Bernard Wrigley website/blog

2007-07-15T13:42:00.009+01:00

SOME OF THE LIVE DATES 2008

MAY 1 Thu WREXHAM Folk Club at Nag's Head enq: Goff: 01978 755478
MAY 11 Sun WAKEFIELD Concert at Red Shed enq: 01924 385000
MAY 17 Sat HUDDERSFIELD concert for FORGET ME NOT trust *SOLD OUT*
MAY 22 Thu GREGSON LANE village nr Preston enq: Graham 01254 853929

JUN 7 Sat HIGH LANE village Cheshire concert @ Con Club enq: Jackie 0161 487 1830
JUN 13 Fri MIDDLETON Manchester concert @ Masonic Club enq: Terry 0161 766 8505
JUN 21 Sat BEVERLEY Folk Festival enq: Chris 01377 217662 www.adastra-music.co.uk

JUL 5 Sat CLECKHEATON Folk Festival enq: Geoff 01924 404346 www.cleckheatonfolkfestival.org
JUL 9 Wed BLACKPOOL Folk Club @ The Clarence enq: Anne 01772 683027

AUG 28 Thu FLEETWOOD pre festival concert @ The North Euston Hotel www.fylde-folk-festival.com

SEP 4 Thu LYMM folk club @ Lymm Rugby Club WA13 0AT enq: Stewart 07919 270 916

2007-06-24T20:49:00.000+01:00

SELECTED LIVE DATES 2007

JUN 23 Sat ASHTON in MAKERFIELD concert @ Golf Club enq 01942 724050

JUL 01 Sun CHORLEY Folk Festival, details: Angie 01257 263678
JUL 16 Mon BARNSLEY Folk Club at the Shaw, David 01226 763228
JUL 19 Thu MANCHESTER Urbis Centre, Judge at Manchester Monologues: Marcus 0161 247 2197

SEP 07 Fri ORMSKIRK Civic Hall, enquiries 01695 424209
SEP 08 Sat MORECAMBE Platform (with OLDHAM TINKERS), enquiries 01524 582803
SEP 14 Fri SALFORD The Lowry (with OLDHAM TINKERS), enquiries 0870 787 5790 www.thelowry.com
SEP 22 Sat PRESTON concert at PENWORTHAM St Teresa's, David 01772 743523

2007-06-18T13:18:00.000+01:00

Bernard's Biography...

The singing and acting, which started together at the end of the sixties, still form equal parts of his career. He released the book of one verse poems Shorts For All Occasions in May 2006. October 2005 saw the release of God's Own County featuring nineteen songs from or about Lancashire. In 2004/5 he could be heard in the VOICES trailer for the BBC, acted in Heartbeat and Fat Friends, released a new CD of musical monologues called Amblethwaite 'Appenings and read another series of very silly customs on the Mark and Lard show for BBC Radio One. He ended 2003 by playing cousin Albert in the Xmas episode of The Royal and presenting at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in London, having released a new CD of his own monologues Monologology. 2002 saw a BBC Radio 1 Award for a previous CD Fairly Truthful Tales, the completion of the CD remastering of all the early LPs, and the Dick Whittington pantomime as Captain Codseye. Television appearances included both series of Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights (C4) where, as Dodgy Eric, he delivered a bucking bronco, then a phallic bouncy castle. 2001 included Steve Coogan's film The Parole Officer, together with his own programmes on BBC Radio Lancashire and a series of concerts with the Oldham Tinkers. He played in Victoria Wood's Xmas Special on 25 Dec, and earlier in 2000 he was the prisoner in a TV advert for Walls' Sausages, was murdered in Harbour Lights in May, and in June released his eleventh album Magnificent Monologues, a CD of all the most famous ones including The Lion and Albert & The Battle 0f Hastings - with piano accompaniment. In 1999 he was the Rev. Marvin Winstanley in Coronation Street, then to Norway for a lottery commercial. Guest spot on the Houghton Weavers' Xmas Tour ended the year, with two Xmas episodes of Dinnerladies.

He began by singing in folk clubs, and then became involved with documentaries produced at the new and dynamic Octagon theatre in Bolton. This carried on into plays, and then the Ken Campbell Roadshow, where the acting and singing combined. Here he wrote such gems as the Ballad of Knocking Nelly. From here, as well as singing all the while, he appeared in numerous Alan Bennett films, including Day Out, Afternoon Off, and Me, I'm afraid of Virginia Woolf. Then came a steady trail of appearances in tv programmes and adverts, including a prestigious Guinness TV campaign and a Royal Command Performance during Jubilee year.

Back to the Octagon in the 90s for Waiting for Godot with Mike Harding, and in Road, at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. TV appearances include Last of the Summer Wine, Coogan's Run, Asphalt in Terry Pratchett's Soul Music, and on film the union official in Brassed Off. 1997 saw him in a radio play, and in Emmerdale as Barry Clegg, the rocket building husband of Zak Dingle's girlfriend, Lisa. Then Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Southport, Cold Feet, Cops, and Northern Broadside's Passion Play. 1998 saw him playing The Limestone Cowboy at the Belgrade in Coventry.

Further details of Bernard's exploits can be read in the MEMOIRS section.

Whereas I handle the singing side myself, all enquiries regarding acting should be directed to:
Sharron Ashcroft Management,
Dean Clough,
Halifax,
HX5 3AX
Tel 01422 343949

2007-06-17T22:18:00.000+01:00

Using Paypal to purchase things from me...

It's quite easy to buy things with Paypal:

1.) Create an account at paypal.com
2.) Login to your account at paypal.com
3.) Click on "Send Money", then type items & quantity required in the notes
4.) Send payment in GBP to bjw AT bernardwrigley DOT com
5.) Your items will be sent to the address on your debit/credit card unless you instruct otherwise

It saves you writing a cheque and having to go to the postbox and it costs me about 50p instead of £1.50 for a typical online credit card transaction.

2007-06-17T22:12:00.000+01:00

THE INSTRUMENTS

When I asked for comments on the new site, Judi Derber emailed and requested a page about my instruments. Here it is!

I play mainly acoustic guitar and concertinas.

GUITARS etc:
I use a Fylde Magician, and have two identical models - one tuned as standard and one tuned to < D A D F# A D > an open D chord - sheer luxury! This came about when I started playing more and more songs in that tuning and didn't want to confront the audience with the hassle of endless retuning. I wanted to play songs in the order I decided, and not be swayed by whichever tuning the guitar was in. You can see the Magician and the rest of the range at

fyldeguitars.com

At present I use Elixer Polyweb strings in Light gauge (12 to 53 thou). They're great if you've got sweaty fingers because they take a lot longer to go dull than conventional strings.
When it comes to amplifying through a PA system I don't like transducer pickups because the sound isn't natural. It's usually too bright and doesn't sound like an acoustic guitar - more like an electro/acoustic. So, I either use an external mic such as a Shure SM57 / 58, or the fitted lapel mic inside the guitar.

I've also got a Telecaster and an Ibanez Jazz guitar playing through a Fender Vibro Champ amplifier, but I use them for recording, not playing at concerts. Same applies to the mandolin, a Gremlin model, but I sometimes take my Framus banjo on bookings. Nice to have different colours for the accompaniment.

CONCERTINAS:
I've got a Wheatstone tenor #34120 made in 1936, and a Wheatstone contra-bass #29699 built in 1923, both with the English fingering system. There are also the Anglo and the Duet systems and all three are radically different, although to the casual observer they seem to look similar. The English system has the same note playing whether the bellows are moving in or out (as in the Duet system) and crosses from the left side to the right side to play consecutive notes in a scale (unlike the other two).

The tenor 'tina has fewer notes at the top than the more common treble, but is extended below from C down to G. Coupled with a concertina's ability to play regardless of rhythm, this makes my box ideal for folk song accompaniment.
The bass concertina is unusual in that it has a one-way action. It plays notes as the bellows are closed together, but when they're pulled outwards then the instrument breathes (by using one-way pads underneath the bellows). Sounds odd, but I've played a two way action bass and didn't like it as much - I missed the rhythmic bounce of constantly filling the bellows.

