburgh to show my support to the community of friends and family who have been left utterly devastated at his untimely early passing.

So within the space of 48 hours, Jon Aylwin and I planned our road trip north and accommodation in an Edinburgh halls of residence for the Thursday night. I made my way from Cardigan to Shrewsbury via Aberystwyth on Thursday morning where I met up with Jon who drove up from Cardiff.

Travelling north, it was already a mixture of emotions that I felt as I made my way towards a city that I love but that I hadn't visited for some 7 years. I've always been a big fan of Edinburgh having visited there several times but not since 2004 and I had mixed feelings on making the return under such sad circumstances.

Added to the poignancy of the trip north was the fact that Thursday, June 9th, was the 8th anniversary of my father's death in 2003.

Old Friends and New

We arrived in good time at 6.30pm to check into our rooms overlooking Arthurs Seat before making our way to the city centre to meet up with old friends and new at 7.30pm. We toasted Andrew's memory and shared stories of a life which had touched us all. It was particularly nice to meet up with old Aberystwyth University friend Heather Stitt who now lives in Leith who I hadn't seen in 6 years. We really can't leave it so long before we meet again. It was also nice to meet up with Scottish Lib Dems who I knew but who I had never met in person such as Caron Lindsay. In all, it was nice to be able to prepare ourselves for the day ahead with an evening amongst Lib Dem friends in the capital.

A Service in Memory
Yesterday morning saw an increased gathering as the majority of those attending Andrew's service were travelling up on the day.

It was great to meet up with old friends from the campaigns department who had like us, travelled the length and breadth of Britain to pay our respects to Andrew and we all made our way to the crematorium for the 2pm service.

Jokes were shared and there moments of laughter but then, suddenly, Andrew's hearse pulled up in front of the building and it suddenly hit me. Adorned with his adopted namesake's country's flag of St Andrew, seeing the coffin was heartbreaking.

But whilst there were tears of sorrow, there were tears of laughter to as the service remembered so well a life that was fully lived and a man who was well loved. It was a very apt service for Andrew in a packed room of some 150 friends and family. We entered with the Pet Shop Boys' Always on My Mind and we had music from Take That (The Flood) and Lady Gaga (The Edge of Glory and Born This Way). The Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore, gave a pitch perfect tribute which made us laugh and made us fondly recall all that Andrew had achieved both for himself and for others.

After the service, after some confusion about the venue for the wake, a good gang of us congregated at the All Bar One bar on George St where we had also met the previous evening. It was an opportunity to raise a final toast to a man who will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

After saying our goodbyes at 4pm, Jon and I set off on the long road-trip back south and I bought a copy of the Herald which had a lovely obituary to Andrew, written by Graeme Littlejohn. After 7 hours, Jon and I were back in Cardiff at 11.30pm last night having travelled a combined total of over 1,000 miles by car and train to be where we both knew we needed to be on Friday.

It was a desperately sad occasion but one which was made easier by the wonderful support that Andrew and in his absence his partner Roger, received from their extended Liberal Democrat family from across the country.

No doubt if Andrew was looking down at us all, he'd have Tweeted, 'what's all the fuss about'?

You Rang M'Lord? Star Donald Hewlett Dies Aged 90

I am for better or worse, a product of my age.

Had I have been younger than my 28 years, I would quite likely never have known of the actor Donald Hewlett. Had I on the other hand been of an older generation, then I would surely have known of him in the acting role that mad him famous - that of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Reynolds in the 1970s smash-hit British sitcom 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum'.

But no. I was born in 1982 and I was therefore 6 years old when the David Croft and Jimmy Perry comedy You Rang M'Lord? was launched on the BBC at Christmas 1988. It ran for 4 series until 1993 and was therefore a running theme through the formative years of my youth.

A Perry/Croft Collaboration
Perry and Croft are up there with the finest of double act comedy writers in British television history. They wrote Dad's Army, Hi-de-Hi! and It Ain't Half Hot Mum. Croft also wrote, along with Jeremy Lloyd, Are You Being Served? and 'Allo 'Allo!

But all of these were originally screened before I can remember so all I would catch of them were the repeats through the years. As it turns out, as a big fan of British situation comedy, I have become a fan of them all apart from one of them - It Ain't Half Hot Mum. I don't know why, but I've never sat through an entire episode of the series so when I heard that Donald Hewlett had passed away over the weekend, it was news to me that he was a member of the cast.

