Matt Monro Items for Sale
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longtimefan1962
- Posts: 90
- Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:03 am
- Location: California USA
MUST ONE PARTICIPATE ON THE FORUM TO BE A TRUE FAN???
I HAVE BEEN A MATT MONRO FAN SINCE HEARING HIM SING THE TITLE SONG IN THE MOVIE "BORN FREE", ITS BEEN ALMOST FIFTY YEARS. I WAS GOING TO RESPOND TO THE COMMENT ABOUT FANS WHO DON'T PARTICIPATE IN THE FORUM BUT IT WOULD BE AN EXERCISE IN FUTILITY. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I SUPPOSE IF I WERE A TRUE FAN I WOULD BE PARTICIPATING BUT ALAS I AM NOT GOOD AT COMPOSING STORIES, PLUS I HAVE NO STORIES TO RELATE, SO I HAVE CHOSEN TO KEEP QUIET. I BELIEVE IT WAS ABRAHAM LINCOLN WHO SAID "BETTER TO KEEP QUIET AND BE THOUGHT A FOOL THAN TO SPEAK AND REMOVE ALL DOUBT"
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Lena & Harry Smith
- Posts: 21514
- Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2005 10:05 am
- Location: London UK
Hi, then few took precious notice of Abraham Lincoln, many who have passed through this forum and posted here, anyway, like us for instance.
We would never win a prize on either "The Brain Of Britain" or "Mastermind" but if anyone wishes to criticise our posts... so what. If anyone does it will be our long and loyal friend Robert and because many of us have been communicating together for so long on this forum we laugh and take it with a pinch of salt. All done and taken in fun.
As far as the auction bidding goes we are not ashamed to admit and say that we had exactly the same thoughts as Robert and should have backed him then when we saw new names and bidders appear on the forum who were completely unfamiliar, but we know the rules set down by Michele, and we know now that our original assumptions were wrong and the bidding is for all fans.
We would never win a prize on either "The Brain Of Britain" or "Mastermind" but if anyone wishes to criticise our posts... so what. If anyone does it will be our long and loyal friend Robert and because many of us have been communicating together for so long on this forum we laugh and take it with a pinch of salt. All done and taken in fun.
As far as the auction bidding goes we are not ashamed to admit and say that we had exactly the same thoughts as Robert and should have backed him then when we saw new names and bidders appear on the forum who were completely unfamiliar, but we know the rules set down by Michele, and we know now that our original assumptions were wrong and the bidding is for all fans.
Last edited by Lena & Harry Smith on Sun Mar 22, 2009 10:33 am, edited 1 time in total.
Well said Lena and Harry, I stand alongside you in all you have said.
Some members post very rarely on the forum but when they do they know they will always receive a warm welcome, and can say whatever they want to say without fear of judgement or critcism, unless of course it is made in fun as Lena and Harry have referred to above.
We have always been proud of the friendliness of our forum, and we would not want it to be any other way.
Marian.
Some members post very rarely on the forum but when they do they know they will always receive a warm welcome, and can say whatever they want to say without fear of judgement or critcism, unless of course it is made in fun as Lena and Harry have referred to above.
We have always been proud of the friendliness of our forum, and we would not want it to be any other way.
Marian.
I agree Lena and Harry. I think we all possibly thought the same as Robert and he was the first one to voice our thoughts.
We always make new members very welcome, you don't have to be Brain of Britain to join in. We talk about anything on here from our love of Matt's music to lighthearted topics and quiz's.
We always make new members very welcome, you don't have to be Brain of Britain to join in. We talk about anything on here from our love of Matt's music to lighthearted topics and quiz's.
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maureen & harry
- Posts: 1094
- Joined: Wed May 28, 2008 11:27 am
We agree with Lena & Harry. The other saying is you can please some of the people some of the time but you can't please all of the people all of the time and this is the case as far as the forum is concerned.
Although some people we have not heard from before or heard very little from has gone against the grain, we have to accept that being a member of the forum entitles them to access it either on a daily basis or a once in a blue moon basis if they wish.
Maybe suspicions were aroused by wondering if some of the bids were perhaps from people with a commercial interest rather than a personal one and will we see these items on ebay in the future.
We hope what has happened will not deter people from using the forum either regularly or seldom as our common interest which we all share passionately is Matt and his music.
Maureen & Harry
Although some people we have not heard from before or heard very little from has gone against the grain, we have to accept that being a member of the forum entitles them to access it either on a daily basis or a once in a blue moon basis if they wish.
