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show wasn’t too full and he was so grateful that his tired old eyes would fill up and he would have to blow his nose to disguise his tears. I know that he had children but they were estranged. I have not seen Reg in years but often think of him and the service he did for his country that was barely recognised, and I pray that wherever he is he is at peace.
    At about this time I met a person who was in Perth touring with a big show from the UK and I decided to go back to England with him. It was not a successful relationship and I shoulder most of the blame, so we parted. I was very lucky to have received some wonderful reviews for my last book - all except one! In spite of the big number of good reviews it was that one bad review that really got to me. It was unrealistic to expect everyone to like the book but that one really stung. I was determined to get to the source of the nasty comments, which were headed ‘ A Pretentious Load of Rubbish’. I finally found out that they were made by the ex-lover mentioned above. I was probably a bit unkind towards him but finding out who it was made his comments not hurt as much. In fact, they barely touch me!
    London was nothing like I expected. My dreams had always been of all things American but being in glorious London I was able to start to appreciate the many charms of this great city. The wonderful aromas of Chinatown, the buzz of Piccadilly and Oxford Circuses, the magnificent theatres of which there were just so many, but most of all the people who lived there. I will never ever forget the kindness and hospitality shown to this naïve Aussie, long before I had any association with Su Pollard. Everywhere I went from working in a theatre to a drink in a local bar I made new pals. Some of those dear pals I have reconnected with through Facebook, which delights me including the aforementioned Ian Howells - if they read this they will know who they are. Mind you, some of those pals were probably not as genteel as one would have wished. One friend from work took me to a tiny little club in Soho, which seated about twenty persons and had a very small platform in the front. We sat in the back row right near the exit during lunch hour from work. Lights dimmed and suddenly a male dancer appeared on the platform and started to slowly strip, encouraged by money stuck into his G-string as he danced up the aisle and returned to the stage. He then removed his attire and slowly gyrated down the aisle again, allowing anyone on the aisle to have a quick ‘feel ‘or even a bit more! To say I was shocked would be an understatement, especially because we saw a person in the audience we both knew casually and who was VERY well known. We took off like two naughty schoolboys!
    I believe that my beloved Madame Jojo’s, where Su and I spent many happy hours, has recently closed. I loved the piano bar at Madame Jojo’s when, after their shows, casts from West End musicals would gather around the piano for the best sing-a-longs I have ever experienced. It was a magic time for me! Su knew many of the cast in West End musicals and we loved to go to JoJo’spiano bar after the final curtain. The very Best of Times indeed! Whenever we had friends visit from Australia or elsewhere we always took them to Jojo’s and without exception they all loved it, especially when the bar became a stage and the most amazing drag shows were presented. I caught several ‘straight’ friends tantalised by the near naked male bar staff! Not me though - I was a married man. Do I detect doubters?
    Working in the box office in London was such a joy because I was able to see almost every show and the box office staff, without exception, was always totally welcoming. One of the first shows I saw was Marilyn with the magnificent Stephanie Lawrence at the Adelphi Theatre, where Su would later star in Me & My Girl. I also adored Joe Allen’s where, as a performer entered the premises the