Lord Meldrum
I shouldn't have been surprised however because the key to much of David Croft's success is his use of well known actors for various roles in his different works throughout the years. They may have been typecast as a result but the likes of Paul Shane, Jeffrey Holland and Su Pollard who all appeared in You Rang M'Lord? can all thank the pen of David Croft for their success.

As well as these leading characters, Frank Williams and Bill Pertwee from Dad's Army fame both made occasional appearances in this 1990s Perry/Croft conception.

So of course did Donald Hewlett and for me, it was this latter role as Lord Meldrum that stays with me.

It was not a huge ratings success and it is often a forgotten link in the Perry/Croft works catalogue - Dad's Army and Hi-de-Hi towering above the rest. But I can recall looking forward to every new episode of You Rang M'Lord? (on a Sunday night if I recall correctly?) and that Bob Monkhouse dittie of an opening tune which heralded in a 50 minute period of enjoyment.



Was it the reflection on social history in the era between the Two World Wars that enticed me? Maybe so. But just as much for me was the comic acting of our heroes. Yet, this was a darker comedy than those that Perry and Croft had previously written and I have always felt that it is an under-rated hit. The fact that none of the main characters were necessarily very likeable probably worked against the series in the long-term. Alf (played by Paul Shane) had a dark side to him whilst James (played by Jeffrey Holland) was rather snooty.

Meldrum, played so well by Hewlett, came across as an affable and pleasant enough character but was nevertheless a bit of an upper class hypocritic rogue - chastising his younger brother's sexual pecadillos whilst himself having an illicit affair and also prone to paying his staff very poorly.

Whilst it may not have been a fashionable hit then and probably because of its longer than normal 50 minute episodes is rarely repeated today, it was still a firm childhood favourite of mine and unlike many others that were the same, did not deteriorate when I watched them for the first time in years having bought the series 1 and 2 DVDs a few years ago. Unlike programmes like Last of the Summer Wine, The Brittas Empire and another David Croft production, Oh Dr Beeching!, it has remained fresh.

Here is an all-cast clip from the show.



I intend to purchase series 3 and 4 on DVD to complete the collection that I have already started. I will do so now in memory of Donald Hewlett.

My Blogging Mentor - RIP Andrew Reeves

I was on the train on my way to Swansea on Friday morning when I heard the news via Facebook. At first, I thought that I'd got my wires crossed and that there must be two Andrew Reeves because the truth of the situation was so incredulous that it surely couldn't be true.

My Blogging Mentor -
Andrew Reeves

But unfortunately, it is and his position within the party was such that it merited this BBC News article on this sad news. To die aged just 43 of a heart attack and just months after his civil partnership with Roger is just heartbreaking.

Like Anders Hanson said of Andrew in his blog, it would usually only be at Liberal Democrat conferences that I would see him and though I didn't know him that well, he was nevertheless someone who I looked up to in the party.

The outpouring of grief on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook demonstrates just how popular and well liked Andrew was. Through his many years of work for the party in England to his life in his current role as Director of Campaigns for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, he engendered loyalty from those who knew him.

Andrew Reeves Running Blog
My particular connection with Andrew was via this very thing that I'm doing now - blogging.

For years I poured gentle ridicule on bloggers but I must admit that since I fully embraced the medium back in September. I have enjoyed it greatly.

Throughout that time, there are certain bloggers and blogs that I have followed more than others. One of those was Andrew Reeves' Running Blog. It always mixed well his interest in politics with all of his other life passions. What I particularly liked was how he had so fully embraced his adopted city's Ice Hockey team. I'm a Cardiff Devils fan on the quiet and despite the fact that the Edinburgh Capitals languished at the bottom of the Elite League, Andrew still supported them avidly and would report back their progress to us on his blog.

The fact that there was clearly more to him than just the politics endeared me to him. In my blogging, I have also tried to demonstrate my many and various passions in a readable and user-friendly way in the same manner as Andrew successively did.

As well as enjoying Andrew's blog and his style of writing, he was also of much support to me when I began blogging properly back in September. For a relative newbie to blogging, I had many technical questions that needed answering and I knew that I could always send Andrew a message on Facebook and he would helpfully reply and encourage my progress. He was all to happy to offer support and it was greatly appreciated. I also copied some of the trademarks that he had on his blog. For example, his was the only blog that I have seen which had a 'Map Counter' on the front page, showing readers how many people have visited the site from different countries from around the world. As a geographic geek on the side, I thought this was brilliant and on asking him where I had to go to download this application, he told me and the same counter now sits on my blog.