An interesting Wheatstone I've got is the Mayfair. Looks odd with its formica sides, and it seems to have been an attempt in the 1950s to manufacture a low cost concertina. As well as the "kitchen unit" sides, the number of reeds was cut down to fifteen and arranged in three blocks of five per side. It didn't boost sales, though, and the company went under. It was resurrected in the 1970s when it was bought by Steve Dickinson, who still runs it.

2007-06-16T22:15:00.000+01:00

How to email me...

*NB* EMAIL ADDRESS IS NOW: bjw AT bernardwrigley DOT com
You have to replace the "AT" with "@"
replace the "DOT" with "." and delete the spaces

Sorry for the inconvenience - it's the only way to stop receiving 100s of spam letters every day.

2007-06-15T22:51:00.000+01:00

THE INSTRUMENTS

GUITARS etc:
I play mainly acoustic guitar and concertinas. I use a Fylde Magician, and have two identical models - one tuned as standard and one tuned to < D A D F# A D > an open D chord - sheer luxury! This came about when I started playing more and more songs in that tuning and didn't want to confront the audience with the hassle of endless retuning. I wanted to play songs in the order I decided, and not be swayed by whichever tuning the guitar was in. You can see the Magician and the rest of the range at

fyldeguitars.com

At present I use Elixer Polyweb strings in Light gauge (12 to 53 thou). They're great if you've got sweaty fingers because they take a lot longer to go dull than conventional strings.
When it comes to amplifying through a PA system I don't like transducer pickups because the sound isn't natural. It's usually too bright and doesn't sound like an acoustic guitar - more like an electro/acoustic. So, I either use an external mic such as a Shure SM57 / 58, or the fitted mic inside the guitar. It's a Tandy lapel mic - very cheap and very good.

I've also got a Telecaster and an Ibanez Jazz guitar playing through a Fender Vibro Champ amplifier, but I use them for recording, not playing at concerts. Same applies to the mandolin, a Gremlin model, but I sometimes take my Framus banjo on bookings. Nice to have different colours for the accompaniment.

CONCERTINAS:
I've got a Wheatstone treble #34120 made in 1936, and a Wheatstone contra-bass #29699 built in 1923, both with the English fingering system. There are also the Anglo and the Duet systems and all three are radically different, although to the casual observer they seem to look similar. The English system has the same note playing whether the bellows are moving in or out (as in the Duet system) and crosses from the left side to the right side to play consecutive notes in a scale (unlike the other two).

2007-06-15T12:34:00.001+01:00

Of interest...

If you think your website should be on the list below, email me the link because I've probably not seen it! - Here are some of my favourite places to visit on the internet:

TV, RADIO, & FILMS
smoothoperations.com - Music documentaries and series
whirligig-tv.co.uk - TV Nostalgia from the 50s
Masters Of Cinema - The definitive site for film lovers
Masters Of Cinema Series - The best DVD label in the UK (run by my son)
The Criterion Collection - The best DVD label in the USA

FOLK MUSIC and BEYOND
Real Music - a resource for live music clubs, folk clubs, concert venues and more
Hanky Park - Lancashire songs and humour at their best
The Child Ballads - The Child Ballads, A complete list
folking.com - Info from the Folk World
Roger Liptrot photos - Galleries/photos of Folk Performers
Michael Raven - Michael Raven's Catalogue of recordings
fyldeguitars.com - See the range of stunning acoustic guitars
mikeharding.co.uk - Mike Harding's website
houghtonweavers.com - The Houghton Weavers' website
oldhamtinkers.com - The Oldham Tinkers - The Lancashire Legends
harveyandrews.com - Harvey Andrews' website
patryan.org - Pat Ryan's website
anthonyjohnclarke.com - Anthony John Clarke - great singer / songwriter.
heartsofoak.net - Great singers from Devon, specializing in maritime songs.
tradmusic.com All about music, gigs, recordings, artistes and much more!
ampworldmusic.com Brian (Preston) Dewhurst's site: dynamic promotion of folk, roots & acoustic music worldwide.
scoldsbridle.co.uk Sue and Liz, from the Fylde - two great singers of trad and contemporary songs.
crackedflag.com Harmonies and songs from folk music through to the Beatles & Eagles. A guaranteed good night.
firesidefusiliers.co.uk A motley collection of 5, 6, 7, or even 8 blokes who love to sing!
http://www.myspace.com/matchstalkmen Brian & Michael - the original Matchstalk Men - and L.S. Lowry

FOLK CLUBS AND FESTIVALS
www.poyntonfolkfestival.com - Poynton festival every April
www.folkclub.org.uk - Westhoughton Folk Club
http://redshedbootlegged.bravehost.com - Concerts in Wakefield, Yorkshire
www.spirefolk.org.uk - Attic Folk Club Chesterfield
www.fman.freeserve.co.uk Davylamp Folk Club (Washington Arts Centre)

MONOLOGUES
Lancashire Born & Bred - Comedy Poems and Monologues.
toontoons.com - Gary Hogg's website
monologues.co.uk - Make 'em Laugh, Humorous Monologues & Poems
Mike's Monologues - Humorous Monologues in Lancashire Dialect
Graveyard - Graveyard Monologues
Salt Town Poets
Howling Dog - Created in Lancashire, the comic poems of Steve Morris
Raftery the Poet - Poet with a difference, as well as dual nationality - from Lancashire, now lives in Yorkshire
Poems For Kids & Krumblies - Poetic Memories of Northern Life

MISCELLANEOUS
www.abcounties.co.uk - The Association Of British Counties. Find out the true county for any town in Britain
www.forl.co.uk - Friends of Real Lancashire
Rupert Bear Annual covers - See the complete range of Rupert's Annual covers
After Dinner Speakers and Motivational Speakers - from the Now You're Talking Speaker Agency.

2007-06-14T13:02:00.002+01:00

Memoirs...

I thought I'd write down as many things as I could remember about the various TV, film, radio, theatre, and music I've done - before I forget!

My first recollection of acting was during a school production of "Macbeth." I was playing the porter, a rather coarse character, and when I realized I could actually belch as loudly as I wanted in front of the headmaster and other teachers - I did! About that same time I got interested in folk clubs. Initially, it was because of the close proximity of the performer. Where else can you ask about chords and finger styles when the performer is right in front of you? A schoolfriend, Dave Brooks, and I learnt guitar together, more or less teaching each other. We became resident at Bury folk club but had to stop in...

1968

CROMPTON'S MULE - Robin Pemberton-Billing asked us to supply and perform the musical content in this, the Octagon Theatre's first documentary.

NICE TIME - This was my first TV appearance. It was on Granada and hosted by Kenny Everett and Germaine Greer. They advertised for anyone who could play tunes on their teeth. Dave and I, along with eight others, played "Sailor's Hornpipe" on teeth and head.

DAVE & BERNARD at the railroad track: 1968

1969

BOLTON MASSACRE - Dave and I had returned to the Octagon and turned professional to do this, the theatre's second documentary, all about the civil war in Lancashire.

Dave & Bernard on the roof of the Octagon during "Bolton Massacre" run

GRANADA ROADSHOW - This was the first incarnation of a programme with this name. We sang in two episodes. One was filmed on a pier at Blackpool when we sang a sea song, and I had a stuffed parrot on my shoulder. The second episode was filmed in Kirby Lonsdale where we were dressed as country yokels to sing a version of "Bridgwater Fair". I also remember the Liverpool Scene doing a blues, with Adrian Henri singing "You make me feel like a wellington filled with blood."

FAITH AND HENRY Whilst at the Octagon we were asked to write and play the music for a TV play set in Bolton. Produced by Kenith Trodd and directed by Jack Gold. As a twenty-one year old it was exciting going to London to play in sync with the film footage.

The same year we were approached to write and sing Christmas jingles for Yorkshire TV. We were pleased with the end result, but the rostrum camera operators went on strike, and our jingles were broadcast the next Christmas.
We stayed on at the Octagon to do "Charlie Came To Our Town" (by Alan Plater), "The Hollow Crown," "Work Is The Curse Of The Drinking Classes" and finally a show we wrote ourselves - "It Brings Good Cheer." Then we went our separate ways.

1970

KEN CAMPBELL ROADSHOW - I joined the"Octagon Roadshow" which, after four weeks, became the "Ken Campbell Roadshow." With Ken, Dave and Jane Hill, and Bob Hoskins, we performed playlets and songs in in pubs and clubs around the North, including a two week run at the Cockpit theatre in London.

