A question for our Swansea /Neath based brethren ...

[Ade Angove]

Most of you will be familiar with the name Verney Lee ... former owner of the Ritz ballroom Skewen and proprietor of JV Entertainments Agency ...mentioned several times in '... Should've stayed in bed'.

I was just Facebook chatting with one of Verney's bookers at the agency back in the 1960s/70s (Marie, who now lives in the US) and she asked if Verney was still alive ... I have no idea, but wondered if any here know ... he would of course be in his late 80s now if he is still kicking ... any news either way welcome ...

[Mike Morgan]

I have no idea, but will ask around.

[Ade Angove]

I have no idea, but will ask around.

Thanks Mike ... much appreciated

[Mike Morgan]

So far, no luck.  Will keep on asking.

[Mike Morgan]

My mate has been asking with no joy, but there's one more option that he thinks may be able to help.

[Ade Angove]

Isn't it amazing ... or really rather sad ... that someone as prominent in a community (such as the thriving musical community of the 60s and 70s) can just vanish out of the collective consciousness when they retire? Verney could be alive or dead ... still in Swansea or toasting himself to a crisp on a private beach in Cyprus ... the modern equivalent of Schrödinger's cat

[Rob W]

And, Mr Angove, aka Ade the Drainpipe,  don't underestimate the power of us Salfordians. Even I'm on the case, I've got my S.Wales contact(s) on the hunt. Like Mike the 'Ammer, no luck, but someone knows someone else to ask. The mind boggles, but you never know. 

[Rob W]

Sorry, Ade. Result is a blank.

[Andrew P]

Isn't it amazing ... or really rather sad ... that someone as prominent in a community (such as the thriving musical community of the 60s and 70s) can just vanish out of the collective consciousness when they retire? Verney could be alive or dead ... still in Swansea or toasting himself to a crisp on a private beach in Cyprus ... the modern equivalent of Schrödinger's cat

People often do that, Ade. My brother in law was on a plumbing course around 20 years ago and one of the guys on it with him was the former lead guitarist with The Fireflies, mentioned in Deke's books and credited as the top Swansea band of the early 1960s. Also the first live band I ever saw. Damned if I can remember the guy's name though. Certainly never seen any mention of him.

[Peter Steventon]

Been in touch with my mates in Neath and they say hes A dealer in Rare Coins and living down the Mumbles
Pete

[Ade Angove]

Wow ... thanks for the detective work Pete ... I will pass the news on to Marie and Stephanie

[Mike Morgan]

Comes to something when Pete, who lives in Germany I think, can find out more than us locals

Good shout.

[Dave Bardsley]

What's that about five degrees of separation?  This one looks to be only four.  Small world, getting smaller...