1. Maggie May - Rod Stewart

This is a timeless song (indeed Rod is still going strong) and will always be my no.1 of all time. I recall as a teenager I went to see him at Wembley with a girlfriend, desperate to hear Maggie May live. The problem is my father was picking us up relatively early, but I refused to leave before the big song. As Maggie ended we rushed down the aisle to get away. Unfortunately I caught my trousers on one of those old connected ashtrays and it cut my leg and ripped them completely. This was my first suit, a revolting brown pin stripe to impress my girl. It didn’t go well and my father wasn’t impressed.

2. The Boxer - Simon & Garfunkel

Legendary English teacher at Tonbridge, Jonathan Smith used to be my tutor at School. I remember so clearly having orange squash and a rich tea biscuit with him and Gillie listening to Simon & Garfunkel. They were obsessed with the Sounds of Silence and Bridge Over Troubled Water, but for me it was, and still is The Boxer.

3. Paradise - Coldplay

This year I am going to Budapest to see Coldplay for the first time. I could have picked a number of their songs but as I am on this beautiful desert island it had to be Paradise.

4. Your Song - Elton John

Daniel, Rocket Man, Saturday Night, Candle in the Wind. But there is no doubt Your Song is one of the greatest songs of all time.

5. Perfect - Ed Sheeran

Just like Coldplay and Elton John I could have chosen many of Ed Sheeran’s songs. My elderly friends rather mock me liking Ed Sheeran because they think he is so commercial. I have included him because like no artist before him I like every song he’s ever done.

6. Breakfast in America - Supertramp

They were one of the first Supergroups I ever saw live and I didn’t really want to go. I wasn’t sure I liked them. But I still remember them playing Breakfast in America and it has stuck with me ever since.

7. You’ve got a friend - Carole King

My other half walked into this song at our wedding. I loved the album Tapestry and this one simply says it all. I think we would all like to say "A’int it good to know you’ve got a friend"

8. Days like this - Van Morrison

My late brother Graham (PH 77-81) saw 'Van the Man' over 250 times in concert. He ended up becoming a good friend of the singer. I love all his songs and the eulogies at Graham’s funeral were all entitled with a favourite Van Morrison song. Mine was Days Like This and I often listen to this song to remember him as a loving brother, cricket teammate and great character.

Luxury Item:

As I’m on the desert island and able to drink it all on my own I will choose as my luxury, a bottle of Puligny Montrachet 2019/20 Doudet Nauden.

Book:

My biggest regret in life is how little I have read and still I am only a holiday book reader. However, my favourite book which took about 6 months to read is Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer (and I don’t mind admitting I like all Jeffrey’s books!)