Thanks Paul!

Actually John was 52 and I was in my Mid 40's at the first Gig - so we were "Youngish"

I still have one of the old Gourd banshaws that I played at the event, John and I made a couple based on a design given to us by a young coloured lad who had just been released from slavery by some new government act - it only had four strings so we added another - seemed a shame to waste a digit!

A few years after, about 1910 I went to a mates child's christening, the kid was called Joel and I gave him the spare bandshaw as a present (I wonder if he ever learned to play it?) His dad was a great laugh and we all called him "Todd" due to his surname being Sweeney.

Had some bad news today from Thwaites; They have decided not to celebrate another anniversary after this one until they reach 500, so it looks like we're going to be laid off for a bit :0(

Take care - Pete and John