We joined our neighbours and good friends Dave and Ruth Richardson and their family and friends to celebrate his 70th birthday yesterday. It was one of the best gatherings we have been to. There were two rooms and the older generation, 20 in number, were in one while the youngsters were in the other. On the assumption that the older ones were aged 70 or more on average, there was 1,400 years of human experience there and, when we got talking, it was amazing how much we had in common. Several were brought up in Tang Hall estate and went to the same schools and we had the same memories of those times.

The younger family members arranged the party and it went like a well rehearsed variety show. Their three children had helped the six grandchildren, aged between 7 and 13, to arrange the program and encouraged them to rehearse and prepare for it. Eight year old Emily, the only girl, opened the show with a solo, guitar rendering of ‘Happy Birthday to You.’ This was followed by one of Dave’s CDs with all the old favourites to join in with. One of the boys, suitably dressed in white satin, sequin suit and large sun glasses, took the mike and sang a good selection of the KING’s best remembered hits before shaking the hands of all the oldies and leaving the stage. Karaoke followed, with all six performing separately and as a group. The comedians, led by the youngest boy, came on next as each took turns to tell jokes, prompted by the others. The finale was a chorus by the group of ‘Happy Birthday’ and joined by everybody else. When the loud applause, which had followed every act, died down they got Dave to stand up and sing a song he has sung to each one of them since they were little, “I wish I was single again !”

What a show. I have not seen a better one or enjoyed joining such a good party. A nice buffet followed and the evening was complete after more reminiscences and stories. I hope I’m here for his 80th.