CALENDAR - The first tv programme I did in a solo capacity was to sing my first song ("Our Bill and the Concrete Mixer," which I had just written) as part of an item on the Ken Campbell Roadshow.

BOLTON WANDERERS .... & more - I left the Roadshow after a few months to write the songs for and to perform in another Octagon documentary - "Bolton Wanderers," which charted the origins of the team and had an interactive second half!
Then I was asked to write a song for the production of "Spring and Port Wine", which became "The One Place For Me". I recorded it with Ted Richards (who was then a member of the Octagon company) on drums. The theatre sound system then was so bad that on the opening night I took my B&O tape recorder down and dangled the lid speakers out of the booth - it was a better sound! The song, along with views of Bolton, was the opening scene. They used our cat in that production (deaf, white Persian). She was ideal, not being able to hear extraneous noises on stage. Had to take her there every night! I hasten to add that the sound at the Octagon is excellent now, and in 2008 Noreen Kershaw directed a new production of S&PW. She kindly used my song (the Buggerlugs version from 1993) at the very end..
I stayed on to write and perform the music for "The Abominable Showman" and to be in the first of the "Music Hall" productions there. I remember singing "Nobody Loves a Fairy When She's Forty" dressed in clogs and a tutu!

ROLL ON FOUR O'CLOCK - I was still working at the Octagon theatre when Colin Welland (writer) and Kenith Trodd (producer) asked me if I'd sing a traditional Scottish song (Jute Mill Song) as the theme for their tv play. I played a guitar accompaniment and tracked a concertina over it.

By now the songwriting bug had bitten and instead of finding traditional songs to perform in folk clubs and concerts, as we had always done, I began to write my own. Some of them appeared on the first two Topic albums, and by the time the Transatlantic lps were released virtually all of the material was self-composed

1971

SAID THE PREACHER (BBC2) - This was my first acting role on tv. I played a lout whose pilfering habit the local vicar was trying to cure. It also included Victor Henry and Madge Hindle - directed by Michael Apted.

HOME AND AWAY - This title predated the Australian soap by quite a few years. It was a six part Granada series written by Julia Jones and starring Gillian Raines (Mrs Leonard Rossiter). I was cast as an office clerk for three of the episodes.

1972

THE FRIDAY BROWN SHOW - I remember singing two songs on this local BBC show, wearing some awful trousers from BBC wardrobe, and looking quite out of place playing my bass concertina.

DAY OUT - It was May of '72 and I was asked to play daft Ernest in Alan Bennett's first tv film, directed by Stephen Frears. It took about a month to shoot, in and around Halifax and Ripon. It was originally planned to be filmed in sepia, but ended up in black and white. I still shudder at the scene where we fall off the bikes - because it actually happened, and we ended up in the casualty ward. The nurse thought we'd broken out of an asylum when we turned up bruised and battered in 1912 costumes!

1973

BALLAD OF THE NORTH WEST - I acted and sang in this local BBC documentary series which showed how the events of the past two hundred years in the area have been reflected in song. Narrated by Harry Boardman and directed by Douglas Boyd.

1974

SUNSET ACROSS THE BAY - Alan Bennett's second tv film was about a couple retiring to Morecambe - the place where they'd always gone on holiday. I played a milkman delivering to their house and engaging in conversation with them. I remember that after take 5 I'd knackered the electric milk float.

FAIRPORT CONVENTION - I bought a ticket to see Fairport (the Jerry Donahue era) at the Albert Halls in Bolton. As I'm sat there, one of the organizers came up and said "Are you Bernard?" I thought it best to own up, and he went on to tell me that the support band hadn't turned up and would I do the spot before Fairports? I replied that I'd bought a ticket to see them and of course hadn't got any instruments with me - to which he offered to refund the ticket, pay me to do the support, and could I nip home and get my guitar etc? Of course I did, so I saw the band (great) for free, did a spot and got paid.

Throughout the seventies I sang in folk clubs, festivals and concerts all over the country, including a couple of trips abroad - France and Cyprus. I remember Christmas Day '74, twiddling the radio dial and hearing me singing "Nelly the Elephant." I presumed it was a local radio recording I'd done until I realized it was Radio Paris broadcasting a recording made a few months earlier during the French trip!

1975

THAT'S LIFE - I broke down on the M62 going to Leeds to play on the "Les Dawson Show" for YTV. It was six hours before I finally met the AA patrol, and I was telling the story to a wordsmith I know called Henry Boot (not McAlpine's competitor). He wrote this tale into a parody of "Riders in the Sky". I sent a tape of this to "That's Life" and Glyn Worsnip liked it and sent a film crew to record me singing the song on the motorway bridge at Birch Services. So, I missed the ITV show but ended up doing a BBC one instead!

GRANADA REPORTS - I was asked to write and sing a song each week for the programme's "Consumer Desk" each Monday. Some weeks there was only a day's notice, and I remember the sixth one being axed due to an industrial dispute.

THE WHY FRONTS - A short lived supergroup! It started with Bob Williamson, Roger Woodcock and me, and then Roger wasn't there. Bob and I used to raid the Benny Hill vaults for material, then eventually we were too busy doing solo stuff to keep the Whys going. Roger's living in the Isle of Man, and Bob, one of that great breed of comedy folksingers, is lying low in Bolton, daft as ever, and still writing comedy.

IN THE HEEL OF THE HUNT - I played concertina for a scene in this Granada tv film in which the Irish construction workers were having a knees up whilst in the process of building the M62. Directed by Leslie Woodhead.

1976

THE FESTIVE POACHER - (by Ian Taylor) This was one of the "Second City Firsts" series produced by Tara Prem (Mrs Brian Glover). My character was a young bloke who lived with his grandma (played by Liz Smith). He'd spent all his money on the upkeep of his racing greyhound and had to steal a turkey for Christmas. I recorded two songs for this. One was a theme song I wrote for the beginning and end: the other was a carol which was played as if on the radio in the kitchen during the first scene. As it finished, John Dunn's voice said "That was Bernard Wrigley singing "The Holly and the Ivy". In their infinite wisdom the BBC accountants decided to eventually wipe the whole series.

In '76 I wrote the music for the "Fosdyke Saga" which was initially performed at the ICA in London. It was scripted by Alan Plater from the characters created by Bill Tidy. BBC2 also recorded a performance at the Haymarket theatre in Leicester. This was broadcast as a play and produced by David Rose. A year or so after I did the same for "Fosdyke Two." The Scaffold recorded the theme song "Fosdykes Arise" and I remember playing as one of the band on a gig in Worcester not long after. Still waiting for the dosh

THANK YOU AND GOODNIGHT- These were five minute clips shown every weekday before the network shut down at night. They were recorded as 40 minute concerts before an invited audience in the studio and edited from that. Mine was recorded on the same night that John Laurie (Dad's Army) gave his renditions of the poetry of William McGonigle. Guests on other weeks included Spike Milligan, Wilfred Makepeace-Lunn (the inventor) and the Oldham Tinkers.. Directed by Arthur Taylor, who later published an authoritative book on pub games.

1977

AFTERNOON OFF - Another Alan Bennett film. This was about a Chinese lad asking everyone in town if they'd seen his girlfriend called Iris. I played a foundry worker. "Bite his ankles, Dougie" will always be a favourite line. Filmed in Hartlepool, dubbed in London. The editor is now a director, and remembering this film he asked me to play a part in "My Son the Fanatic" in 1996.

1977 was the Queen's Jubilee year and two extra Royal Command performances were scheduled. I was asked to be in the Manchester one at the Palace Theatre, along with Stuart Hall, the Oldham Tinkers, and the entire cast of Coronation Street. I read out a rather fitting Marriott Edgar monologue - "Jubilee Sovereign," played "Tea for Two" on the guitar, and sang "September In The Rain" in falsetto. Coupled with meeting the Queen and Prince Philip afterwards, it was a very memorable evening.

