David Cassidy Group Of Great Britain, a Conversation With Sharron Liddle.

-

I met Sharron Liddle nearly 3 years ago. Exactly on November 21st 2018, in London. At St Giles Church. I was there (with my English friends) to write about our misery and sorrow. Twice a year the church allows the UK fans to hold a table of remembrance for David Cassidy on the day of his birthday and  the day of his passing..On the table there were pics and candles, flowers and a book of condolence..I wrote something  ..in Polish. Sharron and Pauline were there too, everything was organized by the David Cassidy Group of Great Britain. I didn’t take part in the conversation, first because I had problems with understanding them, but mostly because I felt like an outsider. 2  years later it was Sharron who made me feel like a part of that great family of DC fans, when she invited me to be a member of DC Group of GB. . Since then I’ve learnt more about Sharron, her passion and dedication to keep that flame burning, to carry on David Cassidy legacy.

And last but not least we have written a short story together, and I’m very proud of it..


I belong to some other groups but that one is the most important for me. I'm very happy that she’s agreed for an interview for my blog


Weronika : Sharron, while listening to your conversation with Louise Poynton (for her podcast) , I smiled a lot hearing  that we share quite  similar experiences. Because of your age, like me, you missed Cassidymania, and you first fell for his voice and only later saw his face..That was the same with me, only the song was different..


Sharron :Oh yes Weronika. I was listening to my little transistor battery radio to the charts music on a Sunday evening and I heard “ Could It Be Forever “.. David's beautiful voice made me close my eyes and dream .. I never imagined he'd be so beautiful too.It was his voice that first captured my heart .


Weronika : In my case  it was ‘How Can I Be Sure’.. You collected everything regarding David, do you still keep those memorabilia? 


Sharron: Surprisingly, I've still got most of my original records, 45rpms and LPs .. I love to play them and look at the inside covers, where , as a young teen, I wrote how much I loved David on the inside. I just rememeberd also how I used to copy Davids signature over and over so i could sign his name on all my school books .


Weronika:I wasn’t heartbroken when David got married, he was like a dream for me, but for you (like for millions) it wasn’t a happy day. That’s amazing, the power of that feeling, of that collective love for David, of that dream that in spite of everything, maybe one day..


Sharron:I heard about his marriage to Kay Lenz whilst I was at school, listening to the transistor radio during school break at lunchtime. I locked myself in the girls toilets and cried so much that the headmaster actually took pity on me and I didnt get too much punishment for it.

I soon got over the initial shock however and decided that his marriage would not last too long as he would wait for me. (Laughing )


Weronika: You are from Newcastle and it wasn’t so easy to go to London on your own to at last see David in person ..


Sharron: When I heard David was in Time the musical at The Dominion Theatre I was determined to go no matter the journey. It took over 6 hours on a bus on my own and I'd never travelled that far before on my own. I did however meet a friend who was staying in London and we both went to the theatre but I nearly missed the last bus home ! 


Weronika: Can you tell us about the DC concerts you saw?


Sharron: I saw David in my home town of Newcastle at the City Hall which is now part of the O2 now. I think the first time was in 2001 and my friend and I had seats in the stalls although fairly way back but we noticed the box above the stage was empty and we decided to sneak up and sit in the box under the watch watchful eye of a security guard who tapped me on the shoulder and told me to sit down and not lean over .. I nearly got us thrown out but I didn't care, I was so close to David now, it was worth it. I also saw David in 2008. I think it was also in Newcastle and The Once in a lifetime Tour.. 

We wore t-shirts that said Mrs David Cassidy ! 


Weronika; And why not!  I’d love you to tell us about your feelings when you  were at last very close to David, I mean seeing your idol, what did you feel, what did it mean to you?


Sharron: The adrenaline is hard to explain, heart beating so fast , palms and body sweaty ..

shaking from head to toe ..Then emotions so intense , a mixture of joy and the desire to reach out and just touch him .. ah , alas, I never managed to touch him but I did get a fabulous smile, only once, directly at me as I shouted his name so loudly. 

I don't think it matters how old you are, the feelings, the intensity, comes flooding right back . As I write this now, I can feel it still . 


Weronika : I love what you’ve said, that we fans grew with DC, we learnt with him different kinds of music, developed our music interests..but maybe it’s possible to tell which of his albums are the most important for you, you listen to more often..


Sharron:These days, I don't have a particular favorite . I used to love Cherish and when I listen to it now, I am instantly transformed to those heady days of young love . 

I do appreciate all of David's music, the variety and the versatility of his voice. I honestly can't say I have a favorite, I love it all so very much . 


Weronika: Of course, me too, I think I love nearly everything he recorded. That was a great idea to start the DC Group of GB. DC was a superstar in the UK, always welcomed and loved there. Was it difficult to start the group, to organize it ? Can you tell us about the beginnings?


