On of my fondest memories goes back to the late 80s. Location Stanford in the Vale, Johnny had been doing the catering at the Horse & jockey. His van was in the car park next to the paddock where the marquee was located. At the entrance to the paddock there is an old tack shed, we used to use it to store festival equipment etc. It was the early hours of Sunday morning, probably about 4am, most punters had gone to the campsite. I was just closing the site down, we where in the middle of a formidable storm. Sheltering in the tack shed with Johnny & a few others we saw what looked to be a firework display! 4am in the rain? I think not! So I went to investigate, it turned out that a mains power cable had come down & was whipping across a road and across an old gentleman's garden! He was standing in his doorway in his PJs! Terrified! I got him back into his house & called for the emerg. services. Once they arrived (only a few minutes) I went back to the site, as I approached the H&J I could hear singing! On entering the tack shed, soaked & a little shaken I saw a sight I will never forget! Johnny & 3 or maybe 4 others, sat around a tin bath, boots & socks off with their feet in warm water (the contents of the Singing Chefs baby burcos). Each one was holding a midnight special, needless to say I joined in! After the singing stopped Johnny & 2 others where showing each other their operation scars!
Bare in mind, that Johnny had started the day serving breakfasts, manned the SC caravan all day, been to cash & carry & performed on main stage! Any person in their right mind would have gone to bed, hours ago! But that was not Johnny's way! He lived every minute & I for one am proud to have lived a few of them with him.