I went to see this production at the Almeida with Kate (previously and latterly Susan) Fricker. I rated it as very good and I’m pretty sure that Kate really enjoyed this production too.
It was an adaptation of a short Pushkin play about the interaction/rivalry between the two composers. This play inspired Peter Shaffer to write Amadeus on the same topic but the pieces are quite different other than the core topic. Here is the Wikipedia entry about the play.
The dates on these reviews imply that Kate and I attended a preview in March 1989.
The diary is silent about what Kate and I did before or after the show; I’m sure we will have eaten something or at least taken some refreshment and had a chat. Perhaps Kate remembers.
My memory isn’t brilliant on this one. I would have sworn that we saw Stella Gonet opposite Tilda Swinton in this, but all the evidence says we saw Lore Brunner. I can see no sign of ever having seen those two (Swinton and Gonet) on stage together, although both were prominent in the leading roles we were seeing at that time.
In any case, I believe this was only my second visit to the Almeida, the first having been some six months earlier, to see Hello And Goodbye. I do recall falling for the Almeida as a place itself on this second visit – whereas that first visit I was simply bowled over by the production and didn’t especially associate that visit with the Almeida. That was partly, I think, because Kate was especially taken with what they seemed to be doing at the Almeida in terms of restoring an old theatre for modern use.
I think the meal at Le Caprice was my parents’ idea – to celebrate my qualification as a Chartered Accountant along with Uncle Michael, Auntie Pam, Stanley Bloom and his good lady (Sharit?).
Le Caprice was a trendy place even then – I’m not quite sure what would have made mum and dad choose it. Perhaps to show off a bit. Perhaps because they had heard that it was a restaurant that was able to cope with fussy eaters…we had at least one in our party that day in Auntie Pam.
Roll the clock forward 30 years and I note that Kim likes that place, perhaps for similar “trendy but able to cope with a fussy eater” reasons.
I don’t believe any photos were taken that evening to mark the occasion – such meals were not seen to be the thing of photos necessarily back then. But it is just possible that I’ll stumble across some pictures when I delve into dad’s “late works” box of negatives and prints, which still awaits my trawl.
“Kates” means Kate (Susan) Fricker’s place. I’m pretty sure Kate was, at that time, living in a pied-à-terre flat in Hampstead, part of the house that had been the family home before her family moved to York.
Evenings with Kate were always pleasant. We both enjoyed cooking and eating good food. We both liked decent wine and we would always have interesting conversations. I’m sure that Saturday evening would have been such an evening.
I’m guessing that we would have both been in celebratory mode, work-wise, at that time – Kate was called to the bar around the time I qualified.
Here is the typed up version, scanned from what I think must be carbon copies. Is there anyone else left on the planet who remembers what carbon copies were?
I guess I prepared these for our glorious return visit in January 1986 for the traditional UGM/AGM thingie.
“Artist’s Impression” of Keele Hall by Nano Banana 2 Lite
There’s something a bit “Hotel California” about Keele. You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.
On 15 July 1985 I wrote in my diary:
…left Keele forever at lunchtime…
…but of course that wasn’t true.
A sizeable piece of my heart never really left Keele – or possibly I should say that Keele never left a sizeable piece of my heart. Moreover, by October 1985, I was back again, albeit just for the first of many visits, especially in that first post-Keele year.
I had been at Keele for five years, which I have written up extensively in Ogblog, more than 200 articles, starting with…
…doing the Foundation Year 1980/81, Law & Economics 1981-1984, then an additional year as Education & Welfare (sabbatical) for the Students’ Union 1984/85.
During those first post Keele months – for most of the following year in fact – I visited Keele regularly. This October visit was the first of them, recorded in detail in my diary:
Friday, 18 October 1985 – rushed day at work – dashed off to Keele – had dinner at Petra [Wilson’s] – went over to Annalisa [de Mercur’s] and Kate [Fricker’s] flats – fairly late night.
Saturday, 19 October 1985 – got up late – did very little all day – went over to [Barnes] L49/L 54 – went to Pinocchio’s -> Ben’s [Benita Wishart’s] party / Union – another late night.
Sunday, 20 October 1985 – Got up very late again – left Keele. Got back to London tired and late.
From https://www.studentcrowd.com/hall-l1004515-s1043587-barnes-hall-keele_university-keele
In retrospect, I’m not convinced that those regular visits to Keele, at that time, were such a good idea. I wanted to maintain the relationship with Petra, although observation of others should have told me, and hindsight did tell me, that trying to keep that sort of Keele relationship going, with one of us being post-Keele in London, was not likely to last.