CORONATION STREET - I played a compere/comedian for two episodes in the Gatsby Night Club where Rita sang and Ernie Bishop played the piano. At the end of the first episode, just as a stripper was in full flight, the police raided - much to the dismay of councillor Alf Roberts. I had to tell some dodgy gags, hoping that people wouldn't think it representative of my normal stage performance! In those days everyone turned up every day to rehearse all the scenes, as in a theatre production. The same happened in EMMERDALE - a far cry from the rehearse/record syndrome of today. Link to: Who's who in Coronation Street

1978

GRANADA ROADSHOW - Another series using this name. This time it was a series of four concerts produced by Trevor Hyett. My episode was recorded at Haigh Hall, an ex-stately home near Wigan. Other guests were Steeleye Span and the stunning American guitarist Leo Kottke. I can't remember what I sang, but I'd just returned from some gigs in Cyprus wearing a tan and an Eagles t-shirt. After this I wrote a Kottke-inspired tune "Raggetty" which ended up on my 'Instrumental Album".

YANKS GO HOME - Drama series shot at Grananda. My job was to play an entertainer doing a rather poor imitation of Al Jolson. I remember being glad they didn't want a good impersonation, and that Bruce Boa starred in it.

VILLAGE HALL - A Granada drama series about six completely different village halls and the characters involved. My episode was called "Miss Health and Beauty" from which I remember Elizabeth Spriggs and Sue Nichols, just before she became Audrey in Coronation Street.. I played a singer dressed in a gorilla suit singing "Girl from Ipanema" in falsetto! I remember rehearsing this in Camden, London and in the next room the group "Guys and Dolls " (very popular then) were practising routines.

ME, I'M AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF - An LWT production writted by Alan Bennett and directed by Innes Lloyd. I played a teacher in a night school - a very cynical character and a joy to perform. When recording was over I remember walking to Euston along the Thames Embankment at night and visiting the Houses of Parliament to watch a debate.

1979

MERSEY PIRATE - A most innovative children's programme broadcast live every Saturday morning from the Royal Iris ferry boat, which was actually sailing up and down the river during transmission. Duggie Brown played the captain - I was the French chef (Pierre le Oui Oui). It included mainly live items with some prerecorded sketches and songs. I used to demonstrate recipes musically as parodies of well known songs eg: "September In the Rain" was used for Quiche Lorraine. I bought our first video recorder so I could watch the programme when I got home later on Saturday. Unfortunately, half of the series was lost due to industrial action over use of steadicams.

CORONATION STREET - I played a chauffeur who took Hilda and Stan on their second honeymoon. This was the original 3/4 scale set next to Water Street, and I can remember turning the Daimler under the bridge and stopping dead - there was a brick wall in the way. Link to: Who's who in Coronation Street

WOOD AND WALTERS - Vic and Julie's series for Grananda was directed by Stuart Orme, who also did "Mersey Pirate." I sang and played on Victoria's "Northern Song," doing a spoof clog dance in the middle. Later I remember being a dead body in a sketch with the girls and Michael Angelis.

FIVEPENNY PIECE SHOW - Did the guest spot on one of their BBC2 shows recorded at the Poco a Poco in Stockport. I sang "Buggerlugs Loves Sugarbutty" (freshly written) "Nelly the Elephant" "Girl From Ipanema" and then sang with them on "Big Jim," little knowing I would join the band in 1995.

Apart from my own lps, we did one called "Lanky Spoken Here!" in 1979. It was adapted from Dave Dutton's Book of the same name and Dave and I wrote the songs. It was recorded live and also included Fivepenny Piece, Bob Williamson, Gary and Vera, and Tony Melody. The subject was the humour contained in the Lancashire dialect, and the posh translations were read by Robert Dougall and Shiela Tracy. A very funny album which EMI later deleted in their wisdom, only to reissue on CD in 2003.

1980

THE ZOO A Granada film for tv about a football team, of which I was a member. All the soccer playing was filmed at Preston North End's ground. We had to attend some training sessions with the official team coach, which left us slightly fatigued - I can remember opening the car door at the end of a particularly strenuous session and I couldn't lift my leg over the door sill!

FUN FACTORY - Granada's follow up to "Mersey Pirate" and broadcast live from the ex-warehouse nearby that was "Albion Market." I mimed to a prerecorded version of "Saturday Cowboys"which was a single release on DJM at the time, and also interviewed a girl who was the champion UK bubble gum blower. Elvis Costello was another guest on this episode, and it was Jeremy Beadle's first TV programme.

1981

CROWN COURT - I played a dodgy electrician called Rex Meredith who rewired a disco before it burnt down. I remember Elizabeth Spriggs playing the defendant and Pamela Salem as a barrister.

GLAMOUR GIRLS - This was a Granada series starring Bridget Forsyth. I played a bloke in a restaurant complaining bitterly about the service.

1982

BOTTLE OF GUINNESS SUPPORTERS' CLUB - This was a £2m advertising campaign which included two 10 sec and two 45 sec tv adverts. I played and sang the title role of the foreman on the building site who bought all the construction workers a round of drinks in the pub at night. In an effort not to waste freshly poured Guinness from each take, we ended up slightly the worse for wear at the end of a three day shoot. The song was a parody of a Gilbert and Sullivan song from HMS Pinafore.

STRANGERS - A Granada series which was the forerunner of "Taggart." I played one of the detectives at a weekend conference on urban guerrilla tactics. The mansion house where it was filmed (near Macclesfield) is now a restaurant.

1983

CORONATION STREET - I did three episodes as Harry the Breadman who fancied Bet Lynch when she lived over Alf Roberts' corner shop. Harry also flirted with Deirdre, who worked in the shop at the time. Link to: Who's who in Coronation Street

INSURANCE MAN - Another Alan Bennett film, this one about Franz Kafka as a young man. My scenes were filmed in a tannery in Keighley which, without any tampering, passed for Czechoslovakia in 1912! I shall never forget my immortal script direction-"Workman B is pissing"

1984

EMMERDALE - I played a customer who entered the Woolpack pub, but after looking round and after having a few words with Amos, the landlord, decided to take my custom elsewhere.

BONNY BRID - A 3 part BBC NW series about the effect of the cotton famine on the working folk of Lancashire. I played the local singer and concertina player, both at the pub and at a wedding.

PRIVATE FUNCTION - In this film I was the painter who was renovating the chiropodist's shop that Michael Palin's character had taken over. My speaking part ended up on the cutting room floor. However, that particular scene was also recorded by BBC2 for FILM 84 with Barry Norman. So, in between interviews with Alan Bennett (writer) and Malcolm Mowbray (writer and director) the tv broadcast that very scene-before the film was released without it!

1985

HIDEAWAY- This was a series about an alleged criminal hiding in the depths of Derbyshire. I played a champion darts player. It took nearly two hours to to do a cutaway shot of a dart hitting the bull!

LADA TRAINING FILM - I played a rather thick counter assistant called Wally who worked behind the sales counter in a garage. Needless to say, he did everything wrong. Because I was involved in every scene the time during the three day shoot seemed to fly by.

1986

RITA SUE AND BOB TOO - Directed by Alan Clarke. My part was the schoolteacher, which involved a scene in the classroom and another walking up the steep hill in Haworth (ten times)

1987

BBC2 NEWSNIGHT - This was an election special, and because Bolton town is judged to be a barometer of national voting opinion, I was asked to write a song which included certain relevant issues in each verse. For instance, I sang the verse about hospitals outside the hospital gates, and the education verse outside a school. Very unusual to have a singer on Newsnight.

The eighties were filled with live performances including a return trip to Cyprus, three visits to Hong Kong, the Shetlands Festival, and radio programmes, such as "Folk On 2" "Unglamorous Nights" (Radio 3) "You and Yours" (Radio 4) and quite a few on local networks. It wasn't until '89 that I did another live theatre production. This was back at the Octagon and gave me a strong sense of deja-vu. It was exactly twenty years since the "Bolton Massacre" and here I was doing a play about the civil war again in the same building. This was "Lass From The Man and Scythe." I wrote the songs and played a philosophical character called Dust who was like a time traveller, narrating and linking scenes together.

1990

WEBSTERS BITTER - advert. I played in two of these ads, firstly as a bloke who had a ferret down his trousers, and in the other I played the voice of a police horse conversing with the two equine stars.

1991

KILROY - This was a discussion about North versus South. Usual chat stuff where nothing ever gets resolved. Complete waste of time.

