MARCHING TO THE BEAT OF HIS DRUM
How do you begin to sum up a character like Tommy Thomas – he was like a diamond with many facets each one sparkling with talent, musician, writer, artist, raconteur. I first met Tommy in the studios of Ulster Television when he was a regular on Billy White’s show The White Line, he was on drums, Gay McIntyre alto sax and clarinet, Billy McAlpine on double base and Billy on piano. This was a late night easy listening programme very far away from the show band legend Tommy was to become. I was the production assistant on those programmes and during rehearsals we’d listen to the banter between the boys, their latest gig, news of their musical friends and what they were up to.
This is were I was first introduced to the droll wit and wisdom of Tommy Thomas. Our next meeting proper was in 1982 when he wrote and starred in Up Ulster a comedy revue, topical sketches and songs that brought the house down at the Arts Theatre. A cast of three, bad boys, bovver boys, Justin Duff, George Jones and Tommy the tall lanky schoolboy. His songs lived on as Clubsound, the famous showband he set up with George Jones, played them many times and audiences roared with laughter at Tonga L.O.L, Prisioner’s Plea, Belfast Belfast and Orange Lil.
Bryan Glynn Thomas born in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales. Named Tom as there were seven Bryans in his gang and when he got into a difficult situation he became a fluent Welsh speaker. At school his free time was spent playing the working mens clubs and so began his talent in writing and presenting topical material in the form of monologues and sketches. He was 13 years old. About the same time he got his first set of drums and immediately formed a band. “We played in carnivals and street jazz concerts during the summer holidays and rehearsed all winter. Then, when I was 15 I heard Peter Sellers and the Goons and that set me off on the road to comedy.”
His years in the army took him round the world and provided lots of ammunition for comedy, the Sargent Major who yelled at him on his first day in a new regiment: “Hey you, come ‘ear, move move move, we do not stroll in the Brigade of Guards” and took him to the parade ground and had him run for 20 minute on the spot. I’ve omitted Tommy more colourful account of this episode.“One night at a dance a wee girl came up to the band to request ‘Mulshie Cup’ for her friend. We couldn’t work out what song she meant. She repeated and repeated it exasperated at our stupidity. Only after five minutes of intense speculation we realised that she wanted Elvis Presley’s I’m All Shook Up. It just proves it’s not what you way it’s the way that you say it!”
He played with style and every word he spoke or wrote was well honed. His regular blogs on Facebook were always worth tuning into, “swishing and scraping on the sneer drum and brushes,” sometimes singing along with the background track and sometimes telling wonderful personal stories or specially written vignettes. In one he breezes into shot dishevelled, a drunken toff in his dinner suit, white tie under one ear. He talks of his night in the Ritz cocktail bar, how he met Cynthia who was standing on top of the piano, lovely legs, and the piano chappy playing. “It was lovely,” says our stage door Johnny, “I may be right I may be wrong but I’m perfectly willing to share when she turned and looked at me a nightingale sang in Barkley square.” He showed his emotion when he read a poem written by his son Gareth Thomas. It was about Tommy’s home town in North Wales, about the demise of the slate quarries where his grandfather, father and uncles all worked. He finished by playing Myfanwy sung by the Cor Meibion male voice choir. He wasn’t the only one with tears in their eyes. As one friend said to me, comics were good for a laugh but Tommy was good for a conversation. He combined wit and wisdom, wrote plays and songs with meaning and it was music all the way. His book which he sent to me a couple of months ago reflects his life and his character. A Touch Of The Memories is a lasting proof that this man was special. His most recent Facebook musings from his ‘hidyhole’ in his Harmony Hill home, what better address for this man, he’d sign off with a smile and a topical reference: “Take care, pandemically yours, Tom”
With sympathies and thoughts of friendship to his wife Enid, Gareth and the entire family.
PACKING A PUNCH FOR IRELAND
Bravo Katie Taylor. Exciting boxing in the best of spirits, exhausting even to listen too and wasn’t Steve Bunch in the best of form in his coverage. Katie from Bray remains unbeaten lightweight world champion, congratulations.
STILL TIME
Something for everyone at Antrim Castle Gardens and plenty of surprises to keep young visitors amused.
Even in the garden, danger lurks putting one creature at risk – the invaluable and busy bee. As we suddenly see weeds spring up and take over it’s easy to make a trip to the nearest garden centre or supermarket and invest in a weedkiller, the alternative is back breaking but much kinder to wildlife. Take the honey bee for example. As we move from the yellows of April onto the purples and blues of May, the dandelions will hang around giving food for these amazing little creatures. In spring this flower – not a weed – is the bees first food so please, don’t spray them because this plant continues to be important until later in June when flowers and fruit trees are fully in bloom. Cotoneaster is the food of chose in our garden and it’s a joy to see hundreds of bees rummage around amongst the crimson flowers gathering pollen, a literal hive for the honey bee. The red berries of autumn provide a feast for blackbirds so a good shrub to have in the garden.
