For me this has to be one of the best weekends I've had in years. It was great to meet up with old friends who I haven't seen for many years, and meeting new friends...they know who they are!

Joe (my mad portuguse friend) arrived in Bilston on Friday afternoon, got ourselves checked in, had a couple beers before heading into the high street. Later that day we arranged to meet up with Peter (from Poland) at Woody's Bar....after a couple of beers we went to the Trumpet to meet Ann (landlady), we also met up with my old mate Nige & Kaz....a few more beers then headed back to the Haven for more drinking...then we met up with Brian & Graham Sinclaire, who were staying at the Haven...exchanged Slade stories, drank a bit more, chatted and drank and drank til we had enough.

The morning of the Trumpet do, Joe & I got the car packed up and headed off to meet up with Gaz and son Lee at the Trumpet, got out the DVD player but we couldn't link it up to the pub TV, but Gaz came to the rescue with a portable TV...in the meantime we had Flame on video, whilst Lee was setting up the DVD player.

During this time, fans were coming in, along with the local BBC who started to chat to me, then to camera. Then he went around the pub talking to other fans, to share their stories.

Gaz & Lee were setting up the camera out the back, for the Slade fan documentary...more fans were arriving, got chatting to old mates I hadn't seen in years. The pub was filling up nicely throughout the day & evening, everyone getting to know each other....in Jan 's case he was getting too carried away...no changes there then Jan!!! Sladedee, sister & friend were having a ball, singin'/dancin'.

Peter (from Poland) was having a great time, got up and sang a few Slade numbers, Ran & Brian did a number or two...and before you knew it...it was all over...it was time to say our goodbye's, but we all knew we're all going to do this again the next day.

A good few of us all headed back to the Haven, to carry on the party.....more drinking...got Mark & Jane to open their bottle of Brandy (both smell the same)...you could say we were all full of spirits! Then it was time for bed.

Arrangements were made for the gear to go the Robin, so Joe & I made our way to The Robin, where I bumped into another old mate I hadn't seen since 1991. When the doors finally opened we went into Woody's Bar...went to get my pass, but they weren't ready, so we had a drink or two, then the fans were arriving, the place was filling up, then they started to let people through to the main venue.

The German fans that arrived, wanted to see Noddy's Bar, so an old mate of mine (Rod Fox) said I'll take you, within minutes they were back.....There's nothing up there...all the photos are gone!!! but only to find that they moved Noddy's bar back downstairs, behind the mixing desk.

I was given a table to sell various Slade shirts and other stuff, including FS DVD's, which went fairly quick. The Robin was filling up nicely, showing of Slade's last perfomance, was shown a big screen. Fans were making there way to Noddy's Bars area, having their photos taken etc. fans introducing themselves to each other...Exchanging stories.

During this time FS came on stage to do their 1st set, (The early stuff) from the audience response, they seem to go down really well....me personally I liked Dapple Rose...they covered that really well.

More film footage was shown, great seeing it on a big screen. More old friends were turning up, more drinking....there was a big gap between the two FS sets, but it was great seeing them again.....they always seem to pull it off...its because they're fans themselves, which makes a big diffence to their act....coz they care.....Sad to see Ed go, the crowd gave him a good send off. I wish him well in whatever he does...Nice to have met ya Ed.

There are loads of people I want to thank, so if I have missed anyone...I apologise right now.

Gaz, Lee, all members of FS, Ann & Staff at The Trumpet, Alan Whitney & Family, Nick Smith, John & Jane Sales, my mad portugese friend - Joe, Mark & Jane Richards, Steve Knight, Jan Visscher, Nomis & Lizzy, Brain & Graham Sinclaire, Nige & Kaz, Peter, Sian, Chris, Mark, Stu, Ran, Peter, Rod & Wendy, Bill, Melvin & Pam, Sladedee, sister & friend, Jill & Ted and John & Simon.

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