Dear friend and colleagues,

As many of you will know, Blind Willie Purvis was the earliest-known named vernacular songwriter in Newcastle, and he became an iconic figure among middle-class people by the 1820s, while Bobby Nunn was the earliest-known semi-professional songwriter for the town’s working-class people from 1829.

I will be launching my Tyneside Song from Blind Willie to Bobby Nunn in Newcastle on in the Bewick Room at Newcastle Central Library on Friday 5 July, 3.30 – 4.30pm and an invitation is below I recognise that folks who live some way away probably won’t be able to come, and others may have prior commitments, but I’d appreciate it if everyone could pass on the invitation to anyone they know on Tyneside or thereabouts who might be interested.

The response to this book has been very heartening. Over half of the print run has been spoken for, and thank you to those who have already paid for your copy or copies.

Copies are available from me at 11 Ouseburn Wharf, St. Lawrence Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, at £20, or by post at £25, to cover postage and packing. You can either send me a cheque to my home address, or arrange a bank transfer to my Co-operative Bank: sort code 08-92-80, account number 05176476.