CORONATION STREET - The story was that Mavis had been feeding Derek nutmeg to spice up their love life. Turned out he pinched a lady's bottom in the supermarket (she was played by Jane Cox). I played the husband, Harry Shaw, who eventually threw Derek out of his house. Six years later, Jane and I are husband and wife again in Emmerdale (Lisa and Barry Clegg) Link to: Who's who in Coronation Street

WAITING FOR GODOT - In '91, again at the Octagon we did Andy Hay's production of this Samuel Becket classic. I played Estragon and Mike Harding played Vladimir, with Richard Hayes as Pozzo and John Lloyd-Fillingham as Lucky. Mike and I were nominated for the Northern Drama Awards after this. We didn't win, but it's flattering to be nominated.

1992

PACKING THEM IN - A C4 production shot before an invited audience at Wakefield Playhouse with Frank Skinner and Jenny Eclair (amongst others). I played a sketch in which I was covered in blood and gore, staggered in the pub, and uttered the line "Who left that sodding Jaguar in the car park".

ALADDIN BOLTON - Back again at the Octagon for Christmas '92 I played Abanazer in pantomime there. This version takes its name from wherever it's being performed, and is full of songs from the 1960's. All the actors were the musicians as well - great fun to perform, and just as well, for we did fifty two performances.

1993

LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE - Played a gypsy called Duane whose wife (played by Kate Robbins) bought a load of patio furniture from ace salesperson Ma Wainwright (played by Jean Alexander). Duane was so annoyed that he took the lot back and went in Wainwright's shop saying "This is how to deal with salespeople." Next time we see them they've bought twice as much furniture and Duane is trying to convince his wife what a bargain it was.

1994

CHILDREN'S WARD - This was the series before it changed its name to THE WARD. I played a heavy called Bernard?! who worked for a moneylender (played by Lesley Claire O'Neill) and drove a 7 litre Chevy convertible around - great fun!

EMMERDALE - I played a c&w singer called Hank Johnstone who sang in the bar of the Woolpack. His accent kept slipping from pseudo-American to broad Northern. After he'd introduced each song, the dialogue took over with music underneath. It was the episode where Zoe told her dad she was gay.

In '94 I wrote songs and performed them (with Wilf the fiddler) for a Radio 2 Arts programme which celebrated the centenary of the Manchester Ship Canal. Produced by Pete Johnson who is now a dj on Jazz FM.

1995

GRIMM - This was one of a series of plays in the NEW VOICES series featuring new writers and new directors. This was directed by Noreen Kershaw (who then went on to do CORONATION STREET.) I played a bingo caller obsessed with death e.g. "Number ten.... Rillington Place"

ROAD -In '95 I had to rearrange my solo dates yet again when I played the part of Scullery in Jim Cartwright's "Road." This was at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester and was especially memorable because Jim directed it himself - the first time he had done so. Just in time too - the year after, the theatre was extensively damaged by the bomb blast.

1996

SOUL MUSIC - This is a cartoon version of Terry Pratchett's book from the hugely successful DISCWORLD series. I played the voice of Asphalt, a squashed troll. It's a Cosgrove-Hall production and only available on video.

COOGAN'S RUN - Steve Coogan did a series of six where he played a different character each week. I was in the "Gareth Cheeseman" episode, playing Tony the hotel receptionist who chose to be hard of hearing when it suited him - which was most of the time when faced with individuals like Cheeseman. Tony also had a scam going with the hotel prostitute (played by Gaynor Faye) where he set her up with clients, she would rob them whilst they were asleep, and the two of them would split the profits. Filmed in Surrey during the hot June of '95, and produced by Geoff Posner.

CORONATION STREET - One of Don Brennan's card-playing taxi driver friends was Stan Whaller-the part I played for one episode. Together they decided to fleece young Ashley at cards, but he ended up beating both of us!
Link to: Who's who in Coronation Street

BRASSED OFF - I played Chapman,the union official, in this cinema film. The scenes I was involved in were shot in October and November of '95 at the colliery near Hatfield Woodhouse, a few miles from Doncaster. Reading the complete script is one thing, but it wasn't until I saw the premiere at Leeds International Film Festival that I realised what a powerful production this is. It has humour, pathos, tragedy, and a strong integrity - I felt proud to have been involved in it. As a special treat at the premiere the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, who feature throughout the film, played a short concert in front of the screen.

EBC - This was a corporate video shot specifically for staff training. It involved playing around twelve different parts with corresponding costume changes. An actor's dream.

POLICE TRAINING VIDEO - This was shot in and around Harrogate, where the Police training unit is. It was to do with the change in the law regarding cautioning of suspects. I played a cafe owner helping police with their enquiries. Also memorable for me because when driving home the day after I hit a traffic island refuge and wrecked a wheel and tyre!

1997

EMMERDALE - In December '96 I started recording the part of Barry Clegg, a rather odd inventor who lived in a barn on the Clegg's pig farm. He and Lisa had an agreement that despite their not wanting to be married anymore, it would be very convenient if he could stay at the farm and pursue his life's quest-building a manned rocket. One influential factor was that Barry's rocket ran on pig muck-a "pig poo powered projectile." The story's based on there actually being a reward of $6 million for the first home-made manned rocket to reach the ceiling of 72 miles. The trouble began when Lisa started dating Zak Dingle. He and Barry did not get on.
After the whole business ended with the farm and rocket blowing up (a rather spectacular scene which is included in the "25 years of" section at the end of the "Dingles Down Under" video) Barry returned in July to wreck Lisa's wedding to Albert Dingle. November. December and Jan' 98 saw Barry back, carol singing with Zak, and with a new invention: a treadle-powered microwave oven! This proved to be a dismal failure with the Dingle's Christmas dinner, but not to be outdone Barry altered the power source to an exercise bike with much more success.

THE LOWER DEPTHS - In summer of '97 I realized one of my ambitions - to take part in a drama production on Radio 4. This was Alan Plater's adaptation of Gorky's "Lower Depths" : a tragi- comic play about a group of people in a Russian doss house at the turn of the century. I was a character called Kletzch, and also played concertina - a tune for the theme, and as accompaniment to the song which all the characters sang. It was recorded in Cardiff and produced by Alison Hindell.

MY SON THE FANATIC - A film directed by Udayan Prasad of Hanif Kureishi's short story (screenplay also by Kureishi). I played a drunken bloke who picks up the starlet (Rachel Griffiths) in a bar (called "Manningham's"- a reference to the racist nature of the comedian performing there). Then he humps her in the back of a taxi. This section filmed in a car on a trailer driving around Halifax. The director remembered me from when he was an editor working on Alan Bennett's "Afternoon Off" and asked for me specifically to play the part. What a memory!

KNIGHT SCHOOL - This is a children's series shot at Granada. I did a cameo role in one episode as a highwayman called Stan Dandeliver!

SNOW WHITE - More rearranging of gigs, for Christmas '97 saw me playing the part of Muddles, the original pillock, in "Snow White" at Southport Theatre. I sang Buggerlugs Loves Sugarbutty in duet with Snow White (played by Ann Nolan), and sketches with Sarah the Cook (Duggie Brown - my old mate from "Mersey Pirate)"

1998

PASSION PLAY
- A production of this startling play was done by Barrie Rutter's "Northern Broadsides" company over Easter. We rehearsed Monday and Tuesday, and the first performance was Wednesday! The first four were at the Viaduct theatre in Halifax. For Easter Sunday and Monday we transferred to the Saltaire complex near Bradford. I played Cayphas the High Priest.

COLD FEET
- I played a taxi driver in the first episode of this ITV production, taking Adam (James Nesbitt) to the hospital. Directed by Declan Lowney (of Father Ted fame).
I missed seeing the episode on tv because I was singing at the 15th Hong Kong Folk Festival. From there I was going to go to the Kuala Lumpur Festival but if was cancelled, mainly due to the economic situation.

THE COPS
- After three improvisational auditions for a particular part, I ended up playing a completely different one - that of an irate householder whose fish had been stolen. It was filmed three roads away from our house!

DINNER LADIES
- I was billed as "Man in queue" for this, the first episode of Victoria Wood's very funny sitcom. I only uttered the one (immortal) line "Is there any gravy?" It was great fun.

LIMESTONE COWBOY
- It was a great pleasure to do this play in Coventry at the Belgrade Theatre during August and September. Written by Bob Eaton (the artistic director at the Belgrade) and Sayan Kent, it's the story of George and Grace Burke (played by myself and Eithne Browne) and how they inherit a farm on the Derbyshire hillside. They're huge country and western fans (in fact George tried to make it big in Nashville twenty years previously but only lasted two weeks) and he thinks he's got his own Ponderosa. As the plot develops it looks like they'll lose it all, resulting in some great argument scenes. Coupled with some excellent songs and musicians, and local linedancers for good measure, it was a delight to perform.