Maybe suspicions were aroused by wondering if some of the bids were perhaps from people with a commercial interest rather than a personal one and will we see these items on ebay in the future.
We hope what has happened will not deter people from using the forum either regularly or seldom as our common interest which we all share passionately is Matt and his music.
Maureen & Harry
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longtimefan1962
- Posts: 90
- Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:03 am
- Location: California USA
I am not bidding to resell on ebay or anywhere else. Anything I bid on is for my personal enjoyment. If I should be fortunate enough to win any auction I will cherish that item. I am bidding to have a memento of Mr. Matt Monro. I am under suspicion for what reason - because I do not use the forum??? Of course there may be people who bid and intend to resell. There isn't much anyone can do to prevent that, and once a person buys something it is his to do with as he chooses. If there are any items left that go on ebay that may well happen. Even if it does, the item will eventually end up in the hands of a fan.
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Michele Monro
- Posts: 1097
- Joined: Sun Nov 06, 2005 6:31 pm
- Location: United Kingdom
Everyone has a right
I am most upset at some people's feelings on the matter of the auction. As I have already said this site is run for everyone that is a fan. The forum is less than a tenth of the whole website and there are a huge number of people that visit every day but choose, for whatever their reasons not to post. That doesn't give them any less right.
I am surprised you took such a staunch stand Robert when you are not even participating in the sale. I chose to place the items on this website first to enable the fans to bid between themselves. If I had placed the items on Ebay there would have been a huge amount of bidding from all corners of the world and it is possible that the regulars here would have all been outbid.
Even if an item went to Ebay and was sold by a dealer, who then resold it - the item would still end up in the hands of a fan. An item is only worth what someone wants to pay for it.
If you look at the forum member list you will see over a hundred people who have joined but do not contribute to the forum and I am glad that something like this has brought some new blood out - but if I was one of those people I would feel very uncomfortable with some of the comments written and certainly would not feel inclined to stay on after the auction closes.
All the items have a reserve and without a steady flow of bids those reserves would not be met and the items would remain unsold. Whatever doesn't sell will go to another sale anyway.
Some of you are very vocal here but didn't come to either of the Fans Reunited Meetings - does that make you less of a fan. By the same token some people travelled more than two hundred miles to come, not counting our friends in America and Belgium, and several of those do not use this Forum.
If you click on the statistic page, available through the home page you can see the daily figures and where they are from - trust me it goes outside the forum.
My very good friends Sue & Mike Parker, have been fans for nearly 50 years, Sue used to follow my father across the country and go to every show in her area. She has now done the same for Matt Jnr, travelled from West Yorks to both fan club meets, has press cutting books in the tens of thousand, every cutting saved on my father - yet although they have the internet you rarely see their presence here. Jack Jackson has every record of my father, has rooms in his house bedecked in memorabilia, goes to 5 or 6 shows on every tour, buys all the merchandise but doesn't have the internet. I could list over 40 people who use this site almost daily but DONT use the forum. I will say this again - they have every right to bid - just because you don't know their names doesn't give you license to judge their worthiness to contribute!!!!
I am surprised you took such a staunch stand Robert when you are not even participating in the sale. I chose to place the items on this website first to enable the fans to bid between themselves. If I had placed the items on Ebay there would have been a huge amount of bidding from all corners of the world and it is possible that the regulars here would have all been outbid.
Even if an item went to Ebay and was sold by a dealer, who then resold it - the item would still end up in the hands of a fan. An item is only worth what someone wants to pay for it.
If you look at the forum member list you will see over a hundred people who have joined but do not contribute to the forum and I am glad that something like this has brought some new blood out - but if I was one of those people I would feel very uncomfortable with some of the comments written and certainly would not feel inclined to stay on after the auction closes.
All the items have a reserve and without a steady flow of bids those reserves would not be met and the items would remain unsold. Whatever doesn't sell will go to another sale anyway.
Some of you are very vocal here but didn't come to either of the Fans Reunited Meetings - does that make you less of a fan. By the same token some people travelled more than two hundred miles to come, not counting our friends in America and Belgium, and several of those do not use this Forum.
If you click on the statistic page, available through the home page you can see the daily figures and where they are from - trust me it goes outside the forum.
