I arrived at the theatre in the cold and the snow,  there was a bitter wind and it was getting dark.  I had done all I could to arose interest in this concert press releases and CD's to all and anyone in the media Newcastle's 'Journal Newspaper'  published a nice article 'Paxton's moment's so sweet'.  I had rehearsed and rehearsed and nothing more could be done now the moment had arrived.  My wife was nervous,  she had been since I told her that this was going to happen,  now she was truly nervous.  She told me later that she had been prepared to fight our corner should someone suggest that there had been a mistake and the concert was not to be.  After all people had bought tickets from home and the local press had a reporter on the scene and we had family members in attendance. I to had a little song singing in the back of my head -'This is for real,  this is for real'  For it was something I had lived in my head for so long it was strange to feel my body floating into the real life situation.  Something told me that there was going to be a problem at the Stage Door, but no,  a pretty young woman open the door and ushered us in just like I was the star of the show. 

Up the stairs through the battered paint work and onto the old Victorian stage.  The Ghosts of a thousand shows whistled around the fly's and to the scenery painting floor, which seemed to have long since vanished.  It was all black paint and a raked stage. Red velvet curtains and boxes which turned in towards the audience,  so that in older times the audience could watch not only the show on stage but the expensive people who had brought the expensive seats so that they could be seen in the finery.

So we plugged in and switched on and I sang my song for the sound check.  The Stage Manager,  a young man with a Degree in Theatre, called Dan,  seemed to be impressed and gave me the thumbs up.  So nice to be encouraged,  so nice to have a compliment.................Then it was out into the cold night air and snow flurries to find some fun and dinner for the children.

When we returned my family entered the theatre as guests and I went to the stage door up the stairs across the stage and into the dressing rooms.  They were not that stylish,  but they were functional with showers and a 'Green Room'.  There I found him, draped over an arm chair,  buried in some interesting paper work.  He had large round spectacles similar to those worn by his old friend John Denver,  but with black rims.  He invited me in and really did his best to make me feel that we had always known each other.  I wanted to ask about John Denver,  about the Isle of Weight Festival 69',  about which of his albums pleased him the most,  about the style he uses to play guitar, about how and where he learned to play, about his famous hat,  about all the artists who are his friends,  about Dylan and Paul Simon. I wanted to find out about  songs 'Now That I've Taken My Life' and 'Back in the Trees' etc.  However,  I didn't because I was enjoying just being there and the conversation was easy anyway.  Then my mobile phone rang and as I apologised he sprang into action to do something and I answered the call. My sister in law from the theatre bar to wish me luck.

He was very alive and totally focused on the job in hand,  he was there to provide the audience with the entertainment they had come for and he had his finger on the pulse.

Time to get ready,  no snobbish stuff about this is my dressing room,  this is yours.  Then he picked up his guitar and I said  "Is that the signature  model that Martin Guitars have made for you ?"  He said  "Yes try it out."  I played Tom Paxton's guitar and then his guitarist and he played a couple of songs and I stood one foot away in perfect stereo.

Then Jez Luton,  the guitarist,  said "I have to introduce you after my two songs,  what shall I say ?" Tom said '"Introduce him as our Special Guest",  I thought has this man swallowed the book 'How To Win Friends and Influence People'  ?  Make people feel important,  I did feel important.

Some artists,  that I have worked with,  get very up tight before a show and can do nothing but concentrate on what they are about to do,  I never really had that problem myself and Tom does not either,  but he was listening and he knew what was going on if it had been my show I would have as well,  as it was I was in the middle of this dream and Tom said "He's finished his first number,  you'd better get out there."  So on to the wind swept stage I strode it was freezing the wind howled up the stair case and finished in the middle of my back.  No time to think about that,  I was on. 

Some have asked was I nervous, and the answer has to be no,  my wife was nervous enough for the both of us,  but that was really because she loves me.  Nervousness comes when you are not prepared,  I had sung the song several times every day since I was told I could do this,  I practiced the speech every day in the car or in front of the mirror and I had waited 36 years for this and wanted to wallow in this experience.

There I was on stage the lights glaring down on me and the audience hushed and attentive and responsive,  and they listened and they laughed,  and I sang and Tom's guitarist played lead for me and I did my best,  but in my heart I felt that the sound check version was better,  but only I know that,  Dan gave me the thumbs up and Tom said "That was a rear treat".  I watched him from the wings and marvelled at his long career and how relaxed he was and deep in my heart I wished that may be I had built a following in the same way as Tom,  but of course we make our decisions and there were good reasons for them at the time.

After the show it was out to sign the autographs but they really only came to see Tom and he was the true professional listening and remembering concerts from years ago when he had signed the ladies daughters Birthday card,  and for all I know he did really remember,  it matters not Tom is a great man and anyone who wants to say different will have me to answer too................

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