![\"P1.](\"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/P1.-Sheet-music-Cabin-on-the-Shore-m-Leslie-Baguley-w-Tommie-Connor-1951-Sung-by-Guy-Lombardo-Scan1-218x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\nUpdate:<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n (LtoR) Girl unknow, Diane (just behind Leslie), Keith Grant, Elaine Dunnell (landlady of Bull Hotel, Wrotham, Kent)\u00a0and Ann-Marie (her young daughter, sporting a fun hat). circa 1985\/86, (Leslie played every Sunday lunchtime – sometime with Keith on drums).<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n I would like to tell about our wonderful friendship with Leslie Baguley, who wrote the song \u2018Nice to Know You Care\u2019.\u00a0 He had written a few hits in the 50\u2019s and was such a talented jazz pianist.<\/p>\n He was a lovely man, no taller than 5foot, but with such a humungous personality – wearing a 10gallon Stetson hat (which we now possess).<\/p>\n Leslie was born in England\u2019s West Country, but was brought up in America.\u00a0 With his wonderful pseudo-English accent, you couldn\u2019t help warm to him big time.\u00a0 Keith and his business partner, David Capstick had employed Leslie to play piano every evening in the Steering Wheel Club in Curzon Street, Mayfair, London.<\/p>\n Nearly 30 years ago, Keith and I would take him to play piano (with Keith accompanying him on drums) in The Bull at Wrotham, Kent.\u00a0 He was so popular where-ever he played, often being asked to play at this or that function. \u00a0I remember the Lady of the Manor asked for him to play for her at the Manor (he played classical music on her lovely grand piano).<\/p>\n When he was taken ill, he phoned Keith and said \u2018I\u2019m sorry, I can\u2019t make the gig, I\u2019m dying\u2019 and he did.\u00a0 That\u2019s a pro musician for you.<\/p>\n His funeral took place at Elmers End, South East London and the little chapel was absolutely packed with so many stars.\u00a0 His friend, with whom he wrote \u2018Nice to Know You Care\u2019, namely Normal Newell, (b.25jan1919, OBE-2003, d.1dec2004) came over (especially for the funeral) from America.\u00a0 He told us they had appeared on The London Palladium in the \u201850\u2019s, but had been too zany for that time.\u00a0 He proceeded to tell us a couple of jokes, so there was plenty of laughter.\u00a0 The London Savoy Hotel\u2019s famous resident pianist and his singer wife (whose names escape me for the moment – sorry, will correct later) played and sang for us and we applauded (not done at funerals in those days).\u00a0 Even his taxi driver (who took him home from London to Hayes, Kent each evening) attended.\u00a0 Keith quite expected the coffin lid to open up and say \u201cI\u2019m back\u201d (he would always tell me \u2018I\u2019m dying Diane\u2019 when in our car \u2013 lie down, then pop back up and say \u201cI\u2019m back again Diane\u201d).\u00a0 Obviously everyone went to the pub next door.\u00a0 Then six or eight of us decided to have a drink at the Bull in Wrotham, to \u2018say our farewells\u2019.\u00a0 Keith, David and I did not manage to escape.\u00a0 We got snowed in for a week!!! \u00a0\u00a0Our bar bill came to \u00a3649 (having already spent \u00a33or400 on the day).\u00a0 Quite lot of money in 1987.\u00a0 The best \u2018wake\u2019 we have ever been to!<\/p>\n Diane and Keith<\/p>\n P.S.\u00a0 A special thanks to Bob Dwyer’s Bix & Pieces, who played Leslie’s song ‘Nice to Know You Care’ on \u00a028 March 2014 (see the write-up for that date).<\/p>\n ‘I’m Happy Right Here’<\/strong><\/em> (1947), Lyrics by Norman Newell, Music by Leslie Baguley. Featured & Broadcast by Foresythe, Seaman and Farrell.<\/p>\n ‘Nice To Know You Care’<\/strong><\/em> (1949), Lyrics by Norman Newell, Music by Leslie Baguley.<\/p>\n ‘Come Home To My Arms’<\/em><\/strong> (1956), Words by Emily Jane, Music by Leslie Baguley.\u00a0 Recorded by Dorothy Squires on PYE-NIX Records. (Dorothy wrote under the name of Emily Jane.<\/p>\n Having requested any of Leslie’s family to get in touch, I was thrilled to receive an email from his son, as follows:<\/p>\n This is Craig Baguley, Les\u2019s son. Just saw you mention my father on YouTube (Tony Brent \u2013 Nice To Know You Care). I\u2019ve just viewed your tribute page to my Dad, which is wonderful. I guess I would have met you and Keith at the funeral in Elmers End. Actually, it wasn\u2019t Norman Newell who came, it was Danny Arnold, a lovely man who partnered Les for years in a variety act (called Arnold & McGooley, believe it or not). He was a great one for telling stories. Danny also ran a Western saloon-style show at summer seasons in the UK (Margate and Cleethorpes) and also in Germany and Dad was the saloon piano player, complete with bowler hat\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n Most of you know, Keith (being a luddite) hates computers, but the power of the internet, although can be terrible, it\u00a0is also\u00a0wonderful in many ways, hearing from Craig being one of them.\u00a0 So lovely to have heard from you Craig.<\/p>\n Diane<\/p>\n Hi Diane<\/p>\n I have just spent a wonderful hour or so reading all about Les Baguley on the net!<\/p>\n Thank you to your website for dedicating a whole page to him.<\/p>\n I have followed through and found your YouTube sites with NICE TO KNOW YOU CARE.<\/p>\n And I have found a site to buy the sheet music. I\u2019m looking forward to singing it!<\/p>\n Your websites bring back memories of the amazing Les Baguley playing at Macready\u2019s Actors\u2019 Club in Covent Garden in the 80s.<\/p>\n I was playing and singing there in the early 80s, and then Les took over from me when I left England to work overseas\u2026\u2026.. which I think should read that I was the support act to him being the real star!!