Bob G whoever you are (signed in as Guest) I was there all of those years ago (31 I make it) when Tony was showered with match boxes in the Manchester Sports Guild & what a great night it was. I have always had a soft spot for Tony and to this day often quote lines from "The Hovis Parody" when anyone at work starts to talk about the "old days". Sadly I did not see a single performance from Tony since the 70s.
Bob, if you where a regular of the MSG you may have a vague memory of a bloke who used to hitch hike from Lincolnshire to Manchester, turn up in folk club in an RAF uniform then get changed, get pissed and then sleep under a railway bridge near the club. That bloke was me!
After the club finished each night I was always allowed to stay until it was locked up, that way I usually had a couple of drinks with organisers and the artists that is how in the early days I met so many of the performers, for those of you who know me well the rest is history.
We did drink a toast to Tony in our local last night, I drank to a man who had made me laugh & my friends drank to "one of the coppers in last of the summer wine"
Good bye Tony & thank you