They were on a balcony of the parliament to see the New Year fireworks, with the sparkles making the jewellery glitter. Willow stood, Garry with his arms around her, thinking back to previous New Years, and she wondered just what lay in store for her in the future. Surely, it couldn’t be as exciting as the recent past, now, could it?
Chapter 1
Willow Randall was standing at the end of a line of students. This was the graduation ceremony for her degree course. The line wasn’t as long as it would have been on that November day of the start of the familiarisation week. A lot had dropped away from all the courses.
One by one, the students were called up to receive their certificate and a word from the Minister of Business and Trade, her father. The hall was crowded with friends and parents, and every successful student got good applause. It made her smile, as she had received a lot of applause on various stages over the years.
Finally, the person in front of her was going up the steps to the stage. He, and the four before him, received their certificates as Honour Students in the courses that they had taken. When Willow’s name was called, she went up the steps to have her hand shaken by her father.
“Congratulations, poppet.”
“Thanks, Dad”
He gave her the honours degree certificate, and then was handed another for her, as the outstanding student of that university year. It was in the form of an illuminated scroll and was destined to be on her office wall.
“You really are a freak, love.”
“I got it from my parents, Dad. Party tonight?”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
When she went back down from the stage, she was mobbed by an odd collection of supporters. Her mother, her husband, a few millionaires, several friends from high school, Stoneleigh, and the old band. The Vines were joined by several singing stars and the remainder of Toxic Rocks.
It had been a hard three years of study, taking the silver laptop on three short farewell tours with the Rocks. They had played a number of venues in Europe in that first summer, a short tour of northern states of America during the next and had spent some weekends and part of this summer in the major cities in Britain.
The album that was recorded with the orchestra, before she started the course, had been released early in the following year and had done well. The DVD of the Boston Set had been released in time for Christmas, and the planned box set plus the added album with Willow had been released at the same time last year, along with the announcement of the band retiring at the end of the summer. With the ending of her degree course came the ending of the band, with the following year an almost empty void waiting to be filled.
The year she started the course, she had attended a glittering event in Coventry, where she, Garry, and Vivienne were given the keys to the city. The announcement was that they were for the good that they had brought to the city, along with the fact that they had been in both charity tours. The Randalls had one each, on hooks on either side of their office. Nancy, Edward and Bryan received certificates of appreciation.
Not long after that, Joe had died and there was a big funeral for him, with a lot of big bands turning up to say farewell. As she had stood next to Garry, it struck her that many of those bands were in the same demographic as the older Rocks, and that there were going to be more funerals in her future.
That year had also brought new life into the world. Gina had her new daughter, Salice, who she doted on. Racheal had another child, a son, who she called Jacob. Vivienne had a daughter called Jean. Jill had a son called Tony. More surprisingly, Willow now had a baby brother, John Dudley. Wendy, now in her early forties, had blamed it on all the albums that had been brought home that caused the extra sexual activity, backed up by reports of an increase in births.
In her second year of the course, things had been a little more settled. They had attended the opening night of the ‘Magic Laptop’ in the West End, after a successful season of regional theatres with a lot of schools attending. Vivienne and Ken were in the cast, and the orchestra was mainly from the Blue Coat Seniors, now known as the Blue Note Orchestra, conducted by Howard. Other cast members were regulars from the ENO. Willow and Garry were feted as being part of the original show, as well as Willow being a co-author of the songs. The two ‘killer’ songs from the show had been in the charts, sung by Vivienne, and the season had run into the summer of the following year, before closing to tour Europe. The one thing that pleased Willow was that the school was getting a percentage of every show and every soundtrack sold.
Also, in that year, the DVD of the ‘Boston Set’ was awarded “Best Album of the Year’ in the Ivor Novello Awards. ‘Cosseted’ (from the Magic Laptop) was the ‘Song of the Year’, with Willow Rose given the ‘Songwriter of the Year’ award. During their tour in America, that year, the full line-up of Toxic Rocks was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, including Joe.
