Never 2 Late - The Story

I was born in Nottingham in the early 1950’s.

I was brought up a Catholic boy going to many Catholic schools, mainly enjoying the sports activities rather than the Academic side.

My father in his younger years was a policeman, Loved sport and bordering on being a professional Football / Cricketer. Defiantly in my case that’s how I got to like Sport. Literally following in my Dad’s footsteps. Whilst my mother worked from home mending nylon stockings , Invisibly mending runs and ladders.

They really worked hard in their younger life and I remember so well.

Whenever my birthday came around they must have saved up for month’s to give me a special day never to be forgotten.

How often do I hear people say “if only I knew Then what I know Now” yes I would probably make many changes but deep down I have so many happy memories.

I am never short of stories to go back on. One regret that always laid heavy on my mind. I think it was my eight birthday, I was presented with a large flat box. I remember opening it with great expectations When the box was opened a beautiful Spanish guitar was revealed. I was told it came with unlimited lessons to get me on my way. To this very day for some indescribable reason I told them I had no intentions to be taught how to play the guitar.

So the guitar went back replaced by a Clarinet again with lessons. At that time a song played by Acker Bilk. ‘Stranger on the Shore’ was so popular. Well after six month’s I could play the song as well as Acker, Then that was It .. End of me playing the Clarinet .. It was Sport. Sport and more Sport representing my district and counties in Cricket, Football and Golf ..

After many changes to my father’s career his work eventually brought us to London Surrey working for the county council, whilst my Mum worked her way

up to a good position with British Gas.

Peter and Helen’s Story

My Mother Helen was born in County Longford, one of 12 children. In the early 40’s She came over to Birmingham England.

My Dad Peter was born in Nottingham, an only son. In 1944 he to was stationed in India at the beginning of the 2nd world war.

His close companion had a fiancé to whom he regularly wrote letters.

Dad asked if maybe his friend’s fiancé had another girl-friend to whom he could write

She did and until the end of the war my Dad had a pen-pal to help ease the hardship of being away from home in such difficult circumstances

When Dad was de-mobbed he returned with a bundle of letters in hand and wanted to meet the lady with whom he had shared such intimate moments by post. They met and the lady became his sweetheart, his wife and later my mother.

When I left School

I always had the nickname Suds so that’s why I’ve always been called

Pat Suds …

After leaving School. I did a six year engineering apprenticeship ..

I hated working inside a factory and lucky for me, with my Mum’s connections I got an opportunity to work for British Gas, on the metering side.

I worked for over 30 Years. Then Took an opportunity to take early retirement.

Throughout my life that was always my dream, to be able to retire a fifty five and that is exactly what I achieved.

The Christmas before I retired. My wife, Mum and Dad and Myself all came over to Ireland. We stayed with my cousin Raymond and his Family In County Kildare and later let the New Year in down in Corofin County Clare.

As a Young boy I came over every year an stayed on my grandfather’s farm in Longford. And spent many years as a lad sharing wonderful memories with Raymond. We were young and carefree with bright green fields and fresh air.

Strange as you look back every day seemed full of sunshine and excitement.

I asked Raymond if I retired to Ireland where should I live.

He Replied there’s only one place to live. “Wexford”

Not Longford. Not Kildare. Not Clare. But County Wexford ..

Wexford here we come

We all came over to Wexford ..

My Mum, Dad Lynn and myself..

Wexford is a large county and with the help of Raymond and his wife Bernie Lynn and myself came over to find our future.

We found an area just out of Wexford Town, with beautiful veiws. This was about to become our dream come true. A place we were going to call Home.

Our new paradise..

So when I reached 60

So did the start of the Story of 'Never 2 late'

My Childhood regret was now going to become an Old Man’s Dream.

My Mum and Dad were still alive at the time and somewhat amused by my decision. I told them I was going to Buy a guitar n Learn how to play.

And that is exactly what I did..

What Guitar Should I buy

This is such an amazing storey.

I went onto the internet and asked Google.

