Small True Stories #1

My parents met on the second floor of what is now a Waterstone’s when they were 17, in August 1968.

Back when they met, it was a popular bar and music venue called The Dorothy, in Cambridge, where up and coming bands played.

The first floor was a sweat box, full of dancing bodies, but the second floor had more space.

It was a last minute decision for my Mum and her friend Barbara to go – they’d planned to visit the cinema but all the tickets were sold out.

My Dad and his friend got talking to them and introduced themselves. My Dad talked about his day fishing with his Dad and a family friend. They spoke and danced all evening, and I suppose the rest is history!

I’ve bought a number of books from that Waterstones over the years – my Mum’s parents lived in Cambridgeshire for rest of their lives – and like to imagine what it must have been like as a music and dance venue.

On the second floor there’s an original window, a round porthole with cross panes. I wonder if that night they looked out of that window onto the street below.

My parents have a lot of stories connected to music. My Dad was (and is) a big fan of rock music, and my Mum loved The Beatles and also has a similar taste to my Dad.

They connected over their interests in music, art, and travel. I’m uncertain if my Dad’s fishing chat would have been effective today!

I doubt I’d be as much of a fan of music if it wasn’t for my parents. I grew up with my Dad buying CDs and listening to them on car journeys.

He still has a number of his old records and is a big Rolling Stones fan.

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