WEED FREE ZONE
There won’t be many weeds around Antrim Castle Gardens even. on this the final day of Garden Show Ireland with experts on hand to help with queries, live jazz, stilt walkers, crazy golf and dog shows and, of course, all that’s best in the world of horticultural.
On arrival you will be greeted by the residents of Scarecrow Avenue created by local primary school children using a combination of re-cycled or borrowed materials. Schools have also been encouraged to create miniature gardens in anything from a bucket to an old boot to attract and support birds, bees and butterflies, a good challenge for all the family this coming weekend,
CHECK THE TIME
Perhaps the highlight of the festival is The Clockwork Garden being built by Diarmuid Gavin, billed as the renowned ‘celebrity gardener’ which doesn’t do justice to this hard working and imaginative man.
His creation is a permanent celebration of the Platinum Jubilee, the first such residency in any garden in the UK and visitors can watch it being built and hear Diarmuid talk about the project. The gardens and the clock will be open to visitors even after today.
There is mystery to be uncovered as the inventor explains: “Every 15 minutes the garden actually comes to life and engages in a short performance which certainly surprises spectators and creates a few smiles! It has been my dream to bring it home to where it belongs and Antrim Castle Gardens is that place.”
Diarmuid engaged students from the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise to help him build the project, as he says these young people are the next generation of horticulturalists and this experience will encourage them and feed their enthusiasm.
It’s a real day out and visitors are advised to bring a basket as there will be much to tempt the taste buds as well as the gardener. In the Food NI Food Pavilion chefs demonstrate with samples available from leading artisan food producers.
A courtesy shuttle bus will operate from The Junction between 10.15am and 6.15pm each day and there’ll be a plant and produce creche available for visitors who want to store their garden purchases.
Tickets for Garden Show Ireland cost £10 and can be purchased online at gardenshowireland.com. Children under 16 go free.
Since lockdown gardens have become more important. There are lanes and alleyways which have been taken over by residents, gone are the unsightly piles of rubbish and overgrown paths to be replaced by colourful hanging baskets, benches and artwork. Which brings us to the NI Amenity Council Best Kept Awards. The Council are inviting nominations and entries for the Best Kept Village, Town and City awards.
During the pandemic home gardening blossomed around the world with nurseries and garden centres reporting an increase in plant sales.
As Doreen Muskett, president of the NIAC, says, if one good thing has come out of lockdown it’s gardening.
“Gardening has became one of the heroes of the crisis. It is heart-warming to learn that taking time in the garden helped so many and so many people were able to gain a sense of peace and well-being through nature and our amazing community champions continued to make their areas better places to live and work throughout this tough time.”
She added: “We’re hoping to see this new found love of gardening translate into lots of entries from people and communities who have experienced all the positive benefits of getting into nature and growing flowers, fruit and vegetables for the first time.”
This year will also see the Best Kept Awards join with Tidy Towns in the South of Ireland for the 25th Year, to celebrate ‘Ireland’s Best Kept Town’. Joint celebrations will be held at Titanic Hotel Belfast in June.
More information www.bestkeptawardsni.com or phone NI Amenity Council on 028 9040 3681.
BEE AWARE
Finally back to bees. If you find one in the house or in the garden looking sluggish or you might even think dead, it’s possibly just resting after a busy day and carrying a heavy load of pollen. Either put it gently on a flower, preferably a dandelion, to get its breath back or mix 50/50 white (not brown) sugar and water to give it an energy boost. A drop or two on a surface in a shady place and it will thank you by eventually flying off to join its family and the important job of fertilisation.
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
I know it’s inconvenient to have a full bin and no collection just one of the consequences of the current strike action but I also know from experience that striking is the last resort when you can’t get through to those in charge. So I am with the council workers and their demands for a reasonable wage. I went to the council dump on Friday with plastic milk containers and piles of newspapers and I was received most politely and guided to the correct areas, my bags were even taken from me and put in the right container. It’s more difficult for those relying on transport. It is a terrible thing when you think of the money haemorrhaging out of offices in Stormont, the unnecessary wastage on over inflated salaries, the appalling amounts spent on consultants and yet the men and women who serve us best can’t afford to make ends meet. There’s something rotten in the state of Denmark.
FINALLY. I AM HAVING GREAT TROUBLE WITH MY BLOG PAGE. SOMEHOW I HAVE MANAGED TO CREATE TWO PAGES – ONE IS NOW DEFUNCT AND I HOPE THE SECOND IS DOING THE NECESSARY AND POSTING PROPERLY. HOWEVER IT ALSO MEANS THAT I AM NOT RECEIVING ANY RESPONSES FROM YOU DEAR READERS. FORGIVE ME IF YOU INDEED GET TO READ THIS BLOG AND FORGIVE IF I DON’T ACKNOWLEDGE. I’M HOPING TO GET THIS RECTIFIED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
UKRAINE. FOREVER IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS
