SIX DEGREES OF RICK WAKEMAN

Rick catches up with an old friend of a friend of a friend.

The other day, I saw this man deliberately cross the road and make a beeline for me. I wasn’t worried as I genuinely like people and enjoy meeting all the different kinds I’m lucky enough to meet. He stopped in front of me with a nice welcoming smile and I did my best to reciprocate.

“We have a mutual friend that’s going to really surprise you,” he said as an introduction.

“Go on,” I replied in anticipation.

“Gordon Blansett,” he replied in rather an over-confident tone.

“Err, Gordon Blanket?” I answered, slightly confused.

“No, Blansett!” he said. He was still smiling. “Give me a clue,” I countered. My new friend looked disappointed and said, “I really thought you’d remember him straight away… This will jog your memory!” Then he took a deep breath and added, “South Harrow.”

“Ah yes,” I replied, “I was brought up in that area. I went to church there, I was in a band there and my first real girlfriend came from South Harrow... but I can’t quite place Gordon Branflake at the moment though. More of a clue needed please…”

“It’s Blansett,” he said somewhat tetchily. “Okay… Wood End Infant School.”

“Yes, I was there from 1954 until 1956, and I’m guessing so was Gordon Blackbird?”

“Blansett,” he said in a loud voice, “Blansett, and no, he didn’t go there but his sister’s best friend did.”

“And did I know his sister’s best friend?” I replied. By now, I was beginning to feel extremely confused.

“I don’t think so,” he pondered. “But anyway, one day, when your mum was picking you up from school, Gordon’s sister’s best friend’s mum was also picking her son up. At the time she was looking after Gordon who was sitting in her Morris Eight and he waved.”

“Waved at me? Why?”

“Well,” he said, “his sister said she believed that he was waving at his mum but Gordon always said he had an inkling you were going to be in a rock band one day so was actually waving at you.”

“Ah, right,” I said, trying to look interested.“I’m very sorry that I can’t actually recall the event but out of interest, was there a reason you crossed the road to tell me this?”

“Yes,” he said, solemnly. “Gordon died last week and I thought you’d like to know.”

There aren’t many times I’ve been lost for words, but this was certainly one of them. How do you follow up a statement like that?

“Gordon said he had an inkling you were going to be in a rock band one day…”