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ruddlescat
Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester
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Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 11:37 am Post subject: Johnny Pearson |
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I was saddened to hear about the death of Johnny Pearson this morning apparently at the age of 85
I'm sure we all recall the early days when he used to appear with his orchestra on Top of the Pops when the needle time agreement with the Musicians Union seriously restricted live performances by chart acts
He also went on to compose many of the great soundtracks and music we are all so familiar with on TV series in the sixties and seventies and until today I never knew that he also wrote the very familiar theme music for News at Ten on ITV
Whilst often he provided a supporting role for the great stars of his day he was a superb orchestrator performer and composer in his own right and I'm sure he will be sadly missed by all true music fans _________________ Are you ready for a Ruddles? |
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iwarburton
Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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Happy memories of pieces like Cast Your Fate to the Wind and Sleepy Shores. Did he also write the All Creatures Great and Small theme?
Ian. |
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ruddlescat
Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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I believe he did Ian _________________ Are you ready for a Ruddles? |
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ColinB Guest
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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iwarburton wrote: | Happy memories of pieces like Cast Your Fate to the Wind and Sleepy Shores. Did he also write the All Creatures Great and Small theme? |
Interestingly, the "Creatures" themes were originally created simply as "Film and TV Library Music" which was available on record to film and TV producers who would then select tracks for use in their productions and pay MCPS for its use.
I have an LP disc on either De Wolfe or Chappell music somewhere with the full suite of tracks that were eventually used in All Creatures Great and Small. It's fascinating to hear, largely because it contains a whole range of different cuts - such as the full theme, 60 sec cut (for TV and radio commercials), 30 sec cuts, 10 second Ad Bumpers, etc., as well as different variations on the theme - such as full ensemble, piano only, recurring "bed" theme, etc etc.
And, yes, the whole set was credited to Johnny Pearson. Usually, musicians would get a one-off union payment but I guess Johnny Pearson also got writer and arranger's royalties too. |
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iwarburton
Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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Ruddlescat, you may be interested to know that many years ago I lived at Helsby and then Chester. Though my heart is now firmly in Northumberland, I still love visiting the Chester area from time to time.
Ian. |
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ruddlescat
Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:25 pm Post subject: |
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That's interesting Ian
I met my former wife in the Bears Paw in Frodsham many years ago and my former mother in law,sadly now departed, used to live in Helsby quite near to Helsby Grammar School
I live on the Wales side of Chester but can be in the city centre in about ten minutes and it is a beautiful city but I guess it's the usual thing of not always fully appreciating what's on the doorstep
As I'm sure you know it gets crammed full of tourists in the summer but at least they keep the local economy going _________________ Are you ready for a Ruddles? |
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ColinB Guest
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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The first time I visited Chester was in 1965 when we visited my mum's sister and her family who lived in what used to be Cellar Street to the north of the high street and near the canal. The whole area was redeveloped and after compulsory purchase of the property they moved out to Mold.
I loved Chester; we used to go boating down on the Dee because my aunt and uncle's lodger used to manage them, so we got use of them free! |
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ruddlescat
Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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Ah yes Colin the boat trips along the Dee are still superb
Back in the eighties I used to get entertained on summer evening boat trips down the Dee by various banks and building societies I used to do business with including free champagne and as I then lived in Westminster Park which was within walking distance of the city centre I didn't have to worry about driving
The Lady Diana still does similar trips for tourists but of course they have to shell out rather more than I did
Talking about Mold I also lived there for three years in a place called Bryn-y-Baal which apparently roughly translates into English as 'Hill of Stone' and I only had to attempt gardening to realise how it got its name _________________ Are you ready for a Ruddles? |
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Schizoidman
Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:16 pm Post subject: |
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I like the Chester area a lot. Last time I was there was when my Cheshire born mother was very ill five years ago and I was taking her around to see her beloved Wirral / North Wales. She died a few months later so it was worth it.
Ruddles: is it true that there is a clock in Chester with three operating sides to the north, east and south. The one looking west towards Wales is blank!? |
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ruddlescat
Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:40 pm Post subject: |
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Schiz, that's a very good question and I suppose you're hoping I'll have an equally good answer
I have heard the same comment before and I'm not sure where the idea originated but in actual fact the Eastgate clock tower has a clock face on all four elevations
It is, of course, possible that at some time in the past, perhaps when your mother was younger for some reason one of the faces could have been removed for restoration or perhaps for some other reason during the war
but as of yesterday morning it definitely had all four faces visible so my son tells me
Apparently it is the second most photographed clock in Britain after Big Ben _________________ Are you ready for a Ruddles? |
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ColinB Guest
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:54 am Post subject: |
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ruddlescat wrote: | Apparently it is the second most photographed clock in Britain after Big Ben |
Er, "Big Ben" is actually the name of the bell that is mounted in St. Stephen's Tower, Rudders!!! |
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ruddlescat
Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:14 am Post subject: |
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Do you know when I wrote my post about The Chester Clock I just knew someone would make the point about Big Ben being the bell rather than the clock
I was going to mention it but then the guy arrived from the curry takeaway place so I left it and then forgot to go back to it
Unfortunate but I couldn't let the situation ruin an excellent curry
Only £3 95 for a decent sized portion of beef curry delivered and with free pappadoms _________________ Are you ready for a Ruddles? |
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ColinB Guest
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 11:45 am Post subject: |
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ruddlescat wrote: | Unfortunate but I couldn't let the situation ruin an excellent curry
Only £3 95 for a decent sized portion of beef curry delivered and with free pappadoms |
Damned right!!!
Was there a BOGOF deal in there somewhere? |
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ruddlescat
Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 12:03 pm Post subject: |
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In fairness Colin I had to spend over £5 to get free delivery so my elder son had a very tasty Char Sui - I think that was about £4 50 _________________ Are you ready for a Ruddles? |
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ColinB Guest
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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ruddlescat wrote: | In fairness Colin I had to spend over £5 to get free delivery so my elder son had a very tasty Char Sui - I think that was about £4 50 |
Char Sui? That sounds Chinese to me! I've never seen that on yer average Indian menu. |
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ruddlescat
Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 12:29 pm Post subject: |
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They do both Indian and Chinese Colin, and I think possibly some Thai dishes
My next door but one neighbour is Thai and she recommended the place so I imagine it's quite likely _________________ Are you ready for a Ruddles? |
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