So Andrew was a great help to me and in many regards, he was my blogging mentor. I would visit his blog on most days and everything he said always came across in a balanced, reasoned, belieavable and passionate manner.

Everyone who knew him knows that we are all at a loss without him. His sudden death is a great shock to us all and I personally, still can't quite believe and comprehend it. Looking back on his blog, it was less than 48 hours before he was cruely taken away from us that he was blogging about the E-Coli outbreak in Europe and the need to ban the import of cucumbers from Spain as a result.

Now, he's gone and his blog will not be updated from that final entry. It is just mind-bogingly difficult to think that someone with such a zest for life, could be taken away from us so suddenly and without warning.

To show my appreciation to Andrew, I have changed the header to my blog in his memory. His encouragement played a large part in my decision to blog seriously and the example he set with his is one that I have endeavoured to follow and will continue to do so in the future. This gesture will remind me of his support for as long as I continue to blog.

Rest in peace Andrew and thank you for being such a kind and genuine human being.

Tragedy at Pembroke Oil Refinery

The news this evening is that 2 people have been killed in an explosion caused by a collision at the Chevron oil refinery near Pembroke in west Wales.

Details are sketchy at present and it is not sure whether it was two petrol tankers that collided with one another or otherwise at 6.30pm this evening but in addition to the unconfirmed fatalities, it is said that one man has been flown by air ambulance to Morriston Hospital in Swansea with burns injuries.

The site, which can refine 220,000 barrels of crude oil a day into petrol and other products, first came on stream in 1964. The refinery was initially owned by the Regent Oil Company, a large domestic marketer of Trinidad-produced oils. Regent was fully acquired by Texaco in 1956. Today the refinery is owned and branded by the Chevron Corporation, as a result of their acquisition of Texaco. Chevron put the refinery up for sale in late 2009, and have agreed the sale for £750M to Valero Energy Corporation



Relatives of friends of mine work at the plant and indeed my father's brother, my Uncle Desmond worked at the plant for many many years when it was owned by Texaco before he retired in the late 1990s. He passed away in 1999 and his retirement present from his colleagues at the Texaco plant, a large wooden mantlepiece clock with an engraved plaque now takes pride of place in my living room here in Cardigan. So this has come as quite a shock as one who knows of the area extremely well.

Indeed, I blogged here back in September of my many Pembrokeshire haunts and as I said then, one of those is the eery village of Rhoscrowther which sits in the shadow of this giant of 20th century energy production. I actually passed by the refinery only last summer on a random day-trip tour of the county with Matt King who needed ingratiating in many of our fine castles. I asked him to indulge my need to visit the village which my parents told me as a child had been cleared in the 1960s in preparation for the coming of the new refinery. All that remains now of what was an old medieval village is it's church and a few old pre-fab houses. Standing above it all, is this huge refinery. You really have to go there to realise just how much it overwhelmes the visual senses.

Tonight, it and everyone connected with it is in a state of shock as what looks to have been an awful accident has resulted in fatal consquences. My thoughts are with those families who are associated with this 1,400 strong operation at this deeply distressful time.

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Post Script
The news this morning is that 4 people have been killed with Dyfed-Powys Police saying that the explosion was in a 730 cubic metre storage tank, where maintenance was being carried out.

It's a horrific industrial accident and my thoughts are with everyone involved with the plant.

Thank You for the Magic and that Smile. RIP Seve Ballesteros (1957-2011)

Waking up after a long post-election lie-in this morning, I found myself confronted with sad news.

No, not the defeat of the AV vote in the referendum because that was a pretty much a forgone conclusion. No, it was the sad, sad news that Severino Ballesteros has passed away at the age of 54 that filled me with immense sadness this morning.

RIP Seve
Seve Ballesteros was one of the most loved and charismatic golfers and indeed sportsmen, the world has ever known.

He died after a long and couragous fight against cancer and the great shock to me was the fact that I was under the impression that it was a fight he'd been winning of late - I hadn't expected this news.

The courage he showed in fighting the brain tumour with which he was diagnosed in 2008 was typical of a man who played his beloved sport with a swash-bucking style that endeared him to fans the world over.

Here he is speaking to the BBC in 2009 after undergoing successful surgery on the tumour.



He won 5 Majors - the British Open in 1979, 1984 and 1988 and became the first European to win the fabled Green Jacket at August in the US Masters in 1980 and again in 1983. He won a total of 87 titles in his career. He was also the World Number 1 in the rankings between 1986 and 1989.

