00:00 Description of final performance by The Bedlams at Park Lane Hotel. MH’s theatrical partner left for Montreal. Took job in Maples while continuing to play in pubs in evenings. Happily made redundant. Got work in Alpine Bier Keller in Finsbury for two nights a week, then work in pubs and clubs. Bought an auto home, lived in that for sixteen years, travelling around, playing mainly in restaurants along the south coast. Regular bookings, was working most nights.

03:13 Meeting men at ‘sex stations’: lorry drivers who were met in toilets and came back to the van. About MH’s earlier relationship with Colin in London, where he worked, how they met, lived together five years. Went to operas and became well known: every week in same seats. Colin moved in because needed place to stay: started their physical relationship. Always slept together: landlady probably guessed. At Fortnum and Mason practically all the salesmen were gay, except one straight.

07:41 Describes pubs he and Colin frequented in Camden Passage. Straights knew MH and Colin lived together. Most nights MH was playing pubs. Colin gave MH ring in 1963 that he has worn ever since. When MH joined Bedlams, Colin met Jimmy and they stayed over at MH’s until found their own place. Colin had been engaged to Sheila (MH had introduced them), but all the straights laughed at the idea. MH not concerned about Sheila, saw it as a front, but upset about Jimmy. As artists got on each other’s nerves occasionally, but was happy period: Colin was the only one he really stuck with. MH had other friendships that weren’t necessarily sexual, and later on sex was never a big drive. About drinking crowd around Camden Passage early 1960s, how they would all come back to MH’s. About age difference between MH and Colin, who was 13 years younger (born 1936): in 1963 Monte 40 and Colin 27, seemed big gap.

14:17 Pubs and clubs: the A&R club (Artists and Repertory), Tin Pan Alley, the Salisbury, the George. Met Michael Carr (wrote ‘South of the Border’ song.) Story about boxer Freddie Mills. About cinemas: two called the Bioscope were pick up places for gay men. At one in Cape Town, picked up someone who was concerned MH might be a policeman; met 4-5 times afterwards. At one in Durban, met a gay man who had been expected to marry the girl next door, married her on return from the war: got drunk if thought wife wanted sex. ‘There are all these different forms of life amongst ourselves, different people: sexuality is not straightforward to anybody.’

19:27 Lost driving licence as over the legal alcohol limit one night, so no van and no work. Married couple who ran Netherton Hotel in Weymouth invited MH to come to Scotland: the husband Tom Craig was from Glasgow. They were going to start a riding stables in Dunbar, but changed to Stewarton. So MH came to Scotland in 1988 aged 65, and settled in Stewarton. Played in pubs and for old people. Accordion is getting a bit heavy round his neck.

23:19 Through Pink Paper found gay pubs in Glasgow: Austin’s, the Wellington, Squire’s, how he met gay crowd in these pubs, many still knows today. Mentions going to concerts at RSAMD. Explains likes and dislikes of various pubs: preferred friendly Austin’s to cruisy Wellington. Café at LGBT Centre not friendly. Did not find Delmonicas friendly. Age makes a difference.

27:37 In Stewarton most don’t know about MH’s sexuality. Straight friends Gordon

and Eric know: MH had tackled Eric on homophobic remarks, and had been asked outright by Gordon. Gordon is protective of MH. Met them through music. Many know him by nickname: Squire. People friendly in Stewarton but no close friendships. Reasons why never moved to Glasgow: would be going to shows all the time and couldn’t afford it. Stewarton is just far enough away. Now the journey is a bit heavy.