In the third year of study, she had been offered a seat on the Blue Coat Coventry School Board, as well as a seat on the board of the English National Opera, both to start when a board member retired. To say that her degree was a culmination of three years of study understated her achievements, as her involvement with all the other firms and institutions was using all of her collective knowledge, both in business and music.
Willow’s last year of study had been more intense, and the only side-lines had been the gigs with the Rock’s farewell concerts, appearances with Ashley at some fundraising events, and visiting Rising Lane to see her mother and brother. Garry had been pleased to have a brother-in-law, and spoilt young John ceaselessly, although John was happiest when he was cuddling a very bedraggled Tiger.
The design studio had been fully modernised and was now turning over fifteen million a year, with a very competent management team in place. Willow had attended several board meetings, along with others that she shared with her father on other boards. She had also attended a very special party, for Drew, where she stood with him, his arm around her neck, for a photo. It didn’t matter that he had to have his crutches handed back before they parted, the fact that he was upright was a success.
The Summer Love Recording Studio was turning over five million a year, now with a second crew to handle the workload, all taken from the tech classes of the Blue Coat, having been well trained by the original team. The studio was now working fifteen hours a day, and Willow had bought another block of flats to house the extra people. The fleet of cars had gained an extra two BMWs and a minibus to carry all the musicians around, and they had block-booked enough rooms at the local hotel to accommodate the visitors. The sign that had been in the rest area was now over the entrance door. The ‘Award Walls’ had been filled, with all new ones added to the upstairs office walls. Sydney and Josh had married and were expecting their first. Sarah had picked up with an old flame from high school, and they were going steady.
The party, that graduation night, was two-fold. It was the usual one, at the Dorchester, to hand out awards by the label, and Willow had paid into it as a lot of the guests were part of her circle of friends, with the extras added to enjoy the meal and the atmosphere. Ashley wasn’t the only presenter, as he had talked the Prime Minister into coming along. They were in the biggest function room the hotel had and had booked a lot of rooms for the night.
All of her group from the ceremony went, in convoy, to the Dorchester, to check in. It took until party time to change for the black-tie event, and it was an elegant and glittering crowd who gathered in the function room. The meal was good, the atmosphere buoyant, and the crowd all talking and laughing. The two teams from the studio picked up several awards for production, the Vines had a Gold Record for their debut album, ‘Just Hanging Around’, which Sam had allowed to be released, but still wouldn’t allow a tour. Willow and the Rocks had a Platinum for the boxed set, Vivienne and Ken had one for an album of duets, and Howard Bamborough and the Blue Note Orchestra had several Golds as backing on a lot of the labels hits.
During the evening, many asked her what her plans were, and she just said that it was to have a holiday first, before thinking about her future. The Randalls were now seriously rich, and there was no need to rush into things. In fact, they had the next three months already planned and flights booked. They were flying to Florida in the New Year, to relax and soak up some sun, then going to Los Angeles to talk to some record producers who were keen to get them into a studio, and then would be travelling to New Zealand before continuing to travel east and arrive back in London.
Willow and Garry went to their room, after midnight, happy in the knowledge of their acceptance as part of the music scene, as well as part of the family that was the label’s artists. In the morning, they went back to Marlow, to their home of over three years, several parties, and shared memories. They had just one appointment before they left, and that was a private Christmas party at Chequers, hosted by the PM, for all the Cabinet and their families.
During that weekend, Willow was asked to think about a semi-government position as the organiser of events around the world, involving British music and theatre artists. There had been one, in America, for many years, called Britweek, where all the ex-pat artists and business leaders got together to showcase British culture and industry. Ashley had attended it the year before. The PM wanted it to be extended into other countries, and the thoughts were that they could be held around the official King’s Birthday, which was celebrated on a lot of different days throughout the Commonwealth. She was given a contact for the Britweek organisers in Los Angeles.
After Christmas, they flew to Miami, and spent a restful couple of weeks at the One Hotel, South Beach. They only left the hotel to walk the boardwalk and also spent some time in the Collins Park and the Bass Art Museum. While they rested, they talked about the offer that the PM had made. They decided to see how complicated the organisation was and would wait until they spoke to the person.
When they flew to Los Angeles, they had booked into the 777 Motor Inn, in Sherman Oaks. It was chosen because there were about eighteen recording studios within a fifteen-minute cab ride, and they had appointments to talk to producers who wanted to meet them in studios. It was fortuitous that the British American Business Council Offices was only a stroll away from the Hotel.
They spent most of a week talking to producers, some involved with the studio where they had the meeting. As far as the couple were concerned, the studios were well equipped, but not as big as Leicester. One producer wanted to record Willow with a group of American folkies, recreating the Carpenters sound, with some interesting songs that they listened to. Another wanted them to be the founders of a heavy rock band, again with American members, to move forward with Rocks style songs. For both of these, they said they would think about it and let them know if they were interested.
Of the other appointments, the only usual question was if they wanted to record there in future. One studio was acceptable and had already recorded a hit album, but they begged off, saying that they were taking a break for a while, and, besides, they already owned a perfectly good studio of their own. It was during this week that they realised that any further time with the music would have to be on their own terms, and in their own time. The money being offered would be enough to attract lesser singers, but they had enough to live a good life already.
They rang the British American Business Council to make an appointment to speak to Lucinda, the woman they had been told of. She said that they could meet her at the Starbucks, in the Sherman Oaks Galleria, in two hours, and to ask for her, as she was a regular.
They walked to the Galleria to have a look at the shops, finding cinemas and food outlets, a spa and fitness centre and a Hertz office, but very little else. They went into the Starbucks, ordered a couple of cups of what turned out to be apologies for tea, asked the counter girl to point Lucinda their way, and sat to wait. When Lucinda came over to their table, she was carrying a Caramel Macchiato.
After introductions, Willow showed her the letter she had been given to her by the PM, asking that people give the bearer their time and answer any questions she may ask. Willow asked her questions about Britweek and the organisation of it. They sat there for over an hour, while they were told about the complexity of getting all the film stars, music stars, TV stars, fashion houses, foodies, retailers, sportspeople and industrialists together for a week or so. In the end, Lucinda sat back, her drink finished.
“I have to tell you, guys, that week is the hardest work we do. I say, we, as there are only a few of us who are permanent in the office. It takes weeks to contact everyone and get them booked in. The venue isn’t a problem, unless we’re doing something that takes up a lot of space. The thing is, folks, that it’s very narrow in its overall promotion, mainly us bringing big names that are known in California, to promote things that are available here and push some things they will be exposed to in the following months. It’s not like that Australia thing that’s a big promotion of all things Aussie. You tell me that they want to set it up in other countries, but the problem with that is that you need to have products available in those other countries.”
She took them across the road to her very small office and gave them a bag with a few typical promotional items, and checklist from an old week with the names and places, products and times.
“One of the best things we did was organise a car show, with some very nice cars, a lot sourced locally, but all British made. That was some years ago, and Jaguar did very well out of it. Pity that they’re not a totally British company any longer.”
When the Randalls left to fly to New Zealand, they wondered at the logic behind their quest. On the plane Willow was thinking.
“Sweetheart. I wonder if the PM really knew what this Britweek was really about. I know that Dad would have more idea, but I doubt that he would tell his boss he was wrong. I’ve been thinking about what Lucinda said. That situation, in California, is almost unique, in a country that threw us out but still retained connections. Other countries are different. Australia was taken over by the First Fleet and a lot of the country still hate us. A big proportion are so far from being Anglo it’s stupid to hit them with the Brit thing.”
“I know. I’ve thought about it as well. Take India, for instance. They threw us out but, although a lot still speak the language, the religion has shaped the population more. They have a thriving manufacturing base of their own, and the music, film, and TV is totally different.”
“I can’t see the concept being accepted in the Californian format in most European countries, either. Do we tell the PM that he’s barking up the wrong tree?”
