Gigs with the kids – Skegness 96

Something different for you as for one week only, I have a guest blog from my old schoolfriend and fellow Preston muso Rick Clegg: –

Now they are aged between 19 and 29, I’m chuffed that I’ve managed to hand down the ‘serious importance’ of appreciating music to my four daughters, and love the fact that each one of them have differing levels of tastes etc.

My second eldest (and blog member) Charlotte is the most regular of gig goers in attending alongside her ‘pater’, although Annabelle (youngest and goddaughter to a certain Jimmy C) is currently the most regular and obsessive gig going daughter, following her fave ‘boy bands’ over the country (with her co obsessive mates, all cramming into reduced premier inn rooms). She’s obviously got her mother’s ‘Brother Beyond’ genes at the mo but I’m working on it!

We almost did a dad plus all four kids gig about 3 years ago, the Vaccines at King George’s Hall Blackburn, but daughter no three Victoria couldn’t make it in the end.

So, the first gig with my kids was during our first ever family holiday in 1996, when Er Indoors (Debi), me and (at the time) the two ‘mini’ Cleggys ventured down to ‘Skeggy’ along with in laws – the Amridings, being (Debi’s sister) Susan, husband Mark + sprogs Lyndsey and Dan.

Now the day we drove down was notable for two major national news stories – the horrible terrorist bombing of the Arndale centre in Manchester, and the eagerly awaited England v Scotland Euro 96 group game at Wembley. As we drove down, I was rather anxious about the amount of brownie points I would need to obtain a ‘pass’ to watch the game 🤔. 

So, we arrived at 2.45 and the game was to start at 3… when my wonderful ‘non footy loving ‘brother-in-law Mark uttered the magic words ‘you may as well watch the match, I’ll sort your suitcases at check in’. 

BACK OF THE NET!!!!

We’ll we all know what went on during the match, so I’ll finally move onto the gig!!

So, we’ve been on the funfair, the outside pool (weather was surprisingly warm during the first few days) then we ventured onto the main entertainment hall, where I’d watched the ‘Gazza’ match on our first day up on the big screen. My eldest Natalie was 3, so she joined in the ‘pre – gig’ disco and generic red coat party ‘frolics’ whilst I ‘propped up’ our Charlotte as she was ‘just about’ learning to walk prior to her imminent 1st birthday. 

Then the main event began …..  (Drum roll) …..

…. 🥁 🥁🥁🥁🥁

Bucks Fizz*!!!!

*-with only the one original member (I didn’t complain but did think about it 😬)

Now Jimmy will know only too well how desperately sad I am about recognising/remembering stuff that I really shouldn’t, but here goes. 

After a few songs, I commented to my wife and her sister that the ‘bloke who wasn’t in the Eurovision Buck’s Fizz’ was that guy from?????? ….’you should know as you’ve got their LP.’ They both advised me that I was wrong….   until ….. he then told the audience that he used to be in a duo called ‘Dollar’ before churning out a few of their classic tunes.

At that point I think I got paid back those brownie points I’d spent for the England Scotland game! (which I then spent on watching us thrash Holland!).