I also wanted to keep the many friendships going; in that regard I was far more successful. For many years, post Keele, most of the people I hung out with were my Keele friends. In several cases, the Keele friendships from 40-50 years ago are still the people I see socially today.
(He says, writing in Autumn 2026).
As I embark on writing up my diaries from those in-between years, late 1985 to late 1988, only a small number of the stories will have general appeal to Keele and former Keele folk.
I especially got into regular theatre and concert going during that late 1980s period. Some of my stories of that have appeal to the general public and the AI bots these days.
For example, the following article – a theatre visit with Annalisa in 1989 (I have already written up late 1988 through to late 2001), gets hits on Ogblog every day at the moment, and occasional real messages from real people with questions about it.
But the Keele / recently ex Keele angle of this story from autumn 1985 will only occasionally be central to my 85-88 postings. When it is central, I shall share the pieces on Keelie socials, but otherwise leave it to retro-blog addicts, ex-Keele addicts and search bots to trawl Ogblog for the stories.
I plan to post articles from this 1985 to 1988 series over the next two-and-a-half to three years. Coincidentally, that is roughly the duration of a typical Keele undergraduate’s time at Keele these days.
“Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.” Bard Harris image by Nano Banana on my instruction.
Kate Fricker: “Would you like me to drive, Professor?” Watson Fuller: “No. Why do you ask?”AI actors images provided by DeepAI.
One of my most memorable Keele days, right at the end of my time there. Kate (now Susan) Fricker and I were invited to join the University guest pack at the Lichfield Festival, courtesy of Peter Held of industrial textiles behemoth Marling Industries plc.
Ironically, Marling Industries was best known for seatbelt materials. Ironically, because Kate and I were treated to a rollercoaster ride from Keele to Lichfield with Professor Watson Fuller and Mrs Fuller.
I was very fond of Professor Fuller. And I think he was also fond of us. He’d certainly heaped praise on one of my least challenging pieces of research a few month’s earlier, in his capacity as Chair of Foundation Year Committee:
Professor Fuller was Professor of Physics, so he really should have had a profound grasp of the potential physical effects, were a large object travelling at speed – e.g. a car with four passengers doing 60 mph on a duel carriageway – go out of control and hit something. Yet, he did not seem to have a profound grasp of the steering wheel most of the time, nor did he seem to be paying much attention to the road when, frequently, he turned around to us, waxing lyrical about this, that, or the other.
I suppose, as Fuller was a biophysicist, credited with vital supporting work on X-Ray diffraction with Watson & Crick, that his head was always in far loftier thoughts than mere road safety. Or should I say that driving without paying fuller attention to the road was in Professor Fuller’s DNA.
Mrs Fuller did not look terrified. Perhaps she was used to it. But apparently, on arrival, Kate and I looked a little ruffled. I remember Professor Philip Boden and his good lady taking us aside before the lunchtime concert.
Has Watson offered to take you home after the evening concert? Thought so. Not many people want a second lift from Watson, bless him. Reputation precedes him. Would you like us to rescue you? Thought so. I’ll tell him we’ve invited you back to our place for coffee after the concert. Easiest that we take you back.
We were grateful. And Professor Boden was good to his word, not only giving us a lift home but also providing us with some warm hospitality and enjoyable chat at Chez Boden before taking us home.
To the concerts. First up was a lunchtime concert at St Chad’s Church, Lichfield.
Joseph Haydn – String Quartet No 3, Op 33 (“The Birds”)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – String Quartet in G (K 387)
Very charming it was too. The setting. The fine quartet and the non-challenging nature of the music.
After plenty of hospitality in the afternoon and a migration to the Cathedral, we enjoyed a bigger deal concert in the evening. The Chamber Orchestra of Europe, under George Malcolm, supported by András Schiff, Yuuko Shiokawa and Heinz Holliger.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Wind Serenade in C Minor
Alban Berg – Chamber Concerto for Violin, Piano and Winds
George Frideric Handel – Concerto Grosso, Op 3 No 2 in B flat
George Frideric Handel – Music for the Royal Fireworks
I must confess to have struggled with the Alban Berg. Always have, probably always will. The rest was easy listening by serious music standards.
With thanks to Mark Ellicott, who captured the historic moment at which I symbolically handed the keys to the Education & Welfare Office to Hayward Burt.
10 June 1985 was the day of the last UGM of the academic year and the official end of my sabbatical year of office as Education & Welfare officer. Not that the official ending seemed to reduce the number of meetings and things I attended for the next few weeks. We sabbaticals in particular undertook quite a substantial “handover”, which we hadn’t received with such gusto from our predecessors but which we felt we should do for our successors.
