It was a great honour to be asked to play at Richard's 70th birthday bash at the Albert Hall. I don’t know why I was chosen to sing 'Down where the Drunkards Roll' - though I do love the song, and had practised it every day the week before the gig. I did the rehearsal at 1.00pm and that went well despite Simon's absence (courtesy of Thomas Cook). Around 4.00pm I experienced a dreadful attack of stage fright which previously had only happened to me once before in Toronto on my first gig with Jethro Tull. I literally had a huge panic attack, and couldn’t even remember the song I was supposed to sing! I called Ellen and then wrote a crib sheet which I stuck in my pocket. On being announced I dropped it nonchalantly on the stage where it landed upside down! Merde! Thanks To Richard and all for a fab night - and here's me terrified on stage with (in my humble opinion) the world's greatest songwriter/guitarist. Cheers! Peggy

Ashley Hutchings, Peggy and Simon Nicol (who only just made it) backstage at Richard Thompson's 70th birthday bash at the Royal Albert Hall.

Peggy and the great Derek Smalls, together backstage at Richard Thompson's recent 70th birthday bash at the Royal Albert Hall. Bass playing royalty!