On Sunday 9th October I was announced as the winner of the OUTSTANDING SONGWRITING gong at Yorkshire Gig Guide Grassroots Music Awards. I wasn’t able to collect the award as I was in Liverpool singing for We Shall Overcome, but I am proud as punch to be acknowledged for my writing which has always been the most important part of it for me.

The award came off the back of my ‘NEVER BE DEFEATED’ album telling the stories of the Hatfield Brigade during the 1984-85 Miner’s Strike, and as such I would like to dedicate it to everyone who helped me write it by telling their stories and encouraging me along the way, in particular Mick Lanaghan, Harry Harle, Les Moore, Will Moore, Sheena Moore and Tony Clegg without whom it would never have seen the light of day. Their friendship and encouragement has given me such a lift over the last few years and I am delighted the album is receiving some acclaim as much of that belongs to them.

I was also voted runner-up in the OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION category, which put the icing on the cake of a cracking night.

But, as a wise man once told me:

“Don’t listen when people say you’re great, and don’t listen when people say you’re rubbish as you are neither. Just get on with it.”

Tomorrow is a brand new day.