“Let’s just leave it, for the moment, and enjoy our holiday. I know that you played in Australia and New Zealand, but I’ve never been here.”
“When we toured, I was still studying for the certificate course, so spent a lot of time in my room. This will be my first chance to actually see the places as well.”
When they arrived in Auckland, they spent a few days in the city, and then embarked on a guided tour, in a limo, with a professional tour guide. They went up to the tip of the North Island on the west coast, and then back down the east coast and into the biggest part of the island, zigzagging from one side to the other to see everything they could. They sailed from Wellington to Marlborough and did a similar journey to the tip of the South Island and back to Christchurch. They left Christchurch to fly to Sydney, leaving the guide to sail back to Wellington and drive home, well paid for his care and attention.
When they landed in Sydney, they were greeted by Barry Boysee and a camera crew, with a short welcome and a stretch limo to the hotel on Darling Harbour. Over the course of a week, they did the winery tour that had been offered many years before, spent some time with Barry in his studio, where he showed how much he had learned on his way to being a nationally known host of a very successful music and teen life-style show.
They had dinner with Evelyn and a couple of the old fan club, now in their final years of university and all successful models. After the dinner, they all went to a theatre to see Samantha, on guitar with her band, ‘Enlightened’, rocking the house. For Willow, she saw most of the show from the wings, as Samantha called her out on stage to sing some of her old hits with the band. The crowd went crazy, and Willow felt a tinge of the adrenaline rush that she had last felt on the last performance with the Rocks.
From Sydney, they drove north in a hire car and soaked up the scenery to Brisbane, and then beyond to Mackay, retracing their route back to Brisbane and through Western New South Wales, stopping at Tamworth to see the Country Music Hall of Fame, and then through Dubbo to stop for a week in Canberra to see all the sights; the National Gallery, the Space Tracking Station and the big displays in the War Memorial.
They went back to Sydney for a few more days with their friends, now far more understanding of the country, and its people. They then got back in the car and did the east coast road and into Victoria, stopping in Melbourne for a week. After that, they took the Great Ocean Road to the southern end of South Australia, and then north to Adelaide. Very little of what they were doing had been planned, with the airline tickets between the different cities cancelled. A lot of it was following advice from people they had met on the way, most not recognising them, now they were older.
They also cancelled a lot of what had been planned on the way back to England. For once, they were free to travel as they wished, sharing the driving on endless roads and loving it, and each other. In Adelaide, they booked a trip to Darwin on the Ghan train, having to wait a couple of weeks before there was a vacant compartment. They spent that time just exploring and finding a lot that neither had experienced before, like hot-air ballooning, flying in a glider, swimming with sharks or holding koalas and joey kangaroos.
The train trip to Darwin was something else again, seeing the outback at ground level and stopping for meals, served beside the train in places with a vista and sunsets that they could never have imagined. They spent a couple of days in Darwin, and then flew back to Adelaide, where a few days later, they took another train, this time the East-West, across the Nullarbor to Perth, seemingly travelling for a couple of days without a lot of change in the view.
They were a week in Perth, soaking up the sights and getting selfies on Rottnest Island with quokkas. They used the remainders of their round-the-world tickets to fly to Singapore, and then directly back to London. They had ended up spending more than the planned three months, but both decided that it had been well worth it.
Except for that one show in Sydney, neither had even thought about performing, but the long hours of driving around Australia had triggered a lot of ideas about songs, with them recording the results on their phones, along with a lot of laughter.
Back home, they needed a stretch limo to take them home to Marlow, with all the extra luggage that they had both collected during the trip. It took a few days to settle back in their home, sort out where to hang the extra clothes and to find places for the odds and ends that they had liked along the way. The house was now definitely theirs, a showcase of their own likes and experiences.
In their office, they both caught up with emails and messages. Willow reported the results of their task to her father and typed out a written one for the PM to be sent directly to Number Ten. At the end of it, she suggested that an alternative would be weekend displays, set up to be transported in a small container, with the best of British manufacturing and culture, with the stars and celebrities hosting, that could be taken to small halls anywhere in the world, as an introduction to what Britain had to offer.
