John Roy (Jon) Anderson

[Jackie MacCallum]

Hi there, been to Accrington twice in my life, I was looking for places and trivia about the man I've just mentioned up here. I'm "fae Scotland", namely Ayr, Ayrshire. I'm a Rangers man, pro-Union (don't think all Rangers fans are, though, we're 50%), Labour (well, old Labour, honestly) and a big fan of '70s British progressive rock.
So anyone knows about Jon? Of course you do, I suppose he's the most famous VIP Accrington ever produced, even more than cricket commentators like Mr. Lloyd, 'cos Jon's famous all over the world, Europe and the US most of all.
He still retains his Accrington accent through and through although he's now been living in California for about 35 years, and he's doing very well at 73, I watched him live a few months ago.
I remember he once said he used to live in Norfolk Street and that his dad (a Scotsman from Paisley, by the way) owned a farm on the outskirts of town.
Anyone here knows whether he has relatives still living around town or anything else you can tell me about?
Thanks! ;-)

[cashman]

His brother Tony lives in the Isle of Wight.

[ferret man]

Look for GIANMARIA'S thread JON ANDERSON FROM YES

[Bob Dobson]

Jackie - Click the 'Search' button on the top line. Mr Anderson didn't own a farm, but Tony and Jon did work on one owned by a Mr Procter. Tony was at school with me and told us one day when he was 15 that he had had his leg over for the first time. He said ( and here he was probably quoting the older men he worked with on the farm " If God med owt better, he kept it to hissel'" Tony quit music to become an evangelical pastor.

[ferret man]

Originally Posted by cashman

His brother Tony lives in the Isle of Wight.

his brother Stuart lives in Accy

[taddy]

Originally Posted by Bob Dobson

Jackie - Click the 'Search' button on the top line. Mr Anderson didn't own a farm, but Tony and Jon did work on one owned by a Mr Procter. Tony was at school with me and told us one day when he was 15 that he had had his leg over for the first time. He said ( and here he was probably quoting the older men he worked with on the farm " If God med owt better, he kept it to hissel'" Tony quit music to become an evangelical pastor.

You are nearly right, my wife and I have just returned from a three week holiday on the isle of wight, where we met up with Tony and his wife Sue; we spent a very pleasent afternoon with them at a touristy place in the middle of the island. (Bob, your name came into the conversation as I believe that Tony and yourself both attended Accrington grammer School)

Yes he is an evangelic pastor but he has not quit music, whilst we were in their company they very kindly presented us with two CDs of their gospel music, where Tony provides the guitar music and vocals and Sue provides the saxaphone and also joins in the vocals.

[Bob Dobson]

Good on you Taddy. When Tony mentioned the Grammar School, I hope he spelled it reyt.

[ferret man]

Originally Posted by taddy

You are nearly right, my wife and I have just returned from a three week holiday on the isle of wight, where we met up with Tony and his wife Sue; we spent a very pleasent afternoon with them at a touristy place in the middle of the island. (Bob, your name came into the conversation as I believe that Tony and yourself both attended Accrington grammer School)

Yes he is an evangelic pastor but he has not quit music, whilst we were in their company they very kindly presented us with two CDs of their gospel music, where Tony provides the guitar music and vocals and Sue provides the saxaphone and also joins in the vocals.

Did Jon not working at the brickyard or not living in Ossy not come up in the conversation, but you wouldn't have taken his word when he would have told you he had not done either.

[taddy]

Originally Posted by ferret man

Did Jon not working at the brickyard or not living in Ossy not come up in the conversation, but you wouldn't have taken his word when he would have told you he had not done either.

Yes, I did mention the fact that my mate and another chap called Harry Davies
once taught Tony and his brother John how to turn the shale tubs on the ginny wagon track system in the then Nori quarry in the 1960s.

A smile came on Tony's face and he readily admitted the (fact).

Neither Tony or Sue are the least bit pretentious and both enjoyed talking about their early lives, warts and all, (as the saying goes).

i have offered to send them some old photo's, clippings of Huncoat/Accrington.

One thing Tony mentioned which did surprise me, was that he was brought up on Within Grove Estate in Huncoat, at the time it was known as "the sawdust city"; If any members of Accy Web has any photo's newspaper cuttings of Within Grove taken in the 1950s, especially the prefabs that were built on what was then "Church Lane", now known as "Bolton Avenue"; that they would be willing to let me have a copy of, I would be very gratefull and would make sure that they were forewarded to Tony and Sue.

My wife and I have already provisionally agreed with Tony and Sue to meet up with them again next year on the Isle of Wight.

Thank you all in anticipation, Your's Taddy

[taddy]

Originally Posted by Bob Dobson

Good on you Taddy. When Tony mentioned the Grammar School, I hope he spelled it reyt.

Hello Bob,in answer to your question, although as I pointed out in my last post, Tony has no airs and graces; (He does not talk Lancy ony moor like watt way does).

[cashman]

Tony was me gaffer at the Ewbank.

[taddy]

Originally Posted by cashman

Tony was me gaffer at the Ewbank.

Bet he used a carpet sweeper as a guitar on more than one occasion.