As a teenage schoolboy in the North East, just mastering folk guitar, I spent hours perfecting the little catch that characterises the accompaniment of 'Close the Coalhouse Door' and I got into terrible trouble at my private school by performing, unannounced and un-rehearsed (at least in the hearing of the teacher in charge) 'The Socialist ABC' at a school end of term in-house concert!

Joy of Joys, I saw Alex and Henry Livings performing 'Northern Drift' at our local state school. My teachers were, by then, convinced that I was the local 'Red Under the Bed'!

Alex Glasgow`was a major influence on me both as a writer and, later, as a theatre director and actor. 'Close the Coalhouse Door' and 'The Day of the Sardine' are classics in their own right and 'The Tyne slides By' is nothing short of genius.

Alex Glasgow is sadly missed.