Leeds City Varieties Music Hall

[paul and sue]

The trouble with Leeds is that it is expanding by the day and the hotel was next to the bit that was expanding, the place was overun with builders, heavy machinery, dust, drilling and overall construction site nightmare.

Apart from that we arrived in good time and I have to say the theatre was wonderful. The Leeds City Varieties Music Hall is where they used to film "The Good Old Days. It is an oldy wordly Victorian theatre with staff to match. I think the toungest was 80! The communal areas were tiny and unfortunately I had nowhere else to set up the merchandise but in the lower level which was fine for me but of course anyone who was seated in the circle or the upper circle had no idea I was there and would probably have missed out on meeting Matt after the show.

The crowd were as enthusiastic as ever and Matt seems to have shaken off his infection and as ever generous has passed it on to me. I have to say that at the moment I feel fine but my throat is very scratchy.

Michele had let me know that some very close fans, Mike & Sue Parker, had booked to see the show and we arranged for them to see Matt in his dressing room for a time. They were thrilled and I found out that they used to see Matt Monro at every available venue and seem to be following suit with his son. Sue had brought up a special disc to be given to Michele and I cannot tell you how tempted I was to open it and have a little listen, but I managed to curtail my entusiasm.

We are off to The Empire Hotel in Llandudno today and will fill you in when I can. I have taken some marvellous photos over the last few days and as soon as I stop off at "Monro Towers" on wednesday, I will ask Michele to upload them.
Bye for now
Paul