But for me, as a young chick of 28, I do not remember him in this period when he was at his towering, individual best. No, I remember him in later years when he led the European Ryder Cup team with passion to famous victories over the Americans. In his Ryder Cup career, he played in 8 and won 20 points from 37 matches. For me, it was his captaining of the team to victory in 1997 at Valderrama that will live long in the memory.

A New Golf
Seve brought something new to golf. His daring and flamboyant attitude broke down the old golfing stereotypes. He was fearless and exciting to watch.

He did more for the European game of golf in moving it forward than any other when it reached a cross-roads in the 1970s. He brought it to greater prominence and proved to be an inspiration for his fellow Spanish compatriots and for up-and-coming sportsmen across the world.

Here is a prime example of Seve's brilliance. Who else could you imagine playing an improvised golf shot from off his knees?! An absolute legend.



BBC golf commentator Peter Alliss said of Seve:

"He was a fighter - feisty, skilful, cheeky and loveable.

"He had hair as black as raven's wing, a wonderful set of teeth and a lovely smile. When Seve was in a good mood the world was happy. I will always remember that smile".

Here is a prime case in Allis' point. Seve's birdie putt on the 18th at the 1984 British Open which set him up for his second Open championship victory.

Thank you for the memories and thank you for that wonderful, infectious smile.

RIP Seve Ballesteros

RIP 'Whispering' Ted Lowe - 'The Voice of Snooker' (1920-2011)

Do you believe in fate?

If not, then the sad news that the 'Voice of Snooker', 'Whispering' Ted Lowe passed away this morning at the age of 90 is an incredible coincidence.

For today sees the first session of the World Snooker Championship final being played between John Higgins and Judd Trump. How apt it is then, that the most famous name in snooker commentating history, passed away at this moment - at the climax to his sports' competitive year.

Lowe became prominent as the commentator for the popular BBC TV show Pot Black from 1969. He went on to become the 'voice of snooker' and led the commentary in many tournaments. He also commentated in what is generally regarded as snooker's greatest ever final, that between Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor in the 1985 World Snooker Championship.

Here is Lowe's commentary of the first ever televised century break by Joe Davis in 1962 followed by his famous commentary in the final stages of that epic encounter between Davis and Taylor in 1985, including his observations on that encounter, over 20 years later.





He was known for uttering the occasional on-air gaffe, similar to motor racing commentator Murray Walker. His most famous quote was probably "and for those of you who are watching in black and white, the pink is next to the green". He also once told viewers that Fred Davis, struggling to rest one leg on the edge of the table in order to reach a long shot, "is getting on a bit and is having trouble getting his leg over".

Lowe retired after the 1996 World Snooker final, although he briefly joined in the commentary for the 2005 World Championship final between Matthew Stevens and Shaun Murphy.

His famously measured, but quietly dramatic style with his husky, hushed tones came about by accident. As he said in a BBC interview in 2007,  "I was scared to death commentating on Joe Davis, who was a God to me. Of course, sitting in the crowd I was terrified they would hear what I had to say, so I started whispering. The producer loved it."

RIP Ted

Cwwwwying with Laughter - A Tribute to John Sullivan (1946-2011)

I've been shocked tonight to hear of the death of John Sullivan, the comic creator of Only Fools and Horses.

John was only 64 and has died after spending six weeks in intensive care battling viral pneumonia.

John wrote many stand-out sitcoms over the years including Citizen Smith and Just Good Friends but it will be his creation of that wonderful, loveable rogue Del Boy and his Trotter family for which he will quite rightly be fondly remembered the most.

Only Fools & Horses
I'm a big OFAH fan. Indeed, apart from the last 3 installments, I have every single episode on VHS up to when they became millionnaires in 1996.

It was the warmth of the writing and of the characters that made me and millions alongside, love this sitcom so much.

John Sullivan

Indeed, ironically, only last night in the Lib Dem office in Aberystwyth after a day of campaigning, I ended up showing a number of those there with me a clip of a wonderful episode from this giant of British comedy. 

There had been a mention of K.D.Lang during the evening and that got me thinking about Roy Orbison. So I found on my laptop a youtube clip of their 'Crying' duet together from the 1980s which I adore. Our agent Mike Woods then reminded me of the episode of OFAH when John Sullivan found a comic twist to this song of the day. I couldn't but resist finding it and watching it for the first time in many years as it always went down as one of the funniest moments in this comedy's long and proud history. I watched it last night with Mike and with others who had not seen it before.

Little was I to know that the comic genius who had written that wonderful moment and many others with the Trotters, was seeing his life draw prematurely to a close.

