With the seasons starting to change before our eyes last Sunday I thought I would take advantage of the beautiful late summer sunshine. I headed down to the Mumbles front to stroll along the new promenade. Now I’ve had nothing to do with the new development, so I take no credit but every time I walk along the new prom for some strange reason, I feel incredibly proud. It is a joy to stroll. It’s taken years and lots of money I know but it is magnificent.
If you are a regular prom walker like me you’ll often bump into others who are equally enthusiastic. I’ve always got my eyes open for a nod or quick chat. That’s when I noticed Rob Brydon. I’ve known Rob for what must be nearly 30 years. When I was a radio producer at BBC Radio Wales Rob Jones, as he was before he had to change his name to Brydon, was the early morning presenter on the station. He was also being tipped for the top as a tv presenter reporting into life style shows and as the quizmaster of a show whose title escapes me and probably escapes Rob too.
Even then he was one of the most talented people I had ever worked with. He was just so quick with his come backs and observations. I always felt I had to be on top form to make sure I didn’t open myself up to his Lazer sharp wit.
Then something happened. If you’re a young broadcaster and things are going well you think the ride will last forever, you feel invincible. You never see it coming, the change in the broadcasting season. With experience you realise that a job in broadcasting is like being a football manager. From the day you get the gig you are just one day closer to getting the sack.
The BBC Radio Wales new boy!
It was back in 1987 and I’d been out of radio for some time when I was asked to sit in for Rob while he took some summer holidays. By the autumn Rob was out of the station and I was in his seat presenting his old show. I felt awkward. We spoke about it and Rob was very gracious but that was the start of a whole new life for Rob.
When this happens it is easy to stay in bed and feel sorry for yourself but commitments and naked ambition to prove people wrong are incredibly powerful motivators. Rob moved to London and started trying to make connections. As he recently said in an interview it seemed that every door was closed but through sheer determination, persistence and that enormous talent slowly but surely the doors started to open until these days he is one of the most recognisable faces on TV.
Rob’s career was starting to blossom in London when my career on radio in Wales ended almost overnight. My daily show was cancelled, and I was out. I was devastated. I had 4 kids and a mortgage and no prospects. I still remember a letter arriving from Rob telling me that everything would work out and getting the sack from BBC Wales was the best thing that had ever happened to him. I couldn’t help but agree, yes it had been the best thing for Rob but for me it was still a disaster!!!
In recent weeks Rob has been omnipresent on BBC with his show Destination X so when I bumped into him on the prom it was all I could do not to echo his line ‘Welcome to Swansea’. It had probably been years since the last time we met in person and the first 5 minutes was catching up. To be honest I was pretty much up to date on Rob’s career as I’d seen most of it on the TV. My career resume was a little more complicated to explain although Rob had seen my posters for the Homecoming at Swansea Building Society Arena on 8th Oct which made things a little easier.
Mal Pope & The Jacks the Wedding Band.
Rob introduced me to some of his family and explained that they had heard me perform, as together with the Jacks I had played at Rob’s star-studded Wedding. After all these years I had a confession to Rob, that gig was one of the best and worst nights of my career. Obviously, it was great to be invited. Rob even got up to join the band for a few Elvis songs, but it was really hard to because of a light bulb above the stage.
That light bulb was connected to a sound level monitor which was set to light up if the sound from the band exceeded a certain level. If the light stayed on for 6 seconds all power to the stage would be cut and the party would come to an abrupt end until the hotel staff could reset the equipment.
For the whole of the evening I had one eye on the crowd and the other on the ‘Light of Damocles’ literally hanging over the band. Of course as the band got into full swing we got more excited and louder. As the light came on I would have to turn to the band and motion to them to ‘tone it down a bit boys’.
After all these years I was able to finally get it off my chest to Rob and thankfully he said he never knew.
Just before we parted I suggested a selfie. Rob being the professional he is suggested we stand next to the wall where the light was better ‘Find your light Mal, find your light!’
I wanted to make sure I didn’t advertise the fact that Rob was on the prom, so it was a few hours later that I decided to put the selfie on my socials. In fact I didn’t mention Rob by name just the fact that you meet the nicest people in Mumbles. I’ve just checked the reaction to that photo and as it stands it has had over 300,000 views.
I would say I am surprised but it truth nothing surprises me about social media. Sometimes you can post a blog about guests to the Swansea.Com stadium and literally get deaths threats…yes, death threats. Having said that usually people are kind although they often want to make a completely unrelated point according to their own agenda.
Which brings me to the good part of social media. Both Rob and I have recently posted about the Carers Wales ‘Secret Art Auction’ which opens today at Queens Street Gallery in Neath running until the 27th September. To mark the 60th anniversary of Carers UK, Carers Wales has organised a very special Auction.
Artist Jocelyn Prosser wanted to do something special to celebrate and contacted lot of artistes, famous or new comers, asking for their support. She also asked people like me and Rob to film a short video to help promote the event.
There are 310,000 unpaid Carers in Wales and this unsung body of heroes and heroines saves the Welsh Govt. £10 billion every year. This unique event brings together donated work from established and new artistes from Wales and across the world. Their identities will be kept secret until after the auction closes so you might get something even more special than you originally thought. All money raised will go to support unpaid carers helping to make their lives and the ones they care for just a little better.
As the great philosopher Taylor Swift once said ‘Haters gonna hate’ so let’s not give up the social media space because when it is used properly it really can change lives.