Sharron :I was sitting one evening looking for David Cassidy groups on Facebook and noticed there weren't many in the UK . I admit, I had no idea how to open a Facebook group, I think I did it on impulse and was amazed how many lime minded fans wanted to join ..

That was back in January 2017 and of course, I had no Idea that sadly David would pass away in November

 .

Weronika: Yes, it’s still so  hard and difficult to imagine that soon it will be 4 years..  Sure you have to learn a lot of new things while running the group. What was the main challenge?


Sharron :I would say that technology was the biggest challenge. Facebook isn't as user friendly as it should be and even today I'm often challenged with some technical stuff but I have learned so much these last years and fortunately I'm not a person that gives up very easily, especially if it involves David.


Weronika: I know that I wouldn’t  be able to run any group, especially a FB group for fans. It needs a lot of tact and attention. Can you tell us about the group rules? I think it's a very important thing. The rules..


Sharron: The main thing for us is that everything we post to the group is done with respect , love and sensitivity about David. We never discuss anything personal about David, keeping it about his talent, his legacy and about honouring his wish to love and be kind.


Weronika : Sure, I agree, love and light, and be always kind to each other. We are fellow fans. I admire everything the group did for DC legacy, especially the legacy trail. There are some no fans who read my blog, so can you tell them more about it, and where they can find info?


Sharron:Thank you Weronika for being a part of our group . What you are doing for David's Legacy is very important for future generations. Spreading the word and ensuring David is never forgotten and telling the stories if his fans are all part of that Legacy . 

I would recommend to anyone that loves David Cassidy and misses him to read your blogs online and we welcome all fans, not just from the UK, to join us in our endeavours to make sure David is remembered in a positive light and that his Legacy is that of Talent, Love and Light. 



Sharron Liddle and some other friends from David Cassidy Group Of Great Britain (Syon Park, London), from left : Timothy Edwards, Tracey Wright, Sandie Leeming, Roz Currie, Sharron Liddle, Pauline Tombs.











https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/David_Cassidy_by_Allan_Warren_1974_2.jpg

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Robyn Millan

-
Image
  I learnt yesterday that Robyn Millan died last year. Someone published a post about the TPF's episode where she'd appeared as a guest star, 'Dora, Dora, Dora', Season 2 episode 1, aired 50 years ago, on September 17, 1971..And there was a comment about that episode that the script was poorly written, sexist etc. Maybe, no one would dare write something like that now, but the world looked different half a century ago..And I really felt sad yesterday because of Robyn. She started her short career in 1965, 33 credits, mostly tv roles - Mission:Impossible, The F.B.I, Hawaii 5.0, Ryan's Hope..But we would remember her as Dora, the girl Keith fell in love with, and Robyn, the girl David dated for a while.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmZnk9RFKm0&t=1s  In December 1971 on Photoplay Magazine an interview with Robyn was published :' He is just marvellous and really knows how to handle his success.(..) We hit it off from that first day six months ago.(..) I resp...
Read more

Love Is All That I Ever Needed. A David Cassidy Biography. Chapter 1

-
Image
  Chapter 1 The Divorce David Bruce Cassidy was born on April 12, 1950 in New York City. He was born into show business, it was running in his blood. His parents were young and glamorous working actors. Jack Cassidy was 23 years old, Evelyn Ward 3 years older, both very busy with their career, frequently touring and absent. David spent his early years with his maternal grandparents in West Orange, New Jersey, just 20 miles from New York. He felt he was different from other kids, didn’t exactly fit in, his school friends’ parents didn’t look like his, they had ordinary jobs, like his grandfather, Frederic Ward, who all his life worked as a utility meter reader. David was a small child, slightly built, and had to wear glasses. During his life he underwent 5 eye operations. It wasn't easy to be the youngest, and not to have a brother or a sister. Someone to fight with, but also to play with, and to share love, good and bad experiences. He was a lonely child, brought up by honest,...
Read more

'He Was So Pretty You Couldn't Look Away..'

-
Image
'and sexy in a way that is timeless.' It's from Kevin Fallon's article published on www.thedailybeast.com on November  22, 2017.  Maybe it's not the smartest thing to do, but the newest article about David Cassidy on Record Collector Magazine, and first of all different pointsview of it, made me have a look on some articles published after this horrible day,  November 21, 2017. But first a song. We experience another heat wave here in Poland, I haven't seen a rain in many days, which is scary, so maybe a song about a rainy day. We miss David on any day, and this is one of his best songs. And amazing, very moving tribute video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ6qjfK72L8 We have 42 web articles from November and December 2017, on the website, and I can't see Kevin Fallon's on the list, even that I'm sure I sent it Jane last year, because this is not the first time I'm writing about this article. I'm a former librarian, I believe everything sho...
Read more