As it's Record Store Day on April 21st I thought I would look back to when I met Tim Wheeler, lead singer of the band Ash, at the Rough Trade East Record Store on November 11th 2014. I was on a mission, with Tim being the 4th photo I'd done that day for the Lives & Times bowel cancer fundraising book. I walked to the shop from The Tower of London, where I'd been to see the poppy display which was pretty amazing.
Tim was in the UK promoting his solo album, Lost Domain, a wonderful collection of songs he'd written in memory of his Dad who had sadly passed away from Dementia in 2011. He was really warm and interesting to talk, and we sat down and chatted in the shop for half an hour or so. Ash continue to go from strength to strength, and I'm looking forward to getting their new album, Islands.
This was an interesting period in the writing of the book. When I met Tim my Mum had been in remission for 18 months, and everything was very positive. However, the following week we found out that the cancer had returned in the form of secondary cancer on her left lung. For the next two years the cancer never really let go, and Mum passed away in August 2016.
Since Lives & Times was published in November 2015, my bowelcancerfundraising.co.uk website has raised over £3750 for Beating Bowel Cancer / Bowel Cancer UK, the UK's leading bowel cancer charity. I would highly recommend Tim's Lost Domain album, which is one of the most inspirational pieces of work I have heard in recent years.. It is my ambition to get my guitar out at some point and write some new songs,
Bowel cancer is the second highest cancer killer in the UK claiming 16,000 lives each year. If detected early it can be treated in over 90% of cases. Much more needs to be done in raising awareness about this awful illness, and start bringing those numbers down.