My very good friends Sue & Mike Parker, have been fans for nearly 50 years, Sue used to follow my father across the country and go to every show in her area. She has now done the same for Matt Jnr, travelled from West Yorks to both fan club meets, has press cutting books in the tens of thousand, every cutting saved on my father - yet although they have the internet you rarely see their presence here. Jack Jackson has every record of my father, has rooms in his house bedecked in memorabilia, goes to 5 or 6 shows on every tour, buys all the merchandise but doesn't have the internet. I could list over 40 people who use this site almost daily but DONT use the forum. I will say this again - they have every right to bid - just because you don't know their names doesn't give you license to judge their worthiness to contribute!!!!
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David Durrett
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2009 7:02 pm
It has been a long time since I've contributed to the forum...I even had to re-register. But I have been a fan of Matt's and a friend of Michele's for many years, and I believe that there are other ways to promote his legacy beyond posting on this message board. I will admit that the auction has brought me back to the forum, after much delay and regret, as I know there is much to learn from each other, but I have been a regular visitor to mattmonro.com without interruption since I posted the first version of it in May of 2000.
There are many groups who could claim special rights to Matt's personal items, not the least of whom are other family members. Then there are those who have been family friends and fans since before I was born. That the forum is the resource Michele has chosen to use to conduct the sale, as opposed to a private estate merchant or a public auction site, grants its members more special favor than any of us could hope for.
I think it was very kind of Michele to reach out to many of us who had neglected the forum to let us know about the auction, and in doing so she has brought many people back to it or given them a reason to join...people whose participation may elevate the level of future exchange. But if we are made to feel unwelcome by current members who believe their participation on a Web site forum entitles them to exclusivity beyond what Michele has already granted over the years (not the least of which is access to her), we will be inclined to go away again after the auction is completed. We also may wonder if there are those among us who were just hoping to grab a bargain---say, one of Matt's personal lighters for hundreds of pounds less than an "anonymous" one of its vintage in similar condition sells for every day on eBay.
There are many groups who could claim special rights to Matt's personal items, not the least of whom are other family members. Then there are those who have been family friends and fans since before I was born. That the forum is the resource Michele has chosen to use to conduct the sale, as opposed to a private estate merchant or a public auction site, grants its members more special favor than any of us could hope for.
I think it was very kind of Michele to reach out to many of us who had neglected the forum to let us know about the auction, and in doing so she has brought many people back to it or given them a reason to join...people whose participation may elevate the level of future exchange. But if we are made to feel unwelcome by current members who believe their participation on a Web site forum entitles them to exclusivity beyond what Michele has already granted over the years (not the least of which is access to her), we will be inclined to go away again after the auction is completed. We also may wonder if there are those among us who were just hoping to grab a bargain---say, one of Matt's personal lighters for hundreds of pounds less than an "anonymous" one of its vintage in similar condition sells for every day on eBay.
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Michele Monro
- Posts: 1097
- Joined: Sun Nov 06, 2005 6:31 pm
- Location: United Kingdom
Website Beginnings
For any of you that don't know it is only because of David Durrett that this website exists at all. Nearly eight years ago David bought the domain names
www.mattmonro.com
www.mattmunro.com
www.mattmonroe.com
in the hope that one day there would be a website. Years later he persuaded me to launch mattmonro.com and gave me the names as a present. He wouldn't take a penny for all the years he had been paying for their upkeep. He felt he had been the guardian of the names to prevent them going to someone else. He bought all three websites for all those fans who spell the name wrong saying that however the 'Monro' name was spelt they would all lead to this glorious site.
David also travelled from America for the tribute held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in 1987, even though he had never travelled outside of the States before. He had never met Matt Monro but felt he had to come to pay his respects. He owns every recording and is almost as knowledge as Richard when it comes to the Matt Monro repertoire.
He writes reviews on Amazon to help persuade others to buy Matt's product and every year when I fly to Florida, David takes time off and travels 3 hours down from Jacksonville to spend time with me and Max. He sends flowers to the hotel for our arrival and when I had the car crash and laid totally alone in a hotel room unable to move he got straight in his car to look after me. He is a staunch fan of Matt Monro and more importantly my great friend
We all owe David a great debt of thanks.
www.mattmonro.com
www.mattmunro.com
www.mattmonroe.com
in the hope that one day there would be a website. Years later he persuaded me to launch mattmonro.com and gave me the names as a present. He wouldn't take a penny for all the years he had been paying for their upkeep. He felt he had been the guardian of the names to prevent them going to someone else. He bought all three websites for all those fans who spell the name wrong saying that however the 'Monro' name was spelt they would all lead to this glorious site.
David also travelled from America for the tribute held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in 1987, even though he had never travelled outside of the States before. He had never met Matt Monro but felt he had to come to pay his respects. He owns every recording and is almost as knowledge as Richard when it comes to the Matt Monro repertoire.
