The Frank Turner Meeting at Reading Hexagon

I met and photographed Frank Turner in Reading one year ago on November 30th, 2016 for the new bowel cancer fundraising book I am currently putting together. All proceeds raised from sales of the forthcoming book will be donated to the Beating Bowel Cancer charity. It turned into being a pretty amazing experience which will be told in full in the chapter in the book, As you can see in the above photo Frank was great fun and happy to do a photo wearing the charity's tie to help raise awareness about this awful illness. The reason why Frank agreed to meet me was after hearing about my Mum's 4 year battle with bowel cancer before she sadly passed away in August 2016.

I met Frank in one of the rooms back stage at Reading Hexagon. I was told that I would have 5 minutes with him, so I knew I had to be ready with my camera and that every second would count with him. There was a itinerary sheet on the wall which showed just how busy a day he had. And I saw my name on it, which was a nice touch knowing that I was a very small part in his day.

Frank couldn't have been nicer. I made sure I got the name of his first record, which has an interesting story behind it. He was extremely nice and was happy to chat and do the photos. We crammed in quite a bit into the 5 minutes. When he found out that I didn't have a ticket for the sold out show he put me on the guest which was a very kind and generous gesture.

The gig was outstanding. I've got a few of his albums and, through other fans of my favourite band, The Alarm, I have been really getting into his music this year. However this was my first experience of seeing him live. I knew it was going to be good, but seriously it would not be an understatement to say that this was one of the best gigs that I have been to. Quite brilliant! I followed this up by going to one of the The Lost Weekends gigs in London earlier this year, which was outstanding too.

I don't want to write too much here as I want to save plenty for the chapter in the book. I know that this kind of magical experience will produce the kind of chapter in the book that I am aiming for. It simply would not have happened without Frank's help. A true legend..

The book is about half finished. Plenty more interesting people to still to meet and photograph, so it is still about a year away I reckon.

Biff Byford of Saxon On Board Bowel Cancer Charity Book

Saxon frontman Biff Byford is the latest person that I've hopefully got on board the forthcoming bowel cancer fundraising book, The Record. I am not sure where or when the meeting will happen yet, but hopefully sometime during 2018. During the early 1980s I bought quite a few records by Saxon, which I still have in my collection. My brother has always liked his heavy metal, so some of that was always going to rub off on me.

The book is being put together in memory of my Mum who passed away in 2016 from bowel cancer. This awful illness is the second highest cancer killer in the UK claiming 16,000 lives each year, and 41,000 people are diagnosed every year. If diagnosed early it is very treatable in over 90% of cases, but much more needs to be done to improve early detection rates. All proceeds raised from sales of the book will be donated to Beating Bowel Cancer. The book is the follow up to 2015's Lives & Times, which has so far raised over £3250 for the charity, and alongside other items, is available on my www.bowelcancerfundraising.co.uk website. 

Meeting Colin Murray at a Record Shop

This week I met up with television and radio presenter, Colin Murray at the Sister Ray record shop in Soho. It was great fun, and I can reveal that a very bizarre conversation involving customers and the manager will be included in the chapter talking about first records. We got some great photos in the shop, and the whole experience of spending time browsing through vinyls brought back memories of buying records as a teenager. 

Football mad Colin was also excitingly preparing for Northern Ireland's World Cup play off matches against Switzerland, which they sadly lost on one of the worst refereeing decisions in years. 

The forthcoming book will be raising funds for the Beating Bowel Cancer charity. My Mum passed away from Bowel cancer in August 2016, four years and five operations after her diagnosis in 2012. Bowel cancer is the second highest cancer killer in the UK taking 16,000 lives each year. However, if detected early it can be successfully treated in over 90% of cases. Raising awareness and helping to improve early diagnosis is key, and hopefully the book will help to play a small part in that too.

Steve Norman To Feature In The Record - A Charity Book For Beating Bowel Cancer

Steve Norman from Spandau Ballet is a another big name to come on board my forthcoming bowel cancer fundraising book. I am hopefully going to meet the saxophonist, who also plays the guitar and percussion, at the beginning of December. 

The new book, which will be called The Record, is my follow up to 2015's Lives & Times. I have been fundraising for Beating Bowel Cancer since my mother had her first operation back in 2012. Although the operation to remove the cancerous tumour from her bowel was a success, the cancer spread to her lungs, and then to her brain towards the end of 2015, which sadly proved to be the beginning of the end. She lived with stage 4 cancer for four years with great courage and dignity, and passed away in August 2016 just after her 80th birthday. 

All funds raised from the book will be donated to the charity. The book will hopefully help to raise awareness about this awful disease, which can be successfully treated in over 90% of cases if caught early. So improving early diagnosis is key.