News

Planting for Hope in Uganda

On Chesapeake Bay with the Cassidys

I’ve just returned from a life enhancing trip to Maryland, USA performing at a Renaissance Festival and meeting some very special people. My calling to Maryland began a year ago with a song I had created “The Lady of Shalott,” inspired by the pre-raphaelite John Waterhouse painting. I sent it to Washington DC National Gallery […]

View of Coniston Lake from Ruskin's Drawing Room Window

‘Beautiful House’ Tour Spring 2013

First of the ‘beautiful houses’ we visited as part of our music and poetry mini April/May tour was the former home of the great John Ruskin, Brantwood in the Lake District. He was a poet, artist, critic and social revolutionary who challenged the moral foundations of 19th century Britain. A pioneering environmentalist, he was founder of the National […]

Saints, songs and a sheep rescue

I’ve spent much time recently on the Southbank, busking over Easter at the Real Food Festival, and several visits to St Thomas Hospital, on the river Thames, with a friend of mine who suffers from a rare respiratory disease called “RP”… short for “Relapsing Polychondritis”. Our visits haven’t been without adventure, or inspiration. The time […]

Angels, peacocks and gypsy jazz


In the midst of BBC interviews this week I managed to experience some wonderful folk and jazz music by some of the best musicians around. Tuesday evening was folk at the Tarc gallery in Stanford Bridge where I host live music once a month. For Burns night we were fortunate to have the delights of […]