Sunday 2nd August

An early start, as I have to be in Buxton for a 10 am rehearsal for tonight's concert. I arrive in plenty of time, only to find that the rehearsal is not scheduled to begin until 10.30 am. I make Andrew Nicklin's acquaintance, and the rehearsal begins shortly after 10.30. Andrew very kindly departs from the order of the evening's programme on account of me having to travel to Lincoln for another rehearsal. 'Sparkling Eyes' is the fifth item rehearsed. It goes well, the orchestra sounds wonderful and the voice feels fine.

I immediately depart Buxton, heading Eastwards towards Lincoln, for the Cox & Box rehearsal (which I should have been attending since 10 am). 75 miles and almost two hours later, I arrive in Lincoln, to find Tony Smith (Bouncer &Producer) and John Carter (Cox) hard at work. We get straight down to work, as this is our third and final pre-Buxton rehearsal. Tony's wife, Jan, arrives shortly afterwards with a delicious buffet lunch, which we devour with hardly any break in rehearsal. Richard Green and Stephen Hopwood (Lincoln's resident M.D. and rehearsal accompanist respectively) arrive at shortly after 2 pm and put us through our paces musically. We conclude at 4 pm, reasonably satisfied with the progress we've made, and I saddle the Porsche once more for the next journey, this time Northwest to Barnsley, for a quick turn round and to collect Mandie.

Then it's back to Buxton again for the second time today. I arrive at The Opera House with sufficient time to spare to take a welcome shower before donning my Dinner Jacket ready for the concert.

I stay backstage for the first half of the concert, and spend a most pleasant and thrilling half hour talking with John Reed and Jean Hindmarsh, both of whom are wonderful, friendly, warm people (I told you this was self-indulgent, I didn't say it was an exercise in name-dropping!).

Almost before I know it, I'm standing in the wings listening to Stephen Turnbull give me the build up he had written for Philip Potter (for whom I am deputising). I must remember to thank Stephen for this the next time I see him. As far as I remember it, he said "here, deputising at short notice for Philip Potter, who is indisposed, is Nick Sales". Well, money couldn't have bought an introduction like that.

Even having said that, I am totally unprepared for the ovation that greets me as I walk onto the stage. The Savoynetters in the audience, who were well prepared for my appearance raise a totally-unwarranted cheer. I am mortified. What on earth would people expect from me after an ovation like that? (Mandie later tells me that the lady sitting next to her leant across at this point and said to Mandie, "who IS he?").

Andrew Nicklin turns to me and smiles. I return it, and away we go, the woodwind playing those immortal bars of the introduction. A good breath, and we're off. I give a somewhat rewritten version of Gilbert's words, but I'm quite satisfied with my performance, save for one or two notes. The applause following the conclusion of the number is equally tumultuous as that for my appearance, but at least this time I feel that I've done *something* to merit it!

The first to congratulate me in the wings is John Reed, who is next, singing The Judge's Song. He gets a well-deserved reception both before and after his performance, which delights the near-capacity audience. The next item, and final one of the half is Jean Hindmarsh singing Princess Ida's "Minerva". What can one say? A perfectly paced and tremendously moving performance. It seems barely possible that this lovely lady was the D'Oyly Carte's principal soprano 40 years ago.

I sneak out at half time to see my friends, who greet me with another round of applause. This time, I am able to say "forbear, my friends, and spare me this ovation!" . Everyone is most kind and complimentary and seems to be enjoying the concert enormously.

I watch the second half from the wings, and for me the clear highlight is Helen Beechinor's rendition of "Io Paean" from The Martyr of Antioch. Judging by the spontaneous and prolonged applause following the conclusion of this number, the audience enjoy it as much as I do. A real hackle-raising moment. All too soon it's the final number, the conclusion of the Pirates Act 1 finale. Most of the soloists take the stage once more to join in, and then the curtain is rung down on a wonderful evening's entertainment, and one in which I am intensely proud to have played a part.

We join some friends for a post mortem and drinkies in The Old Clubhouse, and depart once more for Barnsley at 11 pm. 50 more miles, bringing the day's total up to around 300. To bed with happy memories, and keen anticipation for tomorrow, and the first of our rehearsals for The Savoynet Trial By Jury.