George Melly

I'm quite sure that many people in Lyme will remember George Melly's appearances at the Marine Theatre where he regaled the audience with his stories and memoirs, sitting on his big chair in the centre of the stage, with a small table at his side with a jug of water, a glass, and a bottle of whisky. I'm sure he once recounted the famous 'yodelling in the canyon' story from the Oz Trials in 1968. Mostly the shows were a report on the various places and under what circumstances he passed out, but his rapport with the audience was so friendly and easy going that it wasn't like a performance, George certainly had the personal touch with everyone he met.
I knoiw this because, when I had my shop just opposite the Marine Theatre, he used to call in and see me. He was originally introduced to me by the Concert Promoter, Paul Meredith, and on his last couple of visits, I was charged by Paul with the task of looking after him. On his last visit here, (around 3 years ago maybe?) he was in especially expansive and ebullient mood, and Paul almost pleaded with me, "Keep him here Nomad, don't let him out of your sight!". George breezed purple suited into the back of the shop, "Hello Nomad! Lovely to see you again!",like an old friend, "Nomad,in the past I've been somewhat disparaging about your paintings, but today, I think they're merely....derivative!!!" Loud guffaws followed to the amusement of a couple of potential shoppers. He sang Happy Birthday to You to a child, I don't know if it was the childs birthday or not, but she got Happy Birthday anyway! A woman in the doorway, enquiring of me about a Psychic Reading got the response, "I'll give you a reading darling, come in and give me a kiss". She did too! A few minutes later, I had to go and serve a customer, when I saw George breeze out of the shop, waving his panama as he passed, and after bagging up the purchase I went to find him, he'd only been gone ten minutes and I found him in the Pilot Boat, already esconced on a barstool, chatting to the clientelle, and imbibing his third scoch. Luckily Paul took charge and dragged him off to the theatre, still smiling.........
He was fully charged that night, and when he finished the show, with a wide sweep of his panama and a deep low bow to the audience, he would've been off the stage head first if Paul hadn't been behind him and grabbed the back of his coat.
George was a brilliance, and besides being just about the best raconteur I ever heard, was a very learned man, (and if he'd had better things to say about my paintings, I might have complimented him on his art criticism also). I first saw him perform, years ago in a little jazz pub called, I think, the Mitre, near the entrance to the Blackwall Tunnel, and he has to be among the best, and most under-rated jazz singers ever produced by this rule ridden and sexually disapproving nation. Good for you George mate, you stood up for freedom of thinking, and less inhibition, and I'm sure that wherever you are now, you've had a few already!
While on the subject of the Marine, it was Paul Meredith who promoted the Legends Visit Lyme concerts a few years ago. These were fabulous shows, and Paul brought to Lyme Regis the best of performers in such a wide series of genre, music and performance that its difficult to list it all. In his last year here I think he put on more than 20 shows, all of them with star quality bands and artistes. We got into trouble at the time for writing letters to the trustees in support of Paul after he was axed by the 'previous management'. Nuff said! I have nothing to say about any previous managers at the Marine, and all I can say is this: Whatever 'history' was left behind, was not caused by Paul, and I don't give a damn who says otherwise. When Paul first started his shows, about 13 years ago now, there was no management at the Marine. Paul used to open up and lock up again after the shows. The Marine was shut much of the time, and only became successful enough to have a manager again after the success of the Legends Visit Lyme Concerts.