On Saturday 8th November 1998 a group of us met up and travelled to see Del Amitri at the Corn Exchange in Cambridge, including Doug Brown and Louanne Sewell who have just flown in that morning from the USA, and Russell Taylor who had come down from Aberdeen. Our day didn't start too well. I was up early in a state of high excitement. The postmen bought me another delivery of Dels singles, and I was so excited that I sliced my thumb rather deeply with our sharpest knife whilst trying to cut open the package.
I got the kids sorted, walked the dog and waited for Libby and Hilary to arrive with our guests from the US. Ten minutes before I expected them Russell called from Gatwick Airport to say that they'd found Louanne but that there was no sign of Doug! Panic set in.
Ten minutes later Doug had been found, but his luggage was still in Detroit! Luckily he had hand baggage with the important things - his mini disc recorder, his camera and a spare pair of undies.
So by the time Kevin arrived (having got lost en route) we were an hour and a half late. We were supposed to meet Emma Dick at 1 pm in Cambridge. Unfortunately, was nearer 3 when we eventually arrived!
At five o'clock after a very late pizza lunch, we'd taken our places, not quite at the head of the queue, but just behind two others. Whilst we were waiting, suddenly someone jumped over Emma and shambled off down the road. It was Justin, who seemed a little surprised that people were waiting already. We saw the other members of the band (except Iain) coming out at various times, Mark with his wife and son, and Andy in the most strange fake fur coat and funny hat -his dress sense is not the best at times!
Kevin went backstage for a while and came out with a spare backstage pass. Emma had a spare one too, so it was decided to offer them to Doug and Russell.
The doors opened and we all rushed in to take our positions at the front. Emma, Doug, Eddie and I stood between Iain and Justin. Libby, Hilary, Russell and Louanne were on the other side in front of Kris and Andy.
Support band, The Devlins were really good. Doug is a fan and was pleased that they played his favourite track to finish. But we were waiting for the main act.
Whilst we were waiting Iain's guitar tech Bryan threw me a plectrum - one of Justin's - Del Amitri on one side and Ruby on the other.
The gig was fantastic! The crowd were am amazing! I could go on using superlatives forever! Justin wore a black shirt and grey combat trousers (must have got a job lot as he wore the same outfit for the whole tour). Iain looked gorgeous in a checked short sleeved shirt and jeans. Andy had a red/orange shirt on (it suited him better than his usual grey sweaters)
Halfway through there was a Lottery machine which chose which songs to play. Tonight it picked Roll To Me first of all, and for the encore it was Ace of Spades and Be My Downfall. (We were told to cheer for two out of three of songs to finish the second half, the other being NEH) It was just a truly wonderful gig altogether. The lads looked like they were enjoying it, and the fully packed Corn Exchange audience certainly did. Everyone sang along to all the songs and the atmosphere was terrific. I could have stayed and listened to them all night! The time just flew by.
Afterwards the lucky four went backstage and the rest of us waited in the freezing cold. Libby had forgotten to bring a coat or sweatshirt so she shivered whilst I felt guilty wrapped in the large warm jacket and hat I'd brought along. We met up with Mandy Smith and her sister and friend whilst we hung around the bright pink and bright orange tour buses. (Yes, you did read me right! Yuk!)
After w while we decided to see if we could find out where they would be coming out. There was no security and Eddie and I sussed out where the party was. We were just going to gatecrash it, when Kevin came down to the loo. He asked Quinner and we were let in. I missed Iain by 5 minutes, and Mark and family had just left, but Andy, Kris and Justin were still there. Kris came over and blagged a fag from Kevin. He told us that they'd really enjoyed tonight, and that it was a particularly good one. The worst was apparently Llandudno (sorry to all who went there), where the audience just wouldn't warm up. The best up till now, as far as Kris was concerned, was Leeds. Quinner was ushering the band out so we left to join the others.
It was just after midnight and we called for a cab (we'd left our cars in a park and ride and the buses had stopped for the night) and were told it would be an hour and a half. We'll walk we said. It was only a five minute bus drive - shouldn't take long! Ha! Over an hour later...... (OK so we stopped for a kebab served by a really crazy Italian guy so that added some time). It was nearly 1.30 before we left Cambridge. The passengers slept on the way back to Armstrong Towers, Kevin and Eddie had the short straws as drivers. Hilary went home in the opposite direction. We got back to Bracknell at 3.20, and Kevin still had an hour and a half's drive ahead of him, and Libby had half an hour to get home.

From l to r Kevin Cawthorne,Hilary Gray, Libby Graham, Doug Brown Russell Taylor, Eddie Armstrong and (front) Louanne Sewell

Doug Brown

BACK

HOME

NEXT