Playing Through Time
October 2021

Aylesbury Waterside show
Photo © Jo Hackett

Steve outside Carlisle Cathedral
Photo © Jo Hackett

Following our south coast shows, the next part of our tour took us to several places and monuments, travelling through history from an old Saxon tower to the Angel of the North.

First stop, Carlisle... We had the chance there to explore the city and visit the Norman cathedral, with its impressive facade and gorgeous starry night ceiling. We stayed nearby in Wetheral, with its imposing Victorian viaduct over the River Eden, rumbling through a thousand rapids.

The Carlisle, Stockton and Newcastle shows were all wild and wonderful, with band on fire and ecstatic crowds. Terrific to be in the vibrant north, and finally to actually visit the massive Angel of the North too, with its built to scale aircraft wings for arms...

We then travelled south to Oxford, replete with its dreaming spires and the prison / castle, which Jo and I explored with a guided tour. This extraordinary place took us through time from a Saxon tower, to a reputedly haunted Norman crypt, and buildings built through the centuries to enlarge the prison, with all its terrifying historical events. Our hotel was actually a conversion of a part of this prison, and Jo's and my room was in a turret, directly above the dark hole where the worst offenders were thrown.

Amanda Lehmann, who has rejoined us for Aylesbury, Oxford and Peterborough, walked with Jo and me in Oxford, winding our way through its narrow streets alongside the pillars and steeples of historic university buildings. Oxford always brings to mind CS Lewis, who lived and lectured there, and Philip Pullman who was equally inspired by this city, where you always feel on the edge of that magical world of dreaming spires...

The Oxford show had a fantastic atmosphere. It was also fabulous to play at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury, run by David Stopps, who many years ago hosted Genesis at the Friars Aylesbury. It was great to see him and wonderful to receive his presentation of engraved flagons.

So special to have experienced and played in all those places, with amazingly appreciative audiences and such a rich tapestry of history.

Now on to Peterborough...