<\/p>\n Whenever I was back in London I used to love listening to Les play, and of course I would always request him to play and sing NICE TO KNOW YOU CARE.<\/p>\n In 1985 my parents visited me in London where I was playing and singing at the Bombay Brasserie.<\/p>\n I took them into Macready\u2019s, and my father was able to meet Les.<\/p>\n Dad is now 92 and in a nursing home after a lifetime dedicated to music through teaching high school children and occasionally accompanying. He was not a jazz musician, but was thoroughly able to appreciate Les\u2019 dexterity on the piano!<\/p>\n And of course Les\u2019 very generous nature was most welcoming, and he and Dad got along very well.<\/p>\n Dad wrote one song, also in 1947, and just before Dad had his 2 strokes I took him into the recording studio at age 89:<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=CALRiafNkk4<\/a><\/p>\n The next time I was back in London I looked up Les, but sadly he had passed away.<\/p>\n He had always promised me his black and white striped jacket, which was given to him by actor Jack Buchanan.<\/p>\n Somewhere in my photos I have a snap of me wearing the jacket!<\/p>\n Meanwhile here are 2 pix, one of 71-year-old Les at the Green Room Club for Patrick Ide\u2019s 69th<\/sup> birthday party on 23rd<\/sup> March 1985.<\/p>\n And the other is of my then 63-year-old father John McMenamin playing \u201cLes\u2019 piano\u201d at Macready\u2019s in 1985.<\/p>\n Sadly Macready\u2019s is no longer there\u2026\u2026..neither is the Green Room Club\u2026\u2026.neither is the piano in the Bombay Brasserie\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n Thank you again for all your info about Les. He was a most amazing pianist and a wonderful soul.<\/p>\n Best regards<\/p>\n Sandi<\/p>\n Sandi McMenamin B Mus<\/p>\n Entertainer, Piano\/Vocal Teacher<\/strong><\/p>\n +61 (0)403 373 260<\/a><\/p>\n sandi@sandimcmenamin.com<\/a><\/p>\n www.sandimcmenamin.com<\/a><\/p>\n www.youtube.com\/user\/sandimc260<\/a><\/p>\n PO Box 197, Mitcham SA 5062<\/p>\n AUSTRALIA<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I was delighted to come across the website of Leeds Play Bills, where I found copies of old posters advertised for sale.\u00a0 Amongst them, was\u00a0this posters of Jack Parnell\u2019s presentation from Monday, 13th December 1954.\u00a0 The show was presented by Stanley Dale and included Leslie, playing piano for Tony Brent at The Empire Theatre, Leeds.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Title:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tony Brent, Columbia’s Sensational Singing Star<\/span><\/p>\n ID:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2003911_63860721<\/span><\/p>\n Theatre:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Empire<\/span><\/p>\n Year:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1954<\/span><\/p>\n Description:\u00a0 Monday, 13th December, 1954.<\/span><\/p>\n This Week at the Empire Theatre, Stanley Dale Presents a variety of performances including: Tony Brent, Columbia’s Sensational Singing Star<\/span>, with Leslie Baguley at the Piano; Gladys Morgan, ‘…Britain’s famous comedienne with her laugh & company’; Billie Anthony, ‘…the new singing star, glamorous recorder<\/span> of the big sale record ‘This ‘Ole House’; Eddie Arnold, ‘…impersonating the stars’; Duo Russmar, ‘…beauty in the balance’; Syd & Paul Kaye, ‘…young laughter raisers’; Kay & Katrina, ‘…steps in rhythym’ and finally, Brian Andro, ‘…on the wire’. There will be two performances every evening, at 6.00pm and at 8.15pm. Actors include: Tony Brent, Gladys Morgan, Billie Anthony, Eddie Arnold, Kay and Katrina, Brian Andro, Syd and Paul Kaye, Duo Russmar<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0“\u00a9<\/b> Leeds Library and Information Service\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n It has given me much pleasure to obtain this poster\u00a0for our website, for all\u00a0Leslie’s relatives and\u00a0friends to see.\u00a0 I am sure you will also love their website and to discover all the various posters they have thought to retain and have copies on sale. \u00a0\u00a0Well done Leeds Library and Leondis.<\/strong><\/p>\n Their site is making available all the playbills in the Local Studies Library collection from a wide range of Leeds Theatres, such as The City Varieties, The Grand, The Princess and the Theatre Royal.\u00a0 The site also contains some circus bills, such as those from Pablo Franque\u2019s Circus.\u00a0\u00a0 They also have an image by Louis Le Prince. It is claimed Le Prince filmed the first ever moving images on Leeds Bridge in 1888.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Leeds Playbills site is part of the Leodis digitisation project funded by the New Opportunities Fund.\u00a0 <\/strong>Leodis is a photographic archive of Leeds. It is a project delivered by Leeds Library & Information Service. All images are \u00a9 Leeds Library & Information Service unless otherwise specified.<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Scan](\"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Scan-1.-Leslie-Baguley-Come-Home-to-My-Arms-sheet-music-Dorothy-Squires-P1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\nXTRA – XTRA<\/h1>\n
MORE XTRA –\u00a0XTRA!<\/h1>\n
Please see email received from Australia 25 February 2015<\/h2>\n
LEEDS PLAY BILLS <\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n
(see main\u00a0post\u00a0 Leslie Baguley (Up-date) 22 June 2016)<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n
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