To name me a quality guitar. The result came up . Martin Guitar …

So I asked Google. For sale . Martin Guitar. Wexford. Ireland

One Reply. Done Deal. Ian Cleary. Wexford Town..

I rung Ian and as good, made the deal via the phone.

Ian brought the Martin Guitar to my House and presented to me in a Beautiful case with Martin written all over the front. When opened a Blue Velvet Insert Inside complemented the near perfect example of a Guitar.

D’eja’ Vu suddenly hit me. Going back all those years when Mum and Dad looked on so proud as I so excitedly opened my birthday present ….

I asked Ian to play the Martin for me. Wow. It sounded Amazing.

He told me he had been playing for over twenty six years, mainly down at his golf club in Wexford town. His father and himself ran a music club every Wednesday night. Ian was very much into American County.

He asked me to play something and was somewhat taken back when I told him that I couldn’t play a note ..

I bought the guitar and cheekily asked Ian would he teach me how to play.

Remarkably he said “Yes”.

Every Thursday afternoon he came n gave me a lesson.

After my first two weeks. With a few chords he taught me..

I told him I’d written a song called ‘Wonderful’ Inspired about a walk down to Bannow Bay.

Incredibly Ian told me he had never written a song.

Six months later

With a pile of songs including one from Ian Cleary

Called ‘Face in The Crowd’

A Beautiful song about his newly born Daughter .

A friend Suggested that I should take Extra Lessons from an amazing Guitar teacher just up the road from me his name .

Mike Essex

I rung Mike and booked a course of guitar lessons for Monday Mornings.

The first moment I walked into his studio. Bingo..

This was going to change my Life.

This is what I had to do. This is what I had to replicate.

I had to build my own studio. To record my own music.

I went onto the internet and searched on Done Deal for a recording studio

I was amazed how expensive they were. One in particular took my fancy.

Unfortunately it was priced totally out of my league , Having said that I decided to give the number a ring.

A charming guy by the name of Kelvin answered. He told me it had taken him over three years to build his studio. It must have taken him a good twenty minutes plus to go through all the contents of the studio. This would have been my dream but politely thanked him for his time and told him I would consider. (IF ONLY.)

Later in the day, the phone rang. It was Kelvin. He asked me directly if I wanted to buy his studio. I replied telling him it was everything I wanted but at that time, it was out of my financial budget.

Kelvin went on to tell me. He had a rented accommodation in a posh part of Dublin and needed to be out by the weekend. He was also in the process of restoring a sail boat and was intending to sail around Europe.

He told me he would be prepared to drop the price.

Rather embarrassingly I told him I couldn’t get close to his asking price.

Almost persistently he asked me to make an offer.

Silence on the phone as I deliberated a price.

I made an offer

This led to a lot more silence. Then Kelvin replied.

Come up and look at it. I’ll show you how it all operates. If you like, offer a bit more and I will come down to Wexford the following weekend and set it all up for you.

OMG. I could not believe what I was hearing.

Serendipity was back playing its major role one again.

I went up to Dublin that day.

I could not believe my eyes. It was just like I would have envisaged Abby Road studio’s to look like. Kelvin was good to his word.

He came down the next weekend and set up my very own studio.

There was such an amazing amount of equipment that looked so pleasing on the eye, but honestly I was left with very little knowledge on how to operate such an professional working studio.

But I did know someone who could help me.

The next day. Mike Essex came down to see my incredible purchase, and for a period of time I exchanged my guitar lessons for studio lessons ..

Yes .. I suppose it was meant to BE ..

Meeting Goretti Cooper Martin

So many people have been inspirational into my short musical Journey.

But meeting Goretti Martin Cooper (Sorry for repeating Myself)

was again just serendipity. Meant to be.

A true professional for many years duetting with hubby Billy Martin.

Their early years Performing live in clubs and bars in Derry. Then moving

abroad in much hotter climates, before coming home to Ireland singing amongst the Dublin scene. Then finally making a move down to Wexford.

I first met Goretti at a local market in Wexford town, where I worked weekends show casing my love of photo restoration.

