On searching through my ticket stubs, my elder daughter Ashleigh came across this signed ticket, for a concert by Rick Wakeman at South Shields Customs House. Looking at the date; the concert came a few days after my accident. In fact so close to my accident that it was impossible that I had attended the show. Now I can recall going to see Rick Wakeman with my younger daughter, Laura, at a fantastic concert at Newcastle City Hall which we both greatly enjoyed. But I have no recollection of ever having tickets for this concert in South Shields. Reading the ticket stub, it seemed that someone had gone along to the concert, met Rick Wakeman and asked him to sign the ticket with a kind “Get Better!!!” message dedicated to me. 
To my shame I have no recollection of any of this, and I could not remember who on earth had got the ticket signed for me. In my defence, I was in intensive care at the time, high on morphine, and didn’t really know what was going on! I racked my brains which of my friends could have done such a kind thing for me. But I could not identify the friendly culprit.
I happened to mention my predicament to Laura, who managed to solve the problem immediately. “It was Ian” she said. Now Ian is a friend of both Laura and me, a fellow rock fan and concertgoer and also a very accomplished musician who leads a band in which Laura sometimes accompanies him on vocals. So the problem is solved and a big Thank You to Ian for being so kind to me at a very difficult time, and to Rick Wakeman for signing the ticket for me. Ian apparently told Rick the full sorry tale of my accident and the extent of my predicament at the time. I hope I get the chance to see Rick Wakeman again one day and thank him myself personally.
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by Kevin Geraghty-Shewan on May 13, 2020 at 11:57 am
I found a ticket in my collection once for a Tourists gig at the City Hall which I knew I hadn’t been to – it was signed by all the band and it took me ages to remember how it had come into my possession! I finally remembered that a friend had given it to me but I still have no idea why!
Posted by vintagerock on May 13, 2020 at 2:38 pm
Hi Kevin it is strange how our memories can play tricks on us. Cheers Peter
Posted by kutukamus on May 25, 2020 at 12:48 pm
In 2002 Rick Wakeman gave a performance in a nearby city. And somehow I ain’t going. I committed a cardinal sin.
Posted by vintagerock on May 25, 2020 at 1:06 pm
There will be other chances, I am sure cheers Peter