You meet the nicest people in your local!

I wandered into our local hostelry for my usual lunchtime glass of Perrier and soon found myself in conversation with a gentleman, unfortunately wheelchair bound, and his wife/partner. Invariably the conversation got around to music and we talked about many things, Gibsons and Fenders and plectrums and strings.

Eventually he revealed himself as Aaron Williams who, back in the swinging sixties, played guitar and drums with The Merseybeats a Liverpool group who charted and toured the world.

Sadly, ill health curtailed his career but now, living in Jarrow with his lovely wife who herself is not in the best of health, his love of music remains as strong as ever.

Photos and stories, his recollections of parts in films such as Tommy, Quadrophenia  and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe made him an entertaining companion. Maybe one day we'll collaborate on his life story!

Aaron confessed that he never really got into jazz although he did like Acker's Stranger on the Shore. Nobody's perfect and they are a lovely couple - I hope to catch up with them again. Lance