XMAS TOUR WITH THE HOUGHTON WEAVERS
- I did the tour with the lads in 1988 & 1989, and it's a pleasure to be asked to do the 1998 one. It encompasses twenty one dates throughout December from Rhyl to Ulverston and all stations in between.

1999

CORONATION STREET - I played the part of the very odd Rev. Marvin Winstanley. Roy contacted the Rev with a view to conducting his wedding ceremony with Hayley. After showing him round the little meeting place and the upstairs chapel of the John Doe Reformed Resurrectionist Ministerial Church, Roy tells Hayley. She is not impressed because Marvin implied she would be the first trans-sexual he would have married.

NORWEGIAN LOTTERY ADVERT - In April I was asked to go to Norway to take part in a commercial for the Norwegian Lottery. This involved playing the part of a slightly camp hairdresser who goes into a dream whilst noticing the lottery results on the salon TV. The lady's hair he is cutting suffers as a result - she ends up looking like a trimmed poodle. It will be fascinating to see the finished version. Luckily, no-one speaks in the ad (it will be a voice-over) or I'd still be there. Lovely countryside around Oslo (but the beer is so dear!)

RADIO LANCASHIRE - I've been standing in for Jim Bowen on the morning show with Sally during the summer, and I've been doing a series of programmes about anecdotes for broadcast in September.

ERIC MORECAMBE PLAQUE CEREMONY - In July I had the great honour to be asked to unveil a plaque outside the house where Eric Morecambe grew up. This was the week before the Queen unveiled the bronze statue of Eric on the promenade there in Morecambe. The "Wrigley's Wrandom Jottings" programme on Radio Lancs began in August. Sixteen weeks of me rambling on about a particular topic and interspersed with my favourite records. Lots of the Beach Boys and Steely Dan were included - broadcast Sat at noon repeated Sun at 3pm.

HARBOUR LIGHTS - For ten days in September I did an episode of "Harbour Lights" for BBC TV where I play an unsavoury character called Martin Blade. He gets murdered, and I was pleased that the weather was still warmish when I had to spend an afternoon in the harbour, fully clothed, being washed up as a dead body. Great fun - beaten up as well.

OLDHAM TINKERS WORLD TOUR -In October, apart from my usual solo gigs, I did another world tour with the Oldham Tinkers, reaching far flung resorts like Wigan, Blackburn and Morecambe.

DINNERLADIES - In late October and throughout November, I recorded episodes 5 and 6 of Victoria Wood's "DinnerLadies," broadcast set for 23 and 25 December. Not only was it an absolute hoot to rehearse and record, but the scripts have added depths of drama and pathos. Very clever lady.

XMAS TOUR WITH THE HOUGHTON WEAVERS - It's a Christmas of dressing up in women's clothes again, because I'm Fairy Snowdrop in the Christmas tour with the Houghton Weavers. It's a great blend of seasonal songs and silliness. Check their website www.houghtonweavers.com

2000

WALLS SAUSAGE ADVERT - January was mainly singing in folk clubs. In February I went to Shepperton Studios in London for a three day shoot to record an advert for Walls Sausages, in which I led an escape party of prisoners digging an escape tunnel from prison. It's all been worked out wrongly, and instead of popping up through the ground beyond the prison walls we're still inside!

MAGNIFICENT MONOLOGUES - When I wasn't singing for a crust, March and April were consumed with recording the album "Magnificent Monologues." I did this in digital format throughout for the first time, and gathered together seventeen of the greatest humorous monologues ever written - all with piano accompaniment. The finished album came back from the CD factory on May 28th 2000.

ANOTHER OLDHAM TINKERS WORLD TOUR - May saw the Oldham Tinkers and me doing another world tour, again reaching far flung places. We did the Municipal hall at Colne followed by a sell out at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre. As part of BBC Music Live 2000, we did another sellout, this time at Bolton Albert Halls. It was promoted by GMR, quickly edited, and broadcast the next day. That same evening I went back to the Municipal at Colne and had the great pleasure of presenting a concert with the Nelson Civic Choirs and Peter Skellern. It was broadcast live, complete with my counting down everyone to sing "Perfect Day" in sync with the rest of Britain at 10pm. Then home for a rub down with a paraffin rag.

RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET - At the Octagon Theatre Bolton - Played the part of the announcer. This is an unusual role since it's prerecorded, so you're in the live show every night but don't have to turn up!

Whereas I handle the singing side myself, all enquiries regarding acting should be directed to:
Sharron Ashcroft Management,
Dean Clough,
Halifax,
HX5 3AX
Tel 01422 343949

2007-06-13T23:25:00.000+01:00

THE CDs & BOOKS...

THE PHENOMENAL B. WRIGLEY (1971) / ROUGH AND WRIGLEY (1974) CD (two LPs on one CD) (£10 inc. p+p)
My first album, on Topic, was recorded in two sessions, the first being at Cecil Sharp House and originally intended to be part of a "New Voices" album. The second session of songs and tunes was recorded on an eight track at Livingstone Studios in London, and engineered by Nic Kinsey. The tunes I found in an old family manuscript, dated 1789, and called "John Wynder's Book." Produced by Bert Lloyd. The second album also featured tunes and songs (both traditional and self-composed). Fifteen tracks were recorded on an eight track and mixed in one day at Great Northern Studios in Hyde. Then Tony Engle rang to say could I do four more! It transpired that the Scully mixing desk was the actual one used in the sixties for the Rolling Stones' first album!
In the late eighties I bought the original masters and issued both these Topic albums on one cassette on my own LOOFY label - LOO 003 & 4. Now that cassette has been retired, and the tracks have been lovingly remastered for CD release, comes complete with a thick booklet reprinting all the original LP liner notes for the first time. Click here or on the album cover to see the tracklisting and listen to MP3 snippets

SONGS, STORIES, & ELEPHANTS (1976) CD (£10 inc. p+p)
I wanted to issue a live album next and did a recording with Topic. They decided they didn't want to issue a live one, but gave me the tapes. Turned out there was mains hum on them, so I approached Nat Joseph at Transatlantic. He was keen to do a live album, and this was recorded at Leicester University and Preston Grasshoppers club - produced by John Whitehead. It was intended for release on the lower priced XTRA label, but they were apparently so pleased with the outcome that it made the full price Transatlantic label. I was especially pleased with the caricature on the cover - me playing concertina whilst riding an elephant. I bought the original masters eventually and issued it on Loofy 005 as a cassette. Now remastered for CD. Click here or on the album cover to see the tracklisting and listen to MP3 snippets

TEN TON SPECIAL (1976) CD £10 (inc. p+p)
One side live and the other studio. The live side was recorded at the Highwayman Inn in Threapwood, Staffs. The studio side was recorded mainly at Pebble Beach studio in Worthing and produced by Dixie Dean (formerly of McGuinness/Flint) In fact, Hughie Flint played drums on this side. "Teabag In My Coffee" was released as a single in '76. When I bought the masters in the late eighties, I decided that two songs didn't fit, so I replaced them with : THE MARTIANS HAVE LANDED IN WIGAN, recorded for Pete Townshend's ill-fated PROPELLOR label in 1980, also produced by Dixie Dean, and including Patrick Moore: secondly, SATURDAY COWBOYS (studio version) which was produced by Kevin Parrott of "Brian and Michael" fame and originally issued as a single in 1980 on DJM. The album's now on Loofy 006, remastered for CD with extra tracks. Click here or on the album cover to see the tracklisting and listen to MP3 snippets

THE BOLTON BULLFROG (1981) CD £10 (inc. p+p)
This was the first album that I issued myself. It was recorded live at the Teanlowe centre in Poulton-le-Fylde, and engineered by Stan Whalley. The experience I got whilst editing the Transatlantic albums stood me in good stead. It was a few years before CDs would become widely available, and pre-recorded cassettes still hadn't got a good reputation, so it was vinyl only. The first thousand were on black vinyl, then a hundred were pressed on orange. Thankfully, cassette technology improved greatly during the eighties, but now it's on CD.
Click here or on the album cover to see the tracklisting and listen to MP3 snippets

