THE GOOD TIMES

My name is Steve Barnes and as I write this in March 2008 I am approaching my 52nd birthday. I work for Lloyds TSB as I have all my working life and spend most of my money these days on Football (still supporting Leeds United) and going to concerts. My musical tastes are quite diverse and include Beautiful South (sadly no more), Jools Holland, Dido, Celine Dion, Yannick Noah and many others.

Find it hard to believe that Guys n Dolls are back and even more incredibly I nearly missed them as I suffered a heart problem in January and crashed and wrote off my car ob the motorway. Fortunately I walked away with barely a scratch and no one else was injured. I did however spend a week in hospital having blacked out seven times in one day. It turned out that my hear rate had dropped to 28. However I am still here and waiting for THAT concert.

Let’s go back over 20 years. I cannot remember everything although fortunately I still have a couple of scrapbooks although these do not start in earnest until I saw the group at Wakefield Theatre Club when they were there for a week from 27 March 1977. Fortunately I had still kept a record of shows that I had previously been to. The first time was on 11th June 1975 at Club Fiesta in Sheffield. Following this there were visits to the ABC Theatre, Great Yarmouth; A fan club event at Ashford Common: Batley Variety Club; BBC Pebble Mill; Floral Hall Theatre, Scarborough; London Palladium; City Hall, Sheffield; Spa Theatre, Bridlington; Theatre Royal, Nottingham; Empire Theatre, Liverpool; and Civic Theatre, Halifax so that by the time they arrived at Wakefield I had already seen them 26 times. During these early days I was very keen on Thereze and this was to continue until the early summer of 1977 when my 6th sense switched in and I switched my attentions to Martine where they have remained ever since. Shortly after David and Thereze left. I never had the same affections for Julie (sorry) although as one of the lucky few that frequently got back stage  I almost regarded her as a big sister even though she was younger than me!

Anyway after Wakefield and by the end of 1977 I had also visited Stockton Fiesta; Barnsley Civic Hall; Park Hall, Charnock Richard, Pebble Mill again on 9th July (broadcast 30th July) when I was briefly interviewed for TV by Pete Murray (was this the last date as a six some?); Bunny’s, Cleethorpes; Heart of the Midlands, Nottingham; Pier Pavilion, Cleethorpes; Talk of the North, Manchester; Night Out, Birmingham; Meadowvale Country Club, Toneyrefail; Fagin’s, Manchester bringing the total shows to 52.

Looking back at ticket price they seem incredible costing as little as £1. Occasionally I really splashed out and spent £3! Compare this with the £116 I am spending to see Celine Dion in Geneva this summer.

As it was for many other fans much of my time was spent trying to raise the profile of Guys n Dolls whether by writing to the press or requesting tracks on radio shows.

Watching Guys n Dolls did mean that I got to see many other well known stars including Freddie Star, Canon and Ball, Brian & Michael, Stu Francis, Faith Brown, Duggie Brown

Whilst I usually tried to find reasonably priced accommodation this did not always work out and Manchester usually gave me my biggest problems. I remember having to pay £21.60 B&B in Manchester at a 5 star hotel and on another occasion had to get a Taxi from Manchester to Wakefield as I was unable to find anywhere to stay. That cost over £20 as well. Of course though it was worth it just to see another great performance.

1978 saw the passion continue with new venues including the Show bar, Brighouse; Baths Hall, Scunthorpe; Chesford Grange, Kenilworth; ABC Theatre, Blackpool; Kings, Birmingham; Golden Garter, Wythenshawe;  Stoneleigh Club, Porthcawl; Jollees, Stoke on Trent; Wellington Pier, Great Yarmouth; Festival Pavilion, Skegness; Civic Hall, Oldham; and Bailey’s, Leicester taking my tally to around 83 by the end of 1978.

Also in 1978, May to be exact the story of Dominic and Julie broke although most regular fans were hardly surprised after all we had often stayed in the same hotel.

1979 managed to find yet more new venues including The Three B’s, Bridlington; Troubadour, Cardiff, Festival Pavillion, Paington; Princess Theatre, Torquay; Minehead Football Club; Kings, Eastbourne; Talk of the West, Trevalles and Bailey’s Watford. By now my tally has reached 112 but my records cease.

During 1978 the group also kindly visited St Johns Community School in Wakefield. Without giving too much away I will say that this was a secure unit where my parents worked. Some of the girls were not keen on Guys n Dolls but they were soon won over even getting to sample some unreleased material. Fourteen lucky girls even got the chance to see a live show at Sheffield Fiesta.

I recall see David and Theresa )as Dollar) at a night club in Gloucester. I’m not sure of the date but it might have been about 1996.

Fast forward now to 16th September 2006 when I saw Martine perform in The Wedge at The Horns in Watford. Not surprisingly she needed a little reminding as to who I was but she was still as beautiful as ever. I’m still in love but don’t tell my wife.

And finally as they say. On 17th May 1987 by daughter was born: her name – Martine!