Sir David Jason said today on the sad news: "We have lost our country's greatest comedy writer but he leaves us a great legacy, the gift of laughter.

So, my tribute to John Sullivan must be that clip from episode 3 (Stage Fright) of series 7 that I watched only last night. It literally left me Cwwwwying with laughter and for that wonderful immortal gift, I give John my sincere thanks.

RIP John Sullivan

David Alexander - Wales' Other Tom Jones

I happened to be surfing youtube recently and fell upon videos for David Alexander.

David who you may ask? Well if you don't know him, he's the Welsh Tom Jones that we would've heard a lot more of had Tom Jones himself not beaten him to it.

He was born in Blackwood in south Wales and made his name on the social club circuit and worked as an entertainer in Pontins. He was of the same age as Tom Jones and though he made his name in the 1970s, he never managed the same level of success as his more famous Welsh compatriot and never quite broke out of the cabaret scene.

He died of a heart attack in 1995 at the age of just 56.

How do I know of him? Because as a child, he was one of the voices I listened to endlessly due to my father's taste in music. We'd always have a cassette playing on our many journeys and it more often that not was the strong Welsh sound of David Alexander that I would hear. It wasn't long before the music that my father enjoyed listening too become the music that I enjoyed listening too as well. We had a few David Alexander tapes and though most of the songs on those tapes were famous covers of songs sang by others, they were all for me, 'David Alexander's music'. I know so many of his songs word perfect all these years later. Mind you, it does help that I kept those old tapes of Dad's after he died and will every so often have a fond reminscent listen to them.

His most famous song was 'If I Could See The Rhonnda One More Time' - it's a moving song which I have always adored. I suppose it's a Welsh thing. His voice has that Tom Jones quality but yet it's distinctively David for me.



But as I say, he covered others.

Here's one of my favourites which I'd blasted out on many a car journey across the UK as a child.

It may have been sang by Del Shannon originally but for me 'The Answer to Everything' will forever be a song sang by David Alexander...



Here's another. Again, it isn't a Bette Midler song for me, but a hit from the unsung legend that was David Alexander. 'The Wind Beneath My Wings'...



But his lyrics which most moved me as a Welsh child were 'I never again will go down underground' from Rita MacNeil's evocative and moving 'Working Man'.



Because he died so young, and because he never struck the big-time in the conventional sense, there isn't as much of a back-catalogue of his for us to watch.

But what a voice.

I rememer my father telling me at the time of his death that he had died suddenly. I think I recall seeing it on the TV. It was a surprise because he was so young and because I was a fan. I was 12 or 13 at the time and I can recall being saddened at the news.

So this is my little tribute to David for all those happy childhood travelling memories and to my also departed and missed Dad for introducing me to his music in the first place.

A Musical Tribute to John Barry OBE (1933-2011)

It was with great sadness that I heard today of the death from a heart attack, of composer John Barry at the age of 77.

For me, 'Mr James Bond' is right up there with the 20th century's best when it comes to musical compositions.

He won 5 Oscars and a BAFTA Fellowship and was awarded the OBE in 1999.

Here are just a few of his finest compositions...

RIP John Barry

Brian Hanrahan - 1949-2010

Brian Hanrahan, one of the most insightful of BBC journalists, has sadly passed away at the age of 61.

He covered, with his carefully crafted words, some of the major world events of the past 30 years. He was well respected by his peers and will be missed by those of us who have much respect for journalists of substance.

It is ironic that just a week after Britain's Harrier Jets were de-commissioned, the man who famously 'counted them out and counted them back in' during the Falklands War, has passed away.

To get around Ministry of Defence restrictions, he cleverly stated: "I'm not allowed to say how many planes joined the raid, but I counted them all out and I counted them all back - their piolots were unhurt, cheerful and jubilant".

For me personally, because of my tender age I suppose, I mostly associate him with the fall of the Berlin Wall. Those glasses and that calm delivery whilst hysteria and delirium was breaking out all around him will forever stay with me.

There's nothing better than excellent journalism which becomes as much a part of the story as the story itself. It isn't a matter of saying too much but a matter of knowing what to say, when to say it and when to shut up. The BBC have got the best reputation for this in my opinion and Brian Hanrahan epitomised that excellence.

As has just been reported on the BBC News, he was "A very decent man who will be much missed".

RIP Brian Hanrahan - 1949-2010

A Yellow Submarine Tribute to John Lennon - All You Need Is Love

Cardigan Will Remember Them

I stood, as always at 11am this morning at Cardigan's Cenotaph, in memory of the those that have given their lives for mine.