A lifelong hobby that had taught me how to restore creased, torn or faded photos. Black and white to colour to name but a few …

I suppose It all started with my father’s passion to photography. Lucky for me I have a history (Boxes) of cherished family photo’s Dad took of me growing up.

Goretti had the stall next to me. We passed pleasantries for many months.

It wasn’t until I first met.

Shane Hurley

A talented musician who had formed his own group and successfully toured Ireland and Europe. Even was a support band at the.

Electric Picnic festival Co Laois.

He was taking a welcomed break enjoying time to market his hobby of gaming and was in the process of setting up his own stall.

Whenever I had a quiet spell it gave me an opportunity to take out my guitar and have a practice.

So there I was stumming out some pretty basic cords.

Enter Shane Hurley. Looking like a young Elvis Presley.

“Nice Guitar” he said “Can I have a play”.

I gave it to him . Wow. within a couple of minutes I had a so many people outside my stall wondering were such amazing music was coming from.

First in line was Goretti. That is how it all started…..

How Music can instantly form a bound. Shane and Goretti were about to start me on my way to making my musical dream come true.

Mike Essex was helping me set up my studio, But we was having trouble setting up the sound.

Lucky for me Shane had worked in a studio before and had lots of experience. He suggested he came up to give me a hand and see if he could help.

He did and It wasn’t long before the sound was sorted and all was up and running.

I couldn’t believe it when Shane suggested he could make a one day commitment to come up and teach me how to record my own music.

How lucky was I to have such a talented musician / pop star to start me on my way.

He was loyal to his word and before moving on taught me so much about recording in a studio.

Don Cooper

Goretti and myself started talking about music. She told me her brother Don Cooper was a very successful singer song writer in the seventies.

He had written an album as a remembrance to his family times and childhood days in County Derry Northern Ireland.

Having known his time was limited he sadly passed away In 2007 soon after he had finished the album.

Goretti kindly asked me if I would like to listen to it, as she found it heart breaking and very emotional.

Listening to the album was powerful and so inspiring. It was like something I had never experienced. Not having any siblings myself, It must have been so difficult for Goretti hearing Don’s voice singing about his heart-filled memories.

So taken back by Don’s music I asked Goretti if I could use three of his songs.

Childhood Days
Where The Eagles Fly
Reasons

She kindly agreed and these strong, powerful and emotional songs were about to be recorded onto my ‘Never 2 Late’ Albums.

With the Studio now completed and Shane starting to build some of my song’s it was becoming clear that a keyboard or piano player was going to be a priority especially for building and layering tracks,

Declan Cosgrove

A friend told me he was doing some work for a piano teacher just down the road.

He told me that he comes with a reputation of being able to teach anyone how to play a piano in ‘Seven Easy Lessons’ his name was Declan Cosgrove.

So… I Rung Declan up and booked a seven Lessons course, every Wednesday afternoon with the expectations of becoming a session keyboard player of the highest quality. Not to be ..

In fact I was so blown away with Declan’s persona, personality and talent.

I can honestly say that I had never met anyone like him before.

He could play to piano totally by ear. This is what he could teach.

Literally you could Humm it and he could play it

After two Lesson Declan was fascinated by my story.

He told me that he was about to start a singing course with a local singing coach

Aideen Ni’ Riada. They were going to call it ‘the secret singers’

He told me my next step for me should be to learn how to sing properly.
So he invited me to the very first..
“Secret singers class”

I remember at the time I thought “Me Sing” I didn’t think I had a note in my body…

Aideen Na’ Riada

After much consideration, I thought why not. In for a penny in for a pound.

Strangely I remember before I went her first class.

Booking both Aideen and Declan for an hours lesson. Not telling them my intentions.

Before my class with them both. I did a similar thing with Mike Essex.

Booking an hours class. I told him that I didn’t want any tuition that day.

I just wanted to get my song book out with all the songs that I had written. I set myself up in the middle of his studio, and to Mike’s amazement for the next hour went through all of my repertoire of songs.