RUDE BITS! (1985) CD £10 (inc. p+p)
My second self produced album. At the time, Phil Cool was running a comedy club called Laughing Gas in Chorley. It had a similar format to a folk club inasmuch as there were residents, people who did floor spots, a guest performer and an interval in the middle. The only difference was that people told gags instead of singing songs. I did a booking there earlier in the year then went back in September to record the evening. Included in the silliness is Howard Lees, playing guitar with me in his inimitable way. It was after this that I obtained my own Fylde guitar. Issued originally on cassette, now on CD. Click here or on the album cover to see the tracklisting and listen to MP3 snippets

THE INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM (1988) CD (with bonus tracks!) (£10 inc. p+p)
No doubt helped by my Fylde guitar, I put sixteen of my own instrumental compositions together. Some are on solo guitar, some on two or three. They range from slow airs, through ragtime style numbers to blues tinged and jazz-influenced numbers. "Pickersgill People" is a tune I wrote for a BBC2 series, and for this album I added a middle eight and recorded it on four concertinas to sound like a small concertina band. A school teacher once admitted he uses it as a piece for the children to play in his music class. Originally a cassette, I remastered it for CD in 2002, with 3 newly recorded bonus tracks, making
a total of 19. Click here or on the album cover to see the tracklisting and listen to MP3 snippets

WANTED: LIVE! (1991) CD £10 (inc. p+p)
I'd started recording what would be the BUGGERLUGS album and realized that it was going to take so long to get proficient with the computer programming and simply arranging all the songs that I ought to do a live one in the meantime. A few months previously I'd done a very enjoyable evening at one of Phil Knight's concerts at Clitheroe Cricket Club. This recording was done on a special night there, and engineered on the Brickmobile. The photo of me on the cover is from a production (Lass From The Man & Scythe) at the Octagon theatre. I played a character called Dust, but when I saw the picture I thought it belonged on a Wanted poster. Click here or on the album cover to see the tracklisting and listen to MP3 snippets

BUGGERLUGS (1992) CD £10 (inc. p+p)
This labour of love took over two years. It contains new songs and some classics that had never appeared on my solo albums. Songs like "Young Molly Kershaw" had previously been recorded by Fivepenny Piece, amongst others. My very first solo composition - "Our Bill and the Concrete Mixer" had only been available on "Owdham Edge" before, with a guitar accompaniment. "Buggerlugs Loves Sugar Butty" and "Heavy Breather " had only been available on "Lanky Spoken Here" (EMI - now reissued on CD).
In 1993 I issued it on CD with bonus tracks taken from some earlier albums, including "The Martians Have Landed In Wigan" "Saturday Cowboys" "Fisherman's Friend" and two from the Instrumental Album. Click here or on the album cover to see the tracklisting and listen to MP3 snippets

ALBERT, ARTHUR, & the CAR PARK (1997) CD £10 (inc. p+p)
This album is different again inasmuch as live tracks and studio tracks are intermingled. The live section was recorded at Stocksbridge Garden Pavilion when I was right in the middle of being Barry Clegg in Emmerdale. Studio tracks were done at Brick Studios again on an 8 track. Another varied offering including daft songs, serious songs, and no less than two monologues. The title is derived from three of the tracks - "Albert, the Lion, and the Drink", "King Arthur and the Chastity Belt" and "Is There a Car Park?" Click here or on the album cover to see the tracklisting and listen to MP3 snippets

MAGNIFICENT MONOLOGUES (2000) CD (£10 inc. p+p)
As the title suggests, this is a recording of seventeen of the most well known monologues ever written. There are five of the Ramsbottom stories, including "The Lion and Albert" and "The Return Of Albert," followed by five of the Stories of Sam Small. These include the one that started it all - "Sam, Sam, Pick Up Thy Musket." Next come the historical sagas including "Battle Of Hastings" and "Magna Charter," followed by Robb Wilton's famous novelty "Back Answers" and a little-heard Al Read monologue about the problems of moving a wardrobe. All the monologues are with piano accompaniment, and a lot of them are the authentic music parts that were written for and issued on the original sheet music.
The enclosed twelve page booklet contains notes about each track, a history of the humorous
monologue, and an appreciation by BBC comedy producer Mike Craig. Click here or on the album cover to see the tracklisting and listen to MP3 snippets

FAIRLY TRUTHFUL TALES (2002) CD (£10 inc. p+p)
I'd finished "Magnificent Monologues" and was thinking about doing something similar but different, when this bloke from up near Norway (Newcastle, actually) sent me a copy of "Dead Men Don't Wear 'erringbone." I thought it was excellent, and began to record it with a band accompaniment in mind. Before I'd finished it Gary Hogg had sent another six, and I realized we would soon have enough material for an album. It was then only a matter of ironing out certain dialect differences and rhyming patterns, and we'd assembled thirteen of them at the next count. There's an accompanying book of the same name with 40 monologues and lots of Gary's cartoons (£8 incl p&p).
With help from the Amblethwaite Colliery Band and piano player Burt Terrace we hereby present for your delectation a collection of thirteen fairly truthful tales. Click here or on the album cover to see the tracklisting and listen to MP3 snippets

[Book] FAIRLY TRUTHFUL TALES (2001) the book of the CD and more!, £8 inc. p+p
The book has no less than 40 monologues. They're all written by Gary Hogg from Newcastle, who is also a fine cartoonist as well - as the book shows. Gary did the artwork on the "Fairly Truthful Tales" CD sleeve and booklet, too. It all started when he sent me the monologue "Dead Men Don't Wear 'Erringbone", which I set to music. The CD filled up at 13 tracks, but there are a further 27 monologues in the book. They all concern the goings on in that village called Amblethwaite, somewhere in the North of England They make an ideal present for story lovers.Click here or on the book cover to see the full contents

MAGNIFICENT MONOLOGUES VOLUME 2 (2002) CD (£10 inc. p+p)
Hot on the heels of "Fairly Truthful Tales" and "Magnificent Monologues Vol.1" comes this collection featuring monologues not only from favourites Marriott Edgar, Stanley Holloway and Al Read, but no less than seven from the pen of Mike Harding. There are also three Ramsbottom family writties from John Bilsborough. The CD also sees the return of Burt Terrace on the piano and the Amblethwaite Colliery Band. Click here or on the album cover to see the tracklisting and listen to MP3 snippets

MONOLOGOLOGY (2003) CD (£10 inc. p+p)
Here's the fourth monologue CD - after Magnificent Monologues, Fairly Truthful Tales and Magnificent Monologues Vol 2. This collection is entirely written and performed by Bernard. An hour of old favourites (including Robin Hood and the Bogey Rolling Contest, and The Police Constable and the Rare Butterfly) and brand new tales (such as Queen Boadicea, and A Life Of Bike) - all recorded for the first time with musical accompaniment.
Click here or on the album cover to see the tracklisting and listen to MP3 snippets

"AMBLETHWAITE 'APPENINGS" (2004) CD (Loofy 018 CD) (£10 inc. p+p)
The fifth monologue CD, and the true follow up to "Fairly Truthful Tales." This has 14 further tales from the pen of Gary Hogg about the nutters who live in that north country village called Amblethwaite. Musical accompaniment includes piano, band, and string quartet, and the booklet opens out to reveal the front page of the Amblethwaite Post with articles about the stories behind the tracks. Gary's accompanying book (More Fairly Truthful Tales) has 40 monologues with cartoons. Click here or on the album cover to see the tracklisting and listen to MP3 snippets

[Book] MORE FAIRLY TRUTHFUL TALES (2004) the sequel to "Fairly Truthful Tales"!, £8 inc. p+p

Another 40 monologues! Again, they're all written and illustrated by Gary Hogg. The relevant CD is called "Amblethwaite 'Appenings" - just to confuse us. Whereas 14 stories graced my CD, with musical accompaniment, Gary went on to write another 26 monologues for the book. They're all illustrated with his superb cartoons, and again make an ideal present for story lovers. Click here or on the book cover to see the full contents

GOD'S OWN COUNTY (2005) CD (Loofy 019 CD) £10 (inc. p+p)
Released in October 2005, with nineteen songs from or about the county of Lancashire. Includes a definitive version of "Rawtenstall Annual Fair" with the crowd, the fairground, and a band; a tribute to "The Tripe Ships Of Wigan"; a tongue in cheek celebration of the joys of living "Up North", plus sixteen others using a wide variety of instruments - running time almost an hour.

