Introduction My father, Terence James Versey—known to most as Terry or, as I’ll refer to him here, TV—was born on 30th September 1947, the first child of Francis and Mary Versey, better known as Jimmy and Molly. Over the next five years, TV was joined by his brothers, Paul and Chris, and together they were raised in the… Read More »
Date: March 4th, 2022Location: Ipswich, SuffolkOccasion: Saying farewell to a mate — and unexpectedly appearing in a movie. I headed into Ipswich on a cool Friday in early March 2022 for what was supposed to be a standard send-off for my good friend Watty, who was preparing to relocate to Dubai. Our meeting point was The Plough, a… Read More »
Date: Saturday 15th FebruaryVenue: Felixstowe Rugby ClubOccasion: VP (Vice Presidents’) DinnerGuests: Players past and present, club supporters, sponsors, and the wonderfully mad world of grassroots rugby. When the invite to attend Felixstowe Rugby Club’s legendary VP Dinner arrived, I didn’t hesitate. Having recently hosted club chairman Rob Brewster on my radio show — where we chatted about all… Read More »
Another gig. Another London stopover. And yes—another rail replacement service. This time Neil played chauffeur, driving us to Shenfield where he expertly snagged a driveway parking spot. From there, we jumped on a train bound for Brixton, with a layover at a Peckham Travelodge via the Elizabeth Line to Whitechapel and an overground hop. The hotel just so… Read More »
This one wasn’t in the 2025 gig diary. But when Jimmy dropped me a message less than a week before showtime asking, “Fancy Deacon Blue in Cambridge?”—I couldn’t resist. With tickets secured and a pint or two behind us, we set off on what turned out to be a night of memorable music, wayward navigation, and a gentle… Read More »
Back to The Apex for the second time in four days, this time with my sister, Tamara—and it was all about pop royalty. Jason Donovan, the Australian actor-turned-singer who defined late 80s pop for many of us, returned to the UK stage in style, proving that charm, energy and a knack for showmanship don’t fade with time. Pop,… Read More »
A new year, a new venue, and a new format of gig. On this occasion, Hammy and I headed to The Apex in Bury St Edmunds to catch John Power’s one-man show, Cast, The La’s and Me. A first visit to The Apex, and it certainly impressed—modern, well-equipped, and with excellent sound quality throughout. A Journey Through Liverpool… Read More »
What is punk? It’s more than just music—it’s a movement. Born in the 1970s, punk was a gritty, snarling backlash against the establishment, a DIY rebellion that spat in the face of conformity. So when a show comes along aiming to celebrate that ethos, you’d hope it stays true to those roots. Ironically, Punk Off didn’t quite get… Read More »
The first gig of the year and what a way to kick it off. Neil, Hammy and I made a Friday pilgrimage to the capital, complete with a hearty pre-show dinner at The Argyll Arms and some pre-gig anticipation. Destination: the legendary 100 Club for a night of 2-Tone nostalgia. The Venue: A London Institution For those unfamiliar,… Read More »
As 2024 draws to a close, I’ve taken my usual look back at what I’ve read over the past year. Things started well, but by October I’d hit a reading block—managing just one book in the last 10 weeks. That dip cost me dearly in the stats department: I read 38 fewer books than in 2023. That said,… Read More »