Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Rolf Harris

I cannot believe it. Rolf Harris is 80.

And half a century has passed since I saw him perform live on stage.

It was at a national sixth form conference in London. Proceedings closed with a Friday night concert, but when we were told that Rolf Harris was to be the special star attraction, we world weary sophisticates rolled our eyes at how grown ups can get it so wrong. Rolf Harris was a children’s entertainer, not with it*, like us.

As far as I can remember he performed with only his wobble board for accompaniment. But we were soon wowed & won over. We shouted & begged for him to stay for just one more song, but his manager (a sharp suited, foxy faced young man about the same age as his star), said No.

Spoilsport



*Fashionable, up-to-date; not spotted in print by the OED until 1962