I am a very enthusiastic member of the Royal British Legion. I'm a paid-up member and have been selling poppies both last year and this, to help raise funds for their poppy appeal.

Cardigan Remembers

Cardigan does Remembrance Week particularly well I feel.

We have a brief ceremony at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month each year at the Cenotaph. Today, despite the blustery conditions, I joined fellow Town Council colleagues and the Mayor Cllr Mair Morris, as well as pupils from the primary and secondary schools for that ceremony.

Then this coming Sunday, we shall have the main Remembrance Sunday service. Again, Cardigan does it well. Ours is an open-air ceremony. It does leave us open to the elements but it makes it feel more real than one which is cossetted by four walls.

This coming Sunday, we shall as a Town Council, march from the Guildhall to the Cenotaph and will be welcomed by a good sized crowd as we lead a full service in memory of the fallen and those who have fought in battle.

Remembering Lance Sgt Dave Greenhalgh
I have a much greater respect and understanding for our local traditions of remembrance after my Mayoral year last year.

Having played a part in the ceremony now for 6 years, suddenly, it was little old me that was leading the procession and the town in remembrance both on the 11th and on the Sunday last November as the Mayor of Cardigan (and not forgetting Anzac Day in April). It was a great responsibility to lay that first wreath and incredibly humbling.

It all became a lot more personal this February when the town and locality was shocked to hear of the death of local boy Dave Greenhalgh in Afghanistan. His family ran the Castle Cafe in town and he was a well known and popular local character. I did not know him personally but I count his brother Steve as a good friend and I know his father and step-mother well also.

Dave was flown back to Wootten Bassett and a mini-bus of friends and family went down to welcome him home. I felt a responsibility to attend on behalf of the town and to show my solidarity with those who were making the trip.

It was a wet, miserbale day and very very emotional. Seeing not just Dave but also another half a dozen return increased the emotion. All these different families and communities of friends had descended on this small, sleepy town on this one day. It was a raw experience and there's nothing more heart-breaking than witnessing grown men cry - many of whom did on that day.

We also suffered the injury to another of our own, Private Stephen Owen. He suffered serious injuries only a week after Dave was killed on active service.

It was a double blow to Cardigan, but thankfully for Stephen and his family, he survived.

An Act of Remembrance - Selling Poppies

So this year, we have even more reason to remember in Cardigan than normal.

That's why I've re-doubled my personal efforts to sell more poppies than I sold last year. It's a cathartic, becalming experience. Just standing there, watching the world go by and talking to the many who stop to chat and buy a poppy is great. In fact, I've not long got back in from selling poppies this afternoon at Tescos.

As I sell poppies this year and stand in memory of those who have gone before, I particularly remember the additional lives that have been touched by war over the past 12 months. For us here in Cardigan, that particularly means the family and friends of Private Stephen Owen.

Above all, I particularly remember Sgt Dave Greenhalgh.

We will remember them - Cardigan always does.

RIP Richard Livsey - A liberal giant

I'm feeling pretty low this evening.

It has just been announced by the BBC that Lord Richard Livsey of Talgarth has passed away peacefully, aged 75.

Its come as a complete shock. Only 2 months ago I was having a drink with Richard, his successor as MP for Brecon & Radnor, Roger Williams and Mark Williams on the Terrace of the House of Commons with my mother on our visit to London to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party. Richard was on such great form and as ever, just great company.

A Liberal Giant
A true champion of rural Wales, Richard was an MP between 1985 after his famous by-election win and 1992 and again from 1997-2001 when he retired and went to the Lords. He was Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats on 2 occasions during this period and in 1997 he was at the forefront of the campaign for a 'Yes' vote in the referendum for an Assembly for Wales.

A Real Gentleman
But what I will always remember of Richard, as I became an active member of the Welsh party just after he retired from the Commons, was of a lovely gentleman who was liked by everyone who knew him. His popularity spread across party political lines because he was a genuine human being.

You could not, not like Richard Livsey. He was very simply, a gentle giant and a 'good' person.

A Liberal Loss
It so happens that Richard has left us on the eve of our Federal Conference in Liverpool. I was looking forward to going and seeing him again and  though I will indeed enjoy the week, it won't be the same. I knew Richard reasonably well as he was a good friend to us in Ceredigion, but certainly not as well as many of my older colleagues. I'm going to miss him - those who knew him better are really going to feel his loss. Conference will be that bit sadder without him.

We've lost one of the good guys today.

RIP Richard Livsey