The old Airport Club

12 years of open mic slots, beautiful music, madness, improvisation, comedy and friendship. Its difficult to sum up what the Airport Club meant to me but last Friday it all came to a close. The Ropetackle was bursting at the seams as Mark Allen, Jack Cryer & band, Mark Collyer, Alistair Mackie, Marianne Hillier-Brook, Mike Rose, Lindsay Field, Fr Marcus and the Durrant children Rooney, Daisy and Django took to the stage. The visuals were unspeakably beautiful (see below) as artist Malcolm Buchanan-Dick played the VJ harmonium for the last time, abley assisted by tech staff Simon and Chris with Bill Hammond on lighting. There's plenty more music to come - just no more Airport Club. Thanks to everybody who contributed over the years.

There are just two solo gigs remaining before Christmas. Both are Candlelit Christmas recitals. First in the beautiful church of St Lawrence, Hungerford on Friday 17th and the next day in the awesome St Bartholomews Church Brighton.

ST BARTS TICKETS ONLINE OR TEL. 01273 453422

This ends with many, many thanks to those who have supported the club over the years. Pictured club regular Mark Allen with  RD at the Airport Club. Click here for film of RD performing at the club.

This Friday's Airport Club features a host of talent including a set from the great English songwriter Robin Scott (he of "Pop Music" fame). The club will also be my first gig in two years with the great Mr Herbie Flowers. Herb and I have asked legendary drummer Malcolm Mortimore to sit in with us for the last part of what should be a memorable evening of music. I can't wait to play with Herb again, our shows together have always taught me so much and been such incredible fun. And as for Malc....

As ever Malcolm Buchanan-Dick will be enchancing the performances with his jaw dropping projections created from behind his "VJ Harmonium". Doors are at 7pm with music from 8pm. Tickets £10 from www.ropetacklecentre.co.uk

The Airport Club has existed in some shape or form since 1991. Here is a brief history:

1991 The Swan Inn, South Chailey, Sussex (run by Richard's brother Bill). The club is started and meets on the last Sunday of the month. It is an instant success.

1993 The Giant's Rest, Wilmington, Sussex. Richard and the club move to the village of Wilmington at the feet of the famous chalk figure "the Longman of Wilmington" (the same longman that has a record label named after him). Still on the last Sunday. With Richard's developing solo work the club becomes a huge success and is packed to capacity every month.

1996 The club moves to Bill Durrant's new pub The Newmarket on the A27 just outside Lewes. The Wilmington faithful still attend and the club grows ever bigger. The last Sunday remains unchanged.

1997 By now Richard has well and truly settled in Shoreham-by-Sea (where he moved in 1996) and the airport seems to be the best choice of venue for the club. Initially it's run for the benefit of the Adur Arts Forum, by Richard, on the last Friday of every month. After Richard quits the Arts Forum, and continues the club on his own.

2002 At the moment the Airport Club has never been more popular. The Beach Dreams raffle is now a regular feature (raising funds for a wonderfully succesful community arts organisation related to the Adur Festival).

2004 July of this year saw the last regular club take place. It was a packed night, full of great music and very emotional. It ended in a party back at Richard's with skinny dipping and huge quantities of ale. The club was folded due to Richard's decision to concentrate fully on his solo work. There just wasn't enough time to run the club any more!