Remembering Johnny Heenan by Anne (DeVere) Harper

I could tell you a lot but ... I shall recount one in particular. When I sang at Botto's with Malcom Saul's band we were asked to do a Hunt Ball at Piercebridge. The whole team went with Johnny acting MD. As we had to stay over night we trooped into breakfast next morning to be served by an old dear in full Carricks waitress dress and deaf as the proverbial (2 soups springs to mind). Johnny arrived and said to the old love 'Has Lord WHAA WHAA arrived yet?' She looked flustered and said she didn't think so, to which his nibs replied in his poshest tones 'Well, when he does please tell him that Mr Heenan is having breakfast and will be with him shortly'. The end of this little tale is when he persuaded Malcom to take the vibes out around the village and with John as Fanklin Engleman with a mike (unplugged) stopped passers by and asked them what their favourite tune was----Malcom did the honours!!!! Johnny was never short of cheek----the manager presented him with the bill for the band and John dismissed him with a lofty wave and said 'oh Mr Botto deals with that' jumped into his car and shot off!!! (hello BERTIE WOOSTER)

Anne Harper.