My appointments diary tells a slightly maudlin tale, with the entry “UGM, The End” on that day:
My personal diary sort-of covered the day…
Monday 10 June 1985 – last day officially in office – did little – “union committee meeting” for awhile – then somewhat chaotic last UG M – drink after etc. Very late night.
…although it failed to mention that I was awarded life membership of the Keele Students’ Union at that UGM. I was given a card the following day to prove it. Very proud of that card I am, such that I carried it around with me at all times for years. It now looks like this:
Like my face, my life membership card has seen better days. 40 years is a long time.
I always knew I had something in common with Nelson Mandela, but in truth had forgotten, until I found this article in the Sentinel while looking for something else, that Nelson & I both had life membership of UKSU conferred upon us that night:
Here’s the text from my personal diary for the next week or so:
Tuesday, 11 June 1985 – Rose late – residential services in afternoon etc – had dinner with Petra.
Wednesday, 12 June 1985 – busy day – meetings etc – celebrated after Senate – had dinner with Petra.
Thursday, 13 June 1985 – meetings – in office most of the day – had an easy evening [Strangely, the appointments diary says that I did the Bust Fund Disco that night. I expect the appointments diary is right and the memory at the time I wrote up that week was wrong.
Friday, 14 June 1985 – meetings, office etc. Cooked dinner for Petra, Ruth and [Graham] Pitt.
Saturday, 15 June 1985 – lazyish day – shopped etc – popped over to Pitt’s – went to Jackie Wong’s for dinner.
Sunday, 16 June 1985 – Rose late/lazy day –brekker etc. Cooked Petra dinner later.
Monday, 17 June 1985 – went to Derbyshire for day with June – peak/picnic etc. dinner. Got back late – Petra came round after.
I have very happy memories of the day June Aitken (the Keele Student’s Union administrator extraordinaire) took us outgoing sabbaticals (me, Kate, John & Pady) to the Peak District, for a day of picnicking and walking.
It was a truly special and memorable day – I am so irritated that I didn’t take a camera and a roll of film that day. I fell in love with the Peak District that day and visited it many times since – especially in the late 1980s and early 1990s – the following photo from 1990:
Tuesday, 18 June 1985 – meetings etc – Ringroad rehearsal – Petra cooked dinner later.
The next day…something significant happened. I’ll write up that story and its aftermath next time.
On top of my Hackgrass reveal antics on our last morning in office, it seems we held some sort of bogus committee meeting later in the afternoon. More a symposium than a mere meeting, by the looks of it.
It looks as though I completed the minutes that December, ahead of our January 1986 appearance at the UGM I shouldn’t wonder, so I’ll publish the typed version at that date. The hand-written version that follows must have been part-written on the day and then concluded later.
Experts at handwriting analysis forensics might be able to work out exactly what went on. John White – I suggest you might choose not to apply for this role, if your attempt at the Hackgrass cypher is anything to go by.
I have extracted a few good pages from the May 1985 edition of Concourse. By that time, my Education and Welfare sabbatical year was coming to an end, so the paper was interested in ushering in the new and ushering out the old. Hold the front page…
Superb picture of John White on the front page, the main (nay only) reason I have uploaded this page
There had been some sort of hoo-ha about the FY exams that Easter, so it seems that I got busy and Margaret Gordon (a lovely lass, I wonder what became of her?) interviewed me about it:
FY stands for Foundation Year, the late lamented “try a bit of everything” course, sadly no longer taught at Keele. Gresham College is perhaps the closest thing to it.
I like the next two pages – a double page spread on the new sabbaticals. Nice to still have pictures of faces I remember. Hayward Burt’s comments on my style raised a smile with me.
I don’t think the term “stress head” had been invented back then, not least because, if it had existed, I think that is exactly the term Hayward would have used to describe me.
I love this little article about John White, Kate Fricker and the Students’ Union cleaners. John looks like a rabbit startled by headlights in the picture. Little did he know that he would subsequently become seasoned for photo shoots, such as his gig as the poster boy for Food Retailer Monthly magazine (or whatever it was called, why can’t I remember?)
Top tank top, John.
Finally the following review of the UGM. These days, the (anonymous) author of this piece would surely not get away with the ethno-physiognomy remark made about me, especially in that context. Where was editor Krista Cowman’s red pen when I needed it? Surely the UGM and Concourse should have been safe space from such comments for people like me? Is it too late for me to seek redress?
