MIGHTY FLYERS with NORMAN BARRATT

[@dorothy660]

What a joy to read all of these posts. My wife Dorothy was the manageress of the Christian Bookshop in Ashton under Lyne, just before the Jesus family took it over. We were members of Cockbrook Evangelical church who were very involved with the Jesus family in those days. We were inspired by the "Flyers" (Nick Brotherwood was my hero and role model) and we formed an evangelical band called "Salt" which preached the gospel in schools and youth centres and led to another band called "Risky Business". We now live in Scotland and would love to make contact with anyone who remembers us, especially Adrian Reese. Blessings to all Steve and Dorothy Ashworth

[@joehulse2238]

hi daniel, i lived with the J,FAMILY for a few years and got to know your mom and dad as a lot of others,your dad was a real man with a lot of love to give. joe hulse

[@TheChrist117]

Hi Joe. I hope you're well. Fond regards, Chris Thompson.

[@andrewrushton4546]

Hi my name is Andrew ( Bamb) Rushton - I lived with Dave at the Rectory in Crumpsall , Manchester - I ve been singing his songs over the years - just played with a band this weekend and we did ' The Saddest Song' - a great song and a real privilege to sing.

[@TheChrist117]

Hi Bamb - Chris Thompson here; remember me? Well, 'Nobody's Perfect' I suppose.

[@AdrianParker44]

Hi Bamb, just found this, and so pleased to see you in the comments (and the 'Nobody's Perfect' reference!). Hope you are keeping well - Adrian (Parker,)

[@Berarock777]

Great Song.. great band ...

[@mickspratt4572]

Daniel .Your Dad and I were mates.He had a big effect on my life For me he was a legend , a brilliant songwriter and a great bloke !

[@abigailstone85]

Nick stone is my dad and I've been so proud of his incredible guitar skills all my life. I regularly listen to the mighty flyers too although it was way before my time. My dad is now living in felixstowe, Suffolk with my mum glenny and they're both recently retired. Just thought I'd let you know he's still playing and currently looking for a band to join x

[@Dorm2003]

Hello Abigail. What a lovely message. I have an Abigail as well, so did Dave Rees. My Abigail is 36, and has a lovely daughter named Ava. Is Felixtowe where your Dads parents lived, in a lighthouse, or was it a windmill. I went there once. Please pass on my love and kindest regards to your Mum and Dad. Tim

[@abigailstone85]

Dorm2003 hi Tim, only just seen your reply. Yes my dad's parents lived in the martello tower (Q tower) in felixstowe. They moved to Cornwall before I could remember the tower. My mum's parents lived in Ipswich which is why we moved to felixstowe from Manchester in 94. Lovely to hear from you.

[@dorothy660]

Abigail, Please send our love to your mum and dad. Steve and Dorothy Asworth, ex Cockbrook Evangelical church, Ashton under Lyne

[@fxca2011]

I was your mum and dad's best man. I'd love to get in contact with him. Nick Brotherwood.

[@bikerides]

I loved your Dad, Dan, he was an inspiration to me. Still see your uncle occasionally.

[@natasharees6467]

David Rees was my dad , I was born 74, so nice to find this and all these lovely comments.

[@natasharees6467]

Hi, I was 6, when he passed,would do anything for a moment with him, so it so nice to hear little bits about him. I like those songs also and have them on cd. My brother did them for me I'll see if I can get him to do a copy .

[@kermit900]

@@natasharees6467 The Flyers were one of my great influences as a youngster and your dad was inspired wordsmith. I still play the Flyers version of 'Leave it there' every so often.

[@susanstanworth2408]

Hi Daniel.... I too knew your dad well. I spent a lot of time with the band i knew your dad, Kev Ryan, Nick and Nick well they regularly came to my parents house after gigs i had been too. What days they were. I was sorting through my record collection for my son to put some on ebay.. my signed low flying angels and some others stayed with me as they were such a part of my life!! Then today i am on you tube listening. I remember you and your sister and Nick Stones 2 children Nathan and emily x

[@fxca2011]

Thank you whoever posted this. Friends stumbled over it yesterday. Hearing it reduced me to tears in seconds flat. Dave was our best man, and a big influence on me

[@TheChrist117]

Hi Nick. I hope you're well. I used to come to the Rectory most days and even worked for Dave at SRP for a short while - maybe you remember me. I used to play bass in a folk band 'Nobody's Perfect' with Bamb Rushton, Joe Hulse and Fraser Reich. Love to you and all the family.

