Thanks Phil for reminding us. It took me some years to appreciate that he was a warm-hearted, intelligent and very sensitive guy underneath, and very much a victim of his need to be loved.

He once did two nights running at our club in Germany, with Iain MacKintosh. To make a change they did completely separate sets the second night, and Hamish launched into an hour of purest blues. Afterwards we all urged him to do blues more often, but he wouldn't - he was afraid his audiences wouldn't like it!

As to the train story above - he himself admitted it had happened to a friend and he'd pinched it 'cause he realised how well he could use it.

And then there's the fact that through him I met ace musician Kate Kramer (the third party on 'More and Merrier') who has become one of my closest friends over the years. We often talk about Hamish.

RIP, Hamish, wherever you are now.