Strangely, I have no recollection whatsoever of reading that comment before, although I must have read it, so it must have seemed like water of a duck’s par for the course back then.
Sunday, 12 May 1985 – nice day. Rose late had “breakfast” – came to office late afternoon worked here and at home. Petra came over later.
Years later I discovered that there is a well-known term for the Sunday meal I described as “breakfast”… brunch. I cannot remember what I would prepare for such a meal but it probably bore more than a passing resemblance to an English breakfast.
Monday 13 May 1985 – busy day today – meetings etc. Cooked Petra meal in evening.
Tuesday, 14 May 1985 – union committee and meetings all day (including staff meeting). Petra cooked me a meal in evening.
15 May 1985 – busy day. Senate in afternoon. Long Ringroad rehearsal.
Thursday, 16 May 1985 – went to [magistrates] court in morning – meetings all afternoon – J-Soc early evening – Ringroad performance in the evening.
Friday, 17 May 1985 – busy day on birth control – committees et cetera. Very tired after. Shopped – cooked Petra meal.
Saturday, 18 May 1985 – road quite late – Kate [Fricker] came over to work on grievance/discipline [procedures]– Petra cooked us a meal in evening.
…Kate and I were determined to try and help leave behind a better set of grievance and disciplinary procedures than those we had inherited when we came into office.
Sunday, 19 May 1985 – Rose quite late – had breakfast. Did some work in office – Petra came over later.
Monday, 20 May 1985 – hard day in office – UGM in evening (so so) – Petra came over.
I cannot remember what was happening at our penultimate UGM to make it “so-so”. But I have discovered the following snippet from Concourse which made me laugh. Around that time, it became public knowledge that Princess Margaret was going to give up the Chancellorship of Keele. Concourse asked a few of us to suggest a suitable replacement.
I still think that Bugs Bunny would be a great choice.
I have subsequently found the first three quotes from that article – John’s mine and Hayward’s, were picked up by the Evening Sentinel:
Tuesday 21 May. 1985 – busy day – meetings etc. Did Bust Fund Disco in evening – Petra came over later.
The Bust Fund Disco will have been with John White – click picture link below for example playlist.
Wednesday, 22 May 1985 – rushed with meetings. Birth control [leaflet] etc. Cooked Petra meal in evening.
By this stage, the publication, which we named Sexplanations, perhaps even on that very day, had become more than just birth control. I remember that Jean Mackay was especially helpful with the editing of that document at the end. I’ll write some more about the publication of it in a subsequent episode very soon.
Thursday, 23 May 1985 – rushed with meetings and stuff – OSS [Overseas Students Society]meeting in evening – Petra came over later.
Friday, 24 May 1985 – busy day in office – went rebate etc. Cooked Petra [a meal] in evening – went to jazz night etc.
Not sure what “rebate” was about, but Hayward Burt was involved and there was some sort of finance committee meeting that day.
Saturday 25 May 1985 – rose quite early – shopped – did some work – cooked Petra dinner in evening.
Sunday 26 May 1985 – fairly lazy day – breakfast – did some work – Petra came over later.
Monday 27 May 1985 – took morning off – went to Barlaston – worked thereafter. Petra came over later.
Barlaston Hall in 2008
I think Barlaston Hall was a crumbling ruin still in 1985, mired in controversy over the project to restore the place that was supposed to be completed in the mid 1980s but…
That visit would almost certainly have been Petra’s idea rather than mine, but I’m sure we both had a splendid time. I suspect that I was in a deadline frenzy over completing the Sexplanations booklet on time, while Petra was on a mission to reduce my writing/editing excess on a Bank Holiday Monday.
Judging by my diary, I spent most of my time at the start of Keele’s summer term 1985 cooking meals for Petra Wilson (or occasionally being cooked a meal by her), or sitting through interminable meetings, as was my wont as SU Education & Welfare Officer.
Although, if the Concourse and Geordie mag wags are anything to go by, I must have been generating huge quantities of verbiage in the publicity circular and the like, as well as crafting my magnum opus, Sexplanations. I also was spending time rehearsing the new improved Ringroad with the enhanced team, including Dave Griffiths, John Bowen & Warwick Cairns – more on those topics to come soon.
This article is covering a dull-sounding period at the start of term in all of its exquisite diary dullness. It livens up as the piece goes on…honest.
Monday 22 April 1985 – Busy day in the office – interviews and What Subsid. Worked late – had early night.
Tuesday 23 April 1985 – More interviews today etc. Got quite a lot done – earlyish night – Petra came back [to Keele] in middle of the night.
Wednesday 24 April 1985 – Early start – meetings etc today. Cooked Petra dinner in evening.
Thursday, 25 April 1985 – Busy day with meetings and interviews etc – early night tonight.
Friday 26 April 1985 – Rushed day with Union Committee Meeting etc. Petra came round later.
Saturday 27 April 1985 – Rose late – went into town late – ran around the shops etc. Cooked Petra dinner in evening.
Sunday 28 April 1985 – Rose late – did some work later on – saw Petra for a while later.
One of the union cleaners, Kitty, retired around that time, so I suspect those interviews were about replacing her. I was busy researching Sexplanations and for sure I spoke with lots of medical people about that, but I don’t think in those days I would have called such research meetings interviews – for those I tended to write the name of the hospital or medical practice I visited.
For sure we launched Wot Subsid 1985-87 at the start of that term.
And the more I think about it, the more I think I should publish a collection of my Keele recipes in a booklet entitled “Wot Subsist”, for students everywhere henceforward.
In truth, boiled beef and carrots would not have tended to appear on my menu. I would occasionally cook beef for Petra but she preferred lighter fare – mostly chicken or fish – sometimes pork. Not spicy food (although I did have a canon of spicy dishes for others). Mild creamy sauces, for sure. If I were to cook beef it would be Chinese style – normally stir fry – although I had already cultivated a wicked Guangzhou style brisket of beef cooked in a “to die for” stock. I suppose that is sort-of boiled beef.
Monday 29 April 1985 – Worked quite hard today – got quite a bit done. Petra cooked meal in evening.
Tuesday 30 April 1985 – Rushed and busy today with meetings etc – Petra came round later.
Wednesday 1 May 1985 – Very busy day with meetings till late etc – Petra came round after.
Thursday 2 May 1985 – Got quite a bit done today as meetings were cancelled etc. Petra came around later.
Friday, 3 May 1985 – Busy day in office today – lots of hassle in afternoon. Shopped and went pictures (A Private Function) then Petra cooked meal.
Saturday 4 May 1985 – Did very little today. Rose late etc and cooked Petra dinner in evening.
Sunday, 5 April 1985 – Didn’t get up till late – did a little work in the evening and popped over to L54 briefly.
Ah, A Private Function. I remember that movie – about a chiropodist rearing a pig for a party:
Who’d have thought that, within 10 years, I’d be mixed up with a chiropodist, Janie, throwing a pig party. Trigger warning on the album that follows – some of the pictures are seriously piggy and I don’t mean the Janie & Phillie picture on the cover:
But I digress.
As for visiting Barnes L54, that had been “my flat” for two years: 82/83 and 83/84:
Still there in 84/85 was Alan Gorman, who the only one who had been there throughout my time in that flat. Also Chris Spencer, who had been there for most of the time I was in that flat, plus Pete Wild who joined us in 83/84. Hayward Burt had taken my place…quite literally:
Oy, Hayward. That’s MY seat.
Monday 6 May 1985 – Worked hard despite bank holiday – cooked Petra meal in evening.
Tuesday, 7 May 1985 – Busy day with Union Committee morning, meetings etc till late. International Affairs – drank after until quite late and then went to see Petra.
Wednesday, 8 May 1985 – Hard day in office – Welfare Committee etc. Ringroad rehearsal in the evening – went well – went to see Petra after.
Thursday, 9 May 1985 – Busy day in office with enquiries etc. Busy evening – met Vice Chancellor [new VC was Brian Fender] – Union Committee meeting and Shirley and Kitty’s party. Went over to Petra’s after briefly – came back later.
Friday 10 May 1985 – Busy day in office – rushed off feet – especially in the afternoon. Went to theatre to see The Nerd and cooked Petra meal after.
I remember that we called Brian Fender “Uncle Fester” in those early days.
Jackie Coogan playing the role of Brian Fender…I mean Uncle Fester
Shirley & Kitty’s party got a whole page in Concourse that month. But surely the most newsworthy element, forty years on, is John White’s mop top hair and tank top garment.
JOHN – WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?
As for The Nerd, I remembered little about it until I looked it up. Clearly this production went on to Coventry after Stoke:
We saw it at the Hanley Theatre Royal. I remember being pleased that I had seen Jasper Carrott perform live but not thinking too much of the show. The Evening Sentinel slammed it in a way that only the Sentinel could:
Billington on Mozart Salieri Mon, Apr 10, 1989 – 37 · The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.com
Ratcliffe on Mozart Salieri Sun, Apr 16, 1989 – 43 · The Observer (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.com