[@fxca2011]

Hi Bam! Good to you. Hope you're doing well. ​@@TheChrist117

[@Dorm2003]

What Joy. It is Tim, I posted it Nick. This is us at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in our Flyers Tour Summer '76. This comes from the cassette that Derek used to record direct on the mixing desk. Dave gave me this tape in '77. Several years later, I EQed and edited in a home studio. It is now digitally downloaded. There are some more songs on my channel, Dorm2003.

[@gnhil999]

I was there. A young bass player in a group called Spiritborn, Nick made me a guitar strap to fit my Fender Precision. I still have it. Great to hear some proper Christian music, One Way.

[@maartenvanrijn9525]

Hi Daniel, I stayed with you father (and Barbara) in Brighton for a few days, must have been in late 1970, and also attended a couple of rehearsals of his band. He gave me his copy of Rookmaaker's Modern art and the death of a culture ... with influenced me a lot. And a copy of the booklet 'Out loud', in which he published a couple of short stories ... I treasure it. He was such a nice man ...

[@DanRees47]

Lovely to find this on KZbin. David was my father, I was born in 1978. Thank you Daniel Rees

[@TheChrist117]

Hi Daniel. I was looking on KZbin and stumbled on this post. I knew Dave and Barbara well, and I remember Jesse, Abigail and then, you came along. I lost touch with most of the Jesus Family when I moved away from Manchester, all those years ago. I have some wonderful, happy memories of seeing The Mighty Flyers, spending time with them and enjoying the company of so many people that lived and visited the Jesus Family at Rectory Road. I did a set with them once at Greenbelt, standing in for Bunny Bunyar - can't remember the year, maybe 1977.

[@buzzer4626]

Greetings Daniel, I remember your Dad and the band very fondly too, and used to visit the Jesus Family in Crumpsall. A great band, your Dad's beautiful distinctive voice and great musicians, lovely tight, travelling sound. All good wishes to you.

[@DanRees47]

@@buzzer4626 thank you, great wishes to you too.

[@DanRees47]

@@TheChrist117 lovely to read! Greetings

[@bikerides]

I remember the transparency for 'What Kind of King' arriving. One of Dave's inspired choices for an album cover.

[@Daviduk261]

Thanks for posting this. I was a great fan of the Mighty Flyers in the 70s and saw them once at Greenbelt (77?). Under New Management is my favourite album and this is a great version of "Saddest Song". Never knew what happened to them until a year or so ago when I read about Dave's sad death somewhere on the the internet. Sorry to hear about Norman as well.

[@DanRees47]

Great to see this is still up. Need to get all of the recordings online somehow. I have all three albums on MP3 but I could do with cleaner recordings for the purpose of making available online for people to enjoy. Anyone who can help on that give me a reply!

[@bikerides]

I hope your project to preserve and upload your Dad's music is still going.

[@fxca2011]

Hi Dan! Nick Brotherwood here. Do you have your Dad's master tapes?

[@DanRees47]

@@fxca2011 Hi Nick, I don’t I’m afraid. Just recordings off of vinyl albums. I got all the way with this but needed a proof of ownership document which I am trying to obtain without much luck presently.

[@fxca2011]

@@DanRees47 That's too bad.

[@Dorm2003]

@Daviduk261 Thanks for the kind comment. You saw us at Greenbelt. Was that 1976 when it poured with rain and we had to play in a large marquee? Was that the night when Barry McGuire did a spot as well? That was me on bass guitar by the way.

[@stevescott5209]

Wow I was AT Greenbelt 74 Natasha were you there in anyone's arms? I talked to yr dad at that fest I think. This was the first one and it was very Palossari/Sheep/Liberation Suite-ish (and early fishco...) As I was art student at Croydon I went to Jesus Family/West norwood a bunch of times...... And yes (re these responses) acquainted with Dave R and talked to him a few times at early ACG/Nigel Goodwin type events.........

[@derekcollins6985]

Tim, an absolute joy to find this post. All I was in those days was a huge fan of the Flyers. They were something that so few 'Christian' bands seemed to have in those days - reality, guts and power. The Flyers kept my faith alive many times when I could have lost it.I am still a huge fan of those three albums even now. Would any of the fabulous people who have commented here be interested in joining my public Facebook group, Eyes Like Jewels, facebook.com/groups/172273852899284. Have a look in, and if you like what I'm doing, do join. Finally, does anyone know where I can buy electronic versions of the albums, coz mine are beginning to fade... Thanks again, Tim

[@joehulse2238]

hi abigail you may not remeber me but your mum and dad will,can you please say hi to your mom and dad ,joe hulse