In the 8 page booklet there's a brief history of the county and an explanation of the current border confusion. CD text is supported as well - see all the titles as they play (providing your CD player supports it). Click here or on the album cover to see the tracklisting and listen to MP3 snippets

[Book] SHORTS FOR ALL OCCASIONS (2006) One verse poems, £8 inc. p+p

Released in April 2006, this book has 96 pages containing over 180 one verse poems, 45 of them having specially drawn cartoons by Gary Hogg. Whether you're reading in bed, in the smallest room in the house, or on the train, you'll find something daft that's relevant to someone you know. Buy a few and solve your Christmas presents in one fell swoop! Click here or on the book cover to see sample pages

2007-06-12T16:48:00.000+01:00

Photos...

Current - 2007
Please use either of these top two pics if you want one for publicity etc. The others are not for publishing, merely historical.

Current - 2007
Taken on the same day as the above - after a change of clothes.

Early 1980s
A publicity pic which I can't remember having been taken. I had a few hundred duplicated though and had them for years.

Bouffant, 80s
A mid 80s publicity shot from the time of the Rude Bits recording in 1985. Taken by a newspaper photographer as I sat in the garden, with my trusty bass concertina on knee.

Sidmouth 1985
Taken at Carina's - one of the venues at the Sidmouth Festival in 1985 - by my 11 year old son. The gig was one of eleven gigs I did that week, with different songs at each.

Chester 1980s
At Chester Festival in the late 1980s - this was the upstairs folk club venue. Sang there again during the Festival in 2005.

Lass at the Man and Scythe, Bolton
I was the narrator in a play called "Lass at the Man & Scythe" at the Octagon Theatre in 1989. It was written by Les Smith from the story by Alan Clark called "John o' God's Sending." I wrote the music, and the character I played was called "Dust." I later was looking for a picture for the cover of "Wanted Live!" and used this. Others said I was wearing the Queen Mother's hat.

1990s
Dark hair on a dark background! I used this until someone made their own poster from it for their club and they drew round where they thought my hair should be - I looked like I had a lopsided afro!

Waiting for Godot, Bolton
Playing Estragon in "Waiting For Godot" at the Octagon Theatre again in 1991. I shall never forget it - the Gulf War started as we were rehearsing.

Waiting for Godot, Bolton (2)
With Mike Harding as Vladimir, the other tramp in "Godot." We did 32 performances and were asked to take it to London, but that didn't work out (Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson ended up doing it instead)

Studio shot, 1996
A posy shot from 1996. I remember going to pick the print up but couldn't get to the place because the IRA bomb had just gone off in the centre of Manchester.

Emmerdale
Emmerdale in 1997. Barry Clegg leading the retreat from the farm as his rocket was about to blow up. Good old Marlon Dingle had pressed the wrong button.

Emmerdale (2)
Emmerdale's Barry Clegg and his beloved rocket, posing for a publicity shot in 1997. I did nearly forty episodes spread out over the span of a year. Great fun.

Limestone Cowboy, Coventry
With Eithne Brown in "Limestone Cowboy" at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry 1998. We played a couple who loved country music and who even did gigs together. It all fell apart when mineral deposits were found on their land - but they lost the rights to it and their marriage almost fell apart.

Xmas Tour with the Weavers
Lager fairy on the Houghton Weavers Xmas tour 1999. The things you do for a crust!

Publicity shot
This was taken in 1999 in the same month I played the Rev. Marvin Winstanley in Coronation Street. It was the time that Roy and Hayley wanted to get married; Roy found this cowboy vicar on the internet and came to suss me out. Hayley was not impressed and ended up asking a female vicar to do the honours.

Closet Sailors
With Wilf Darlington as "Closet Sailors" at Maryport Festival 2000. We sang sea songs with fiddle and concertina accompaniment.

Phoenix Nights, 1st series
The first series of Phoenix Nights in 2001, where Dodgy Eric tries to convince Brian Potter that the club ought to have a mechanical bucking bronco. "Come on Brian, give it a week and it'll be shitting money"

Dick Whittington, Bolton
As Captain Codseye in "Dick Whittington" Bolton 2002/3. I wrote a song all about sailing on my ship "Saucy Sal." The year before I was one of the Chinese Policemen, which of course meant I had to write a Policemen song.

2007-06-11T17:40:00.000+01:00

MP3s...

Here is a full list of all the MP3 snippets. Each clip has a filesize of roughly 500k:

THE PHENOMENAL B. WRIGLEY (1971) & ROUGH AND WRIGLEY (1974) on one CD
01 - The Molecatcher
03 - Green Ship
04 - Other Folk's Childer
13 - Jack The Horse Courser
17 - Ballad Of Knocking Nelly
18 - Manchester Recruits
21 - Campanero
29 - Hand Loom v. Power Loom
34 - Old Man and His Wife
36 - The Rigs Of London Town

SONGS, STORIES, & ELEPHANTS (1976)
07 - Cheek To Cheek
09 - Nelly The Elephant
15 - Police Constable And The Rare Butterfly
16 - September In The Rain
18 - Knocking Nelly And The Sixty Niner

TEN TON SPECIAL (1976)
06 - Robin Hood And The Bogey Rolling Contest
08 - Transport Digs
09 - The Martians Have Landed In Wigan
10 - Saturday Cowboys
12 - Tea For Two
13 - Teabag In My Coffee

THE BOLTON BULLFROG (1981)
04 - John Willie's Ferret
12 - On Again, On Again
14 - Vasectomy
16 - Girl From Ipanema
18 - Who Put The Thing In Thingie?

RUDE BITS (1985)
02 - Elmer Wiggins
04 - The Return Of Young Arthur
06 - Nudist Colony
13 - One Note Samba
22 - Brewer's Droop

THE INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM (1988)
01 - And Some
08 - Shuffle In F
09 - Swing Ding
10 - O' Wrigley's Concerto
11 - Sliding Down

WANTED: LIVE! (1991)
08 - On The Range Home
12 - Fisherman's Friend
14 - Silly Old Bugger
16 - Cricketus Interruptus
18 - I'm A Pillock

BUGGERLUGS (1992)
01 - Buggerlugs Loves Sugar Butty
02 - Blue Moon
03 - Our Bill And The Concrete Mixer
04 - Constable Oh Constable
05 - Heavy Breather

ALBERT, ARTHUR, & THE CARPARK (1997)
01 - Is There A Car Park?
03 - Back In The Old Schoolyard
08 - Corrinna Corrinna
11 - Albert The Lion And The Drink
12 - Family Xmas

MAGNIFICENT MONOLOGUES (2000)
01 - The Lion And Albert
03 - The Jubilee Sovereign
04 - Sam Pick Up Thy Musket
13 - The Battle Of Hastings
17 - Try It The Other Way Round

FAIRLY TRUTHFUL TALES (2002)
01 - The Fire In Nan's Front Room
02 - Edie's Last Ride
05 - The Bartholemew Family Photograph
09 - The Mystery Of The Boating Lake Mermaid
10 - The Secret Life Of Walter's Mittens

MAGNIFICENT MONOLOGUES VOLUME 2 (2002)
01 - Albert And The Privy
02 - The Man From The Pru
04 - The Ballad Of Cowheel Lou
11 - Albert And The Condom
14 - The Channel Swimmer

MONOLOGOLOGY (2003)
01 - The Police Constable And The Rare Butterfly
02 - A Life Of Bike
08 - Robin Hood And The Bogey Rolling Contest
09 - There's Something In The Bottom Of Our Lavvy
11 - Queen Boadicea

AMBLETHWAITE 'APPENINGS (2004)
01 - Father Tralee And The Infernal Flame
03 - The Warburtons' Disappearing Waistcoat
07 - Don't Go Changing
08 - The Pontificatin' Chauffeur
09 - When Cyril Waggott Dropped Dead For The First Time
10 - Jacky And The Night Watchman's Dog

GOD'S OWN COUNTY (2005)
01 - Rawtenstall Annual Fair
02 - A Begging I Will Go
03 - The Tripe Ships Of Wigan
04 - Fine Feathers
05 - Up North
09 - The Binman Song