They spent a few weeks catching up with friends and finding out what had happened while they had been away. Mac still had all of the Rock’s equipment in his Watford shed, not wanting to have the bother of disposing of it. He was the youngest member of Rocks before Garry joined them and confessed to having odd thoughts about playing again.
Of the old band, Herb and Blue Day had become popular in Europe, and were now based in Stockholm. Geoff hadn’t stayed with them for very long and had returned home. The Hikers had finally had their day, and Rick was now a full-time farmer. Jim was back to playing the organ in St. Marys, and Gerry was working as a session guitarist in a few studios. Grant had given up drumming to go back to school for his higher studies, and was working, part-time in the family business in Coventry.
They caught up with Vivienne and Zara. Vivienne now had two children that her mother doted on, which was a good job as Ken had left her to chase his dreams, and a visiting soprano, in Canada. Zara was still singing in nightclubs but admitted that she was getting bored with it.
It was moving towards May, and Willow’s twenty-first birthday, one that her parents had insisted was important. They worked out an invitation list and booked the Stoneleigh Club for the twenty-fourth, a Saturday night. Willow invited Gina and any family, telling her that it would be nice for them to share their twenty-first together. The Vines were booked as the entertainment, through the label as they hadn’t signed with anyone, their father managing the finances. Malcolm assured her that the stage equipment was all as it was, although the Club had undergone massive changes. The kitchen had been totally updated, with the video recording equipment and a lot of new technology added to the dining area. With the new chef in charge, the meals were available seven days a week. Willow and Garry visited it mid-week and declared that it was as good as many places they had eaten in.
The week before the party, they welcomed Gina and Guiseppe at Heathrow and took them back to Marlow. Over the next few days, they relived some of their past, mainly the bits that were suitable for their husband’s ears. They had two private meals in the restaurant up the road. One, on the Wednesday, for Willow’s birthday, and the other, on the Friday, for Gina’s. They commented on the fact that the party night was almost the same as their first party together, all those years ago.
The party, on the Saturday night, was almost the same as well. There were two big cakes, shaped like keyboards and the kit set up on the stage. The guests started arriving, and Willow, Gina, and their husbands stood by the door to welcome everyone. Wendy and Ashley arrived, having left young John with his Nanny. Then came the PM, his wife and his security detail. Then the three Russells. The Head, Howard Bamborough and their partners arrived. Tom, his wife and Sally with her fiancé arrived. Mac and Mae, his wife, and Rufus. The Vines, both family and band arrived. Rick and Racheal arrived, along with Gerry and Geoff; Vivienne and Zara came in together. Bruce and his wife arrived, with a photographer, followed by Clive and Jill, and a lot of old schoolfriends and villagers. The room filled with old friends and laughter.
Malcolm looked out on it all with a smile. It was these people who had re-invigorated the club and the village. They had also led to it being able to afford the changes here and in the church. The Vines set up and began playing as the food came out, and the chatter quietened for a while. Then it was the cutting of the two cakes and the singing. After that, the Vines were playing more rocking music and there was dancing.
Inevitably, when the Vines had a break, someone spoke to someone else, and another group went up on the stage. Gerry badgered Geoff into joining them, Mac took over the drums, Garry was on bass with Willow on the keyboard and Zara out front. They started with old things that they all knew, from blues to Purple, and moved on as they warmed up. All of them happy to be playing in a group. Geoff, Gerry and Garry had played for Zara before, and Willow knew the keyboard parts. Mac was an old enough hand to follow, whatever was being played. They all sang, as lead or back-up. The Vines never got to go back, as the group jammed their way through to almost finishing time.
On the train across the Nullarbor, Willow and Garry had spoken about what they would call themselves if they ever went on stage again. After rejecting a lot of suggestions, they chose one that made them both laugh and had no links to the past bands whatsoever. During that party, ‘Garreth’ was conceived.
Marianne Gregory © 2025