Dirk Tiggler

Hi John, yes this is awful news. Is the event you talk about held at the 'hen and chickens' at Oldbury? If so I remember attending with Esher that night. Ade

So sad. Only seen Esher twice in the last 6 months but he was so ill. Esher was the first serious record collector i knew and he did have a great collection that he eventually parted with. He came to my house on one occasion and told me how his collecting started... His older sister went with local DJ 'Barmy Barry' who had based his act to be as controversial as Jimmy Saville's was back in the day. I never saw him but apparently he was a showman on the decks doing crazy things. When 'BBs' fame spread in the west and north midlands, record companies sent him tons of promotional records. However, if they didn't fit in with his show he passed them onto Esher's sister who in turn passed them to Esher. Esher said it wasn't until he was older and got into soul music that he truly realised what he had been given. I think this was the catalyst to Esher becoming a top collector. Certainly a big loss and will be greatly missed - Ade

The new cross country season got underway this week end. This is our team we fielded at Leamington, most of us old enough better.. Ade

Some lovely pieces of work mentioned. My additions would be the Isley Brothers 'giving it back' and 3+3 Ade

This is one of twelve bottles of 4.5% pale ale that my daughter gave me for my 60th a couple of weeks ago. It's brewed and bottled by Kinver Brewery. My daughter who graduated as an illustrator designed the labels from an old picture from when my two were both young. Ade

Took this picture of a Japanese Pitt Bull in a bar in Krabi, Thailand last night. The dog named Gaga is the most muscular dog I've seen in my life but she's blessed with a loving temperament. The bars owners are fabulous people so no surprise really. Ade

Yes scared to death for no good reason even struggle to watch them on TV. Where we live and run there are are a few Adders and a few years ago one of our lads got bitten when out on a run. Ade

Saw this little fella last night when walking in the hills in Kotor bay, Montenegro. So glad I didn't see snakes as I'd have freaked out. On the downside I've been bitten unrelentingly by mosquitoes. Must have 25 plus bites... Ade

Chairman of the Board! Just brilliant. Average White Band? Best live gig I've ever seen in my life, Birmingham Bingley Hall 1974, they were just awesome.

One of the best ever. Loved him from when I was young adolescent to a grumpy old man. Lost a good Un. Ade

My wife who went to the Torch with friends in early 73 turned out to be the hero of the night because of knowing the records played from studying the titles from blues and soul mags. Not like the sophistication of today. Ade

Oh no this is so sad. Like most people, i only knew him from SS but made a point of reading his posts. Love to his family - Ade

First thought was ' I don't dance like that do I ?' Second thought was 'well how do I dance?' Truly never seen a recording of my feet close up when dancing... Out comes the video recorder and on goes a tune! The result? in truth average at best, certainly not for sharing! As my wife used to say when out at do's, 'you mix in OK dear' I used to take that as a vote of confidence! Ade

Can't help loving nostalgia and can't help yearning for those days! Great articles and record shots all done with a typewriter and a photocopier. Quality reports and stories. Ade