He writes reviews on Amazon to help persuade others to buy Matt's product and every year when I fly to Florida, David takes time off and travels 3 hours down from Jacksonville to spend time with me and Max. He sends flowers to the hotel for our arrival and when I had the car crash and laid totally alone in a hotel room unable to move he got straight in his car to look after me. He is a staunch fan of Matt Monro and more importantly my great friend
We all owe David a great debt of thanks.
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David Durrett
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2009 7:02 pm
Michele...I could never list the kindnesses you have paid me in return over the years, and which far exceed anything I have ever done. That post is just one of many gestures of friendship I shall always cherish.
Not to carry on, but I'm reminded of the poor photographer who years ago wanted to buy MattMunro.com from me. I told him I was so sorry, but I had bought it to launch a site for the famous singer. "But he doesn't spell his name that way," he told me.
"Well," I said, "many people think he does."
He replied, "But I know that's not how he spells it...because that's how I spell mine!"
Not to carry on, but I'm reminded of the poor photographer who years ago wanted to buy MattMunro.com from me. I told him I was so sorry, but I had bought it to launch a site for the famous singer. "But he doesn't spell his name that way," he told me.
"Well," I said, "many people think he does."
He replied, "But I know that's not how he spells it...because that's how I spell mine!"
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paul and sue
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2005 10:07 am
- Location: worthing
Hi all, like David I do not often post on the forum even though I go on everyday, I have had the privilege of working for the family of the late great singer for the last 3 years and hopefully will continue too, does that mean that I am not entitled to bid? I actually phoned Jack Jackson as he is like me is a true dedicated fan who has no internet access and who would do all he could to keep the memory of the late great man alive and to tell him about the wonderful items in auction on the website, the reason I did this was because I knew it would go into his personal shrine, to me personally looking at all the items in the auction is like a child viewing a toyshop widow, I want it all but could not afford it, so what to do? well I am fortunate enough to wake up every morning and walk downstairs to see Matt`s personal pen on my mantlepiece next to a signed photo, kindly given to me by the family, so bid what you can afford and if you win could luck to you, if you dont, well you tried, take care all, Paul and sue x
Michele, I was only asking a question, as I mistakenly believed the forum regulars were to be given priority to bid for Matts items........... as other forum members seemed to have also thought 
.....................I myself have not bid for anything as yet, as I have probably got the Ebay mentality (bid late) !! but the way the bidding is going I will not be able to afford anything now ..............It will be interesting to see if any of the newcomers to the forum stay with us in the future................... as this forum is just about the friendliest on the web...............we are all really friendly people on here.............honestly (even myself) 
..................I do not begrudge any true Matt fan from bidding for any of the items.................in fact there are so many of Matts keepsakes up for sale that we need true fans of Matt to buy these keepsakes ..................also thank you David for everything you have done for this website and for giving Michele so much support over the years.
.....................I myself have not bid for anything as yet, as I have probably got the Ebay mentality (bid late) !! but the way the bidding is going I will not be able to afford anything now ..............It will be interesting to see if any of the newcomers to the forum stay with us in the future................... as this forum is just about the friendliest on the web...............we are all really friendly people on here.............honestly (even myself) ..................I do not begrudge any true Matt fan from bidding for any of the items.................in fact there are so many of Matts keepsakes up for sale that we need true fans of Matt to buy these keepsakes ..................also thank you David for everything you have done for this website and for giving Michele so much support over the years."My Tears Will Fall Now That You're Gone,
I Can't Help But Cry, But I Must Go On"
I Can't Help But Cry, But I Must Go On"
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Michele Monro
- Posts: 1097
- Joined: Sun Nov 06, 2005 6:31 pm
- Location: United Kingdom
Questions
I know you didn't probably mean anything by it Robert and you say you were only asking a question but you don't know how it has come off to other people looking in. I have written privately to some of the fans who were upset and have tried to put their minds at rest. I had another private email today, which I would like to share.
Hi Michele,
Thanks so much. That is a relief! I feel much better. I don't know if some of the fans realize how generous you are in offering these items for us to bid on and giving the fans the first shot at them. After all, with a bigger venue like ebay we fans here would have more competition for the items. I think your dad would be very proud of you and the way you handle yourself.