Goodness knows what he must have thought .. But in fairness to Mike he gave me nothing but encouragement and wished me well for my first concert in front of Aideen and Declan.

On arrival I don’t think they both had any idea of my intentions. I’m pretty sure Aideen thought I was there for an hour long introduction class on how to sing ..

So just as I did with Mike I asked them both a take a seat as I set myself up in the middle of the room.

I told them my story . My intentions regarding my music. How I wanted to record my very own album with my very own music. Allowing any local talent that might want to help me.

For the next hour I sung a played the guitar pathetically badly trying to showcasing my album “Never 2 Late’

To be totally honest I don’t think Aideen was all that impressed. But for some reason I’m sure Declan was incredibly taken back at probably the worst
show/concert he had ever seen in his whole life ….

After meeting Aideen, I soon found that she had an amazing talent/gifted.
To transform a person from a nervous wreck into someone with such inner confidence. In such a short amount of time. It was amazing to see how she could change a student from zero, to performing Live at the Wexford Arts Centre.

Well that was the end of my piano lesson

Instead of having my the third lesson. Declan came up to my studio and put a piano track down for ‘Childhood Day’s’ … O.M.G …

At that time, little did I realise the door was just about to open.

There was me walking along in a straight line and all these amazing gifted and talented people were joining me and helping me make my dream come true.

Shane was about to move on and Declan had this amazing belief in this sixty year old man who had a dream to produce and create his own album.

Called ‘NEVER 2 Late”

Well… Five years later taking up nearly every Wednesday.

Starting off with a ‘Lynn’s Lovely Lunch’ ..

‘NEVER 2 Late’ became a Double Album - Volume 1 & Volume 2

Declan Cosgrove ... Became my Music partner and Producer.. I was so Lucky .. Again Serendipity had worked it’s magical oracle..

People that has helped me on the way

So I was one of the very first members of.

The Secret Singers

I have to say even though there was only a small amount present, when my time came to sing I was somewhat taken over by nerves.

Bordering on being petrified.

But .. Aideen Ni Riada had such an amazing quality of karma around herself. The belief that she can give her student confidence, respect and compassion.

Stay positive and you with be rewarded. No matter how bad you think you may be. There is always someone that is inspired by you.

Somebody that is motivated by you. She makes you believe from inside ..

I have to say after singing one of my own songs. The feeling of self-satisfaction was second to none.

Everyone was so supportive and I was amazed how quickly I bonded with the rest of the class. Especially with one member ..

The Brendan Kehoe

Brendan had always loved listening to music, but never had the confidence to sing in front of people. For over fifty years he had been singing in his bedroom oblivious to the fact he possessed an amazing voice.

He suffered from clinical anxiety, which made singing in public seem impossible at age of 69 he was diagnosed with cancer and heard a doctor tell the patient in the bed beside him, that if he had anything left on his ‘bucket list’, now was the time to do it.

Brendan realised that singing in public was his soul desire and he became determined to do something about it.

Achieving the impossible

Well with the help Aideen Ni Riada.

Brendan’s dream was about to come true.

As soon as I sat down Brendan very nervously got up to sing and proceeded to blow us all away with his incredible voice and talent.

Soon after Brendan signed up for more classes and it wasn’t long before he started performing at music sessions in an old Forge, run by Declan Cosgrove.

Now at the age of 75, Brendan is an accomplished singer, performing at several venues including Wexford Arts Centre and has appeared on radio and in the national press.

He has a new zest for life, has made many new friends and says

“despite my health challenges, I feel I am now at the most contented and fulfilling part of my life”

It's Never Too Late

His inspirational story, compelled Myself and Declan Cosgrove to write the title song to my album Never 2 Late about his journey.

We brought Brendan up to my studio and we recorded ‘Never 2 Late’ to help spread his magical and empowering message.

It’s never too late to follow your dreams making the impossible, possible

If we are willing to face our fears.

Brendan has become one of my closest friends who I respect and admire dearly.