Monday, March 20, 2006

Issue 358 - Remembering Poppit

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The Great Gordino Newsletter - Issue 358 – Mon 20th Mar 2006
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Archived online at:
http://www.gordonbryan.com/archive

Hi,

I hope this Monday finds you well.

A friend passed away last week.
Pete Gunthorpe, known to all by his nickname of Poppit, was a big figure on the local music scene.
That's how I knew him, and when I first ventured into the local scene around 4 years ago, as I gradually found out about more and more venues, he was always cropping up somewhere in the mix.
He had one of the busiest bands, and was constantly involved in the running of jam sessions.
Theses jams are fabulous for people like me, as they give the opportunity for us players with, shall we say, limited skills, to watch, learn and play with better musicians.
You do get some ridiculous arguments and almost feuds going on, but that is no different than in any walk of life, and all in all it's a friendly bunch.
I've met some great people, and had the opportunity to play and have such fun.

One of these fun people was Poppit.
I didn't know him outside of the music scene, that's part of the appeal of it, people from different walks of life can come together and enjoy the common ground of the music.
That was always Poppit's intention, and it's why everyone liked him.
Bless him, he couldn't tune a guitar for toffee, I think even I could do a better job, but he could deliver a song for sure.

I could count on my fingers the number of readers who knew Poppit, so if you're wondering why I'm talking about him in a newsletter about self-improvement, goal achievement and wealth creation, here's why...

Last week I was talking about the mistake of leaving things to do until you are retired, that if you want to do it you should do it now.
We never now what is around the corner, and Poppit's passing drives this home.
His illness was quick and short.
2 weeks ago I was playing with him at a jam, and now he is not with us.
He'd be happy to put across the point of doing what you want to.
He facilitated self-improvement in music.
He was happy to play with complete strangers, and if they made a hash of a song, instead of throwing an evil stare, he would break into an encouraging smile and go with the flow.

The goal achievement is reflected in the fact that his level of playing did not come overnight.
He was playing guitar 40 years ago, and did it not because he had to, but because he loved it.

The wealth creation is reflected in what he offered the local area.
Wealth doesn't have to be financial, the wealth of abundance can be beyond measure, and the abundance that Poppit bought was a smile to those who thought of him.

Poppit loved what I would call mod/r&b music, and if I had to come up with one song to sum him up, it would be 'You Do Something To Me' by Paul Weller.
If you've got it, get it out and listen to it, if you havn't heard it and get a chance to, have a listen.
Think about this man from England that you never knew, and remember my talking of Poppit and his music.

There is a website with pictures of Poppit, from way back in the 60s to this year, and you'll notice the common feature of the guitar around his neck in amongst some dodgy haircuts!
You'll also see a message board, and the kind of warm feelings that people had for him expressed there sum up why I wanted to mention him today.
http://www.wildwoodband.co.uk/poppit/gallery.html

Ok, have a good week, and as ever, don't let your passions pass you by.

Have a good week.

'Til Next Time,
Health and Happiness,
Gordon
mailto:gordon@gordonbryan.com

Get my book ‘Transform Your Life in 21 Days’ here:
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

HAVING READ YOUR PIECE ON POPPIT,I CAN SAY I ALSO FELT THE SAME WAY ABOUT THE MAN I HAD KNOWN FOR A FEW YEARS ONLY BUT HAD ENJOYED HIS COMPANY SO MANY TIMES AND THANKED FOR HIS MUSIC ON MANY OCCASSIONS A SAD LOSS FOR US ALL BUT FORTUNATELY THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING HIM WAS ALL OURS!