I must add that I felt like I was being personally attacked by Robert M. with his posting and his assumption that Forum regulars were given priority to bid first(or words to that effect). I was surprised to see so many others agree wlth him. It made me feel like I was being ganged up on. I could have left a posting but decided that if I did it would just escalate things. I think what disturbed me the most was their determination that not participating on the Forum meant one was not a "true fan". I personally think being a fan for almost fifty years qualifies me as such. Also, being a rather cynical person, in my mind I questioned Robert M.'s motives in wanting to limit the amount of bidders to the "regulars". I have nothing of interest to add to the Forum. I didn't mean to take up so much of your time.
Warmest regards
Hi Michele,
Thanks so much. That is a relief! I feel much better. I don't know if some of the fans realize how generous you are in offering these items for us to bid on and giving the fans the first shot at them. After all, with a bigger venue like ebay we fans here would have more competition for the items. I think your dad would be very proud of you and the way you handle yourself.
I must add that I felt like I was being personally attacked by Robert M. with his posting and his assumption that Forum regulars were given priority to bid first(or words to that effect). I was surprised to see so many others agree wlth him. It made me feel like I was being ganged up on. I could have left a posting but decided that if I did it would just escalate things. I think what disturbed me the most was their determination that not participating on the Forum meant one was not a "true fan". I personally think being a fan for almost fifty years qualifies me as such. Also, being a rather cynical person, in my mind I questioned Robert M.'s motives in wanting to limit the amount of bidders to the "regulars". I have nothing of interest to add to the Forum. I didn't mean to take up so much of your time.
Warmest regards
Can that person not read properly !! I said that I thought the forum/website members were to be given priority in the bidding auction, when it was first mentioned............... but now I know differently (as I stated above).
This person also says he has nothing of interest to add to the forum, well that is just rubbish, as there are a thousand and one thing's to talk about on here, especially regarding the whole Matt Monro musical world. Plus everything else under the sun.
I don't think you had to print this persons email on the forum Michele, as it just keeps having a dig at my original posting. But if it makes you feel better, as it must do, then so be it.
A few months ago you were asking all the other members to join in on the forum, as there was a chance the forum could have been lost...........well how many of those members joined us, and stayed with us..................none is the answer. The forum would not exist in it's present state without the input of all the present dozen or so very loyal wonderful members. I think these stalwart forum users deserved a little bit of loyalty, and to be honest I still do
This person also says he has nothing of interest to add to the forum, well that is just rubbish, as there are a thousand and one thing's to talk about on here, especially regarding the whole Matt Monro musical world. Plus everything else under the sun.
I don't think you had to print this persons email on the forum Michele, as it just keeps having a dig at my original posting. But if it makes you feel better, as it must do, then so be it.
A few months ago you were asking all the other members to join in on the forum, as there was a chance the forum could have been lost...........well how many of those members joined us, and stayed with us..................none is the answer. The forum would not exist in it's present state without the input of all the present dozen or so very loyal wonderful members. I think these stalwart forum users deserved a little bit of loyalty, and to be honest I still do
"My Tears Will Fall Now That You're Gone,
I Can't Help But Cry, But I Must Go On"
I Can't Help But Cry, But I Must Go On"
I just want to add my opinion to this debate.
Firstly, I do not think that anyone on here would bid for these items , hoping for a "Bargain" as has been suggested. Michele stated that each item had a "Reserve" price, and she has obviously set the reserve at a price that she would be happy for the item to be sold. I am sure that any bid would be made with the sole intention of owning something that once belonged to Matt. I think Michele and the Monro family deserves huge thanks for allowing these treasures to be sold.
I also think it is right and proper for any true fan of Matt to be given the opportunity to bid. It is also probably a fact that some of us may be unable to bid due to financial reasons, much as we would wish to.
As for the Forum, it is here for anyone to use if they wish, and if they decide for whatever reason not to do so, then that is their prerogative.
I know those that join in regularly do so because they enjoy it, and get a great deal of pleasure out of it.
Firstly, I do not think that anyone on here would bid for these items , hoping for a "Bargain" as has been suggested. Michele stated that each item had a "Reserve" price, and she has obviously set the reserve at a price that she would be happy for the item to be sold. I am sure that any bid would be made with the sole intention of owning something that once belonged to Matt. I think Michele and the Monro family deserves huge thanks for allowing these treasures to be sold.
I also think it is right and proper for any true fan of Matt to be given the opportunity to bid. It is also probably a fact that some of us may be unable to bid due to financial reasons, much as we would wish to.
As for the Forum, it is here for anyone to use if they wish, and if they decide for whatever reason not to do so, then that is their prerogative.
I know those that join in regularly do so because they enjoy it, and get a great deal of pleasure out of it.
Mariana