GLOSSOP ADVERTISER INTERVIEW May 2008... Reporter Sue Carr

 

How did you first become involved? How did The Bradshaws start?
    It was a chance right out of the blue (well actually it was out of the smoke at an acoustic night upstairs at The Globe in Glossop in 1982) A songwriter was telling me how he was running out of songs for the Nightbeat Musician slot at Piccadilly Radio. I had a Yozzer Hughes moment and decided ‘I can do that!’, went down to Manchester with him that night and played a few songs live on air. The Bradshaws stories came a month later when they made me Overnight Producer and I found I had a new toy - a radio station to play with (the management never listened to night shift shows!).

Describe your average day.
    I sleep with the curtains open so it starts when the sun gets up. I deal with the priority deadline stuff and then go for a stride to put things – and me - in order. I’ve got a new mantra - “Procrastination Gets Other Jobs Done” - so when I settle down to write I make sure I’ve got some ironing to do, or a fence to paint.

What is your biggest achievement?
    I’ve managed to stay mentally sane and physically healthy in this rock and roll world. Not easy!

What are the best and worst things about what you do?
    The best thing is having an audience for my outpourings. The worst thing is not having (or making?) enough time for my family and friends.

What keeps you motivated?
    Being so very easily inspired.

Who inspires you?
    Who and what is more like it.. Charles Dickens, John Lennon, T.S.Elliott, Graham Bowers, the wind in the trees, the look on someone’s face, losing a friend, finding a friend, Beethoven, kids before they learn to lie, having a show to do..

Do you have any unfulfilled ambitions?
    All this positivity is probably sounding boring by now but I’ve got hundreds! As fast as I achieve one the next one stands up like a prairie dog for me to aim at (not that I’d shoot an animal – one or two humans perhaps!).

If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
    I’d like the holier-than-thou politicians and do-gooders to back off and realise that you can only change yourself and, by your example, others just might follow suit.

What do you do to relax?
    Aborigines practice a thing called ‘Dreamtime’. It’s simply getting far enough away from the rushing and bargeing about to allow your busy head to ‘walk about’ a bit. I go hill walking as often as possible and the Peak District has to be one of the most stunning areas. We should make the effort to get out of the car long enough to enjoy it

What would you do if you won the lottery?
    I’d turn the phone off, stop the clock, and disappear long enough to finish my album of songs, my album of catchy choruses and daft bits, and my first book. By then the broadcasters should have started full production on the Bradshaws animation series and I’ll be able to concentrate on that. I never buy a ticket though.

How would you like to be remembered?
    As a bit odd, a lot happy, and having added something of value to this all- too-short lifetime.

What's the best thing about Glossop?
    Well it isn’t the never-ending fow traffic, that’s for sure!

*interview is reproduced by kind permission of  MEN Media