PHOTOGRAPHS

Pete Oakman, Stan Laundon and Ray Ennis in Darlington.

How good it was to meet up with one of Joe Brown's original 'Bruvvers' Pete Oakman at Darlington Civic Theatre. Pete, of course, was the co-writer of Joe's No.1 hit in 1962 "A Picture Of You." We've been friends for many years but not seen each other for about 35 of them. Pete is bass player with The Swinging Blue Jeans - and the Blue Jeans' original member and lead singer, Ray Ennis, joined us for the reunion photograph.

It was just a matter of getting the camera when I spotted this beautiful sky over old Hartlepool on Wednesday evening - July 21st. Initially, the rainbow was the reason I took a series of photographs - but the red glow afterwards, as the sun started to set, made this extra special for me. Photograph © Stan Laundon.

Hartlepool Carnival started on Thursday, July 29th and, as always, hundreds of people enjoying a great atmosphere. Photograph © Stan Laundon.

The A4 Pacific 4468 "Mallard" at her new home at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon, County Durham, England. Mallard was hauled to Shildon, under steam, by the LNER Peppercorn Class A1 60163 "Tornado" on June 23rd, 2010. "Mallard" holds the world's speed record for steam traction reaching 126 mph on July 3rd, 1938. Photograph © Stan Laundon.

When I first saw this Duck, and her nine ducklings trying to make it into the sea, I assumed it was an Eider Duck. However, having looked at the Encyclopaedia of British of Birds and the Natural History of Britain and Europe, the markings indicate it is a Mallard. Until recently, I was unaware that wild Mallards inhabit remote marshes, estuaries and sea shores - you live and learn! I'm glad to say they all made it safely into the North Sea, an hour or so, after I took this. Photograph © Stan Laundon.

The Infinity Bridge spans the River Tees in Stockton, England. The bridge, which is very picturesque at night, is a major part of the North Shore Development in Stockton. This iconic structure, named Infinity Bridge in September 2008 links the North Shore development and the Teesdale area. Photograph © Stan Laundon.

Photograph © Rainbow Photography

Joe Brown celebrated his 50th year in the music business recently and I was fortunate to visit him back stage at the Forum Theatre, in Billingham on April 19th, 2009. Joe and I go back many years and I'll never forget the happy times we shared together in the 1960's. It was nice to see our meeting being covered by Hartlepool Mail in their "Together Again" column.

An earlier photograph with Joe Brown, backstage at the Forum Theatre, Billingham on April 4th, 2008. Because of my 'overseas visit' we had not had the opportunity to meet for many years. In fact, it was 19 years ago when we last got together - and that, coincidentally, was also at the Forum Theatre, in Billingham, when he appeared in the stage play "One Careful Owner" with Lynda Baron. Joe Brown was my 'employer' between 1962 and 1966.

During May, 2008, I had the pleasure of spending a few days in Ireland with Mervyn Dempsey - former lead guitarist with Cliff Ledger and the Country Boys. It's been quite a few years since Mervyn returned to Ireland but was always asking me to fly over and pay him a visit - so I did. I spent some leisure time in Maghera, Magherafelt, Coleraine, Londonderry, Portrush, Portstewart and even popped over the border to Donegal to spend some left over Euros. It was also nice to meet up again with George Brendan Quinn, the uncle of Irish country music star, Brendan Quinn. For many years Mr Quinn was a resident in Middlesbrough. For those who might be interested, this is the father of Mervyn Dempsey - the young man who works for the Force India Formula One Racing Team.

It was nice to meet up with Albert Lee on a visit to the Studio in Hartlepool, in December 2007. I had the pleasure of introducing him on stage in the 1970's during a Hank Locklin concert at the City Hall, in Newcastle. Ace picker, singer, songwriter and movie star Jerry Reed was very complimentary about Albert in my book "Chasing Fireflies" so I took a copy along for him.

Tom Parker at Jackson's Wharf Restaurant in Hartlepool.

Music producer, arranger and composer Tom Parker, paid a flying visit to Hartlepool during late March 2008, and enjoyed a meal at Jackson's Wharf. Although born in Scotland, he has a strong attachment to the town as his family lived in Mulgrave Road for many years. Tom has been in the music business for years and started his musical career at the age of 16 when he became the pianist in a jazz-group. Between the ages of 18 to 22 he was a member of pop-groups such as The New Animals, the Groundhogs, Jimmy James and the Vagabonds and David Bowie, and toured as keyboard player with blues legends John Lee Hooker and Jimmy Reed. At 22 he started working intensively in the London recording studios, playing with Paul Anka and Status Quo, among others, and from the age of 25 arranged a number of hit records by such artists as Mac & Katie Kissoon, Don Fardon, The Nolan Sisters and The Dooleys. In 1972 he scored a world-wide hit as artist/arranger with "Joy" from Apollo 100. The record was number 1 in the USA and several other countries. In 1979 Tom had the idea of making a "rock-opera" version of Handel's Messiah - which was backed enthusiastically by RCA records, who financed the project. The group was christened "The New London Chorale" and Tom recruited Vicki Brown, Madeline Bell, George Chandler and Steve Jerome. The Young Messiah was followed by many more hits, notably "The Young Amadeus" and "The Young Verdi" and to date the album series has sold more than 2 million copies. His current project is "Live In Concert" a DVD/CD by the New London Chorale which was recorded in Holland. Tom's visit was covered by Hartlepool Mail.

Stan Laundon - photograph © Larry Drummond.

As mentioned at the top of this page, photography is very much my hobby these days. Friend and colleague Larry Drummond took this one of me at Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, as we snapped the wildlife in Warrior Way.

Be sure to view a larger selection of my own personal photographs on Flickriver

Stan Laundon - View my recent photos on Flickriver