Is the pressure beginning to tell? ...

​​Many a bandleader over the years has manifested varying degrees of eccentricity, and the loyal staff of the Sunset Cafe Stompers have for some time time been observing increasing evidence in our Esteemed Leader of the demeanour of the classic 'absent-minded professor', perhaps due to the pressure of keeping the band going for three decades ...

For example, during his learned introductions to numbers in our recent programmes, he has begun to attach 'The' to the titles of songs not hitherto known to possess a Definite Article - like The Mabel's Dream, The Big Butter And Egg Man, and The Stockyard Strut; furthermore, he also seems to have mislaid his sense of propriety at times, and a recent 'sign-off' at the end of a rather sedate Church Concert went like this : "Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now time for our last number - Climax Rag - thank you for coming!" ...

Needless to say, that was an obvious cue for band hysteria, as was his magnificent, crowd-pleasing faux pas during our most recent regular visit to the Ropemakers in Bridport ... in the interval, he disappeared through the door marked Ladies and was not seen again for some time, finally emerging to find band members rolling around the floor, crying with laughter, and a packed pub giving him a standing ovation ...