Disaster averted after worst fear fails to materialise

A GOOD and supportive audience turned out at Newcastle's Literary & Philosophical Society for the launch of the latest selection of these columns in book form.

- Peter Mortimer

The Lit and Phil, Newcastle

Sales may have not been quite at the JK Rowling or Dan Brown level and I did make the odd verbal cock-up; including quoting the notorious pension increase of some years back as £25 (we all know the true figure was 25 pence). And then not even realise I had said it until reminded later. The merciful audience let such howlers pass.

‘My son Dylan offered musical support and included in his spot an acoustic version of Water of Tyne, among the most moving songs to come from this region. Somehow it’s even more real when sung unaccompanied.

Rivers don’t produce enough songs and I’m never sure why. ‘There's ‘Ole Man River’ of course, but then that’s American and anyway the river is never actually named. Then there's ‘Moon River’ with which Danny Williams had a hit. ‘Yellow River’ by Creedence Clearwater Revival is again American. Where are the specific UK river songs, Water of Tyne apart? Ferry Across the Mersey?