Bev Bevan Diaries - The Move, Jasper Carrott's birthday party, organic spuds and radio rock

March 7th

My old friend Phil Ackrill's birthday today (Phil was with me back in the mid-60s in Denny Laine and the Diplomats). We celebrated it at my local pub / restaurant along with other old friends, the Carrotts, Iommis, Givens, Trees, Hileys, Mayers - and Ackrills, of course.

A good mix of professions for the men there - a drummer, a comedian, a guitarist, a football manager, a bass guitarist, a craft centre owner and two accountants!

March 8th

Drove to the organic garden centre in Ryton on Dunsmore to stock up on potatoes, parsnips, onions, carrots, tomatoes, etc to plant in our chemical free organic garden at home.

I'm turning into Richard Briers from The Good Life!

March 10th

Back to the Mailbox in Birmingham to pick up my picture ID BBC pass - most impressive it is too - never needed one of those with commercial radio.

Checked out the studio we'll be using. First show confirmed as starting on Sunday April 5th.

March 11th

Drove into Solihull to get my hair cut at the Graham Lovsey salon opposite John Lewis. Graham has been looking after my hair for about 30 years now.

My hair was bleached blonde in the 60s, then dyed black, permed dozens of times in the 70s and generally messed about with ever since, yet so so luckily I still have a terrific mop of hair - much to the envy and annoyance of most of my old friends!

March 13th

Friday the 13th. No-one seems to superstitious anymore. Drove into Solihull to finally change my eight year-old mobile phone. Incredulous young salesman at O2 told me I could have had five annual free upgrades by now! Home to work out how to use my new toy.

Red nose day, or whatever it's called, is on TV all night, which I find boring and tedious beyond belief.

March 14th

Along with my old pal Don Givens (manager of the Irish under 21s team), went to the Wolves v Charlton Athletic match at Molineux, sitting in the Director's box. Delighted and relieved at Wolves 2-1 victory.

On the evening it was all around to the Carrott residence to celebrate my old friend (of 50 years plus), Jasper's birthday. Masses of people there and a really fabulous evening.

So lucky to have so many fine friends.

March 25th

Meeting at village hall, near Bassetts Pole, along with Danny King, Trevor Burton, Raymond Froggatt and his guitarist / manager Hartley Cain plus promoters Brian and Ashley Yeates to talk about ideas for the new-look Brum Rocks Live series of concerts that begins in October.

March 28th

My band The Move (Trevor Burton, Phil Tree, Neil Lockwood , Gordon Healer and me), set off about 2pm in our Mercedes mini-bus to drive to Bognor Regis for our gig at the Butlins 60s weekend. Made remarkably good time, getting there by 5.30pm and we checked into our seafront hotel.

Picked up a copy of the official local holiday guide for Bognor Regis - "Where fun meets sun". Unfortunately there was no sun. I went a walk along the sea front, but soon got too cold. The tide was out and the sea barely visible.

Our entire road crew joined us for dinner at the hotel - all two of them, Roy and Mick. On to Butlins about 10pm. Union Gap and The Swinging Blue Jeans had already been on. Original member of the Swinging Blue Jeans, Ray Ennis came to our dressing room to say hello. Ray is 67 now and still out there rockin' and a rollin'.

We eventually got on stage about 11.30pm. Place was packed and we had a great night. We are a lot heavier than most 60s bands and the crowd really got off on our renditions of Purple Haze, A Little Bit Of Love, Back In The USSR, Somethin' Else etc.

Plus the Move hits of course - Flowers In The Rain, Fire Brigade, I Can Hear The Grass Grow, California Man, Night Of Fear and Blackberry Way. An encore of Gimme Some Lovin' and it was back to the hotel bar.

What with the clocks going forward an hour, it was a long old day for musicians of a (how can I put it?) "mature" age.

So there you have it. Here comes April and with it my new radio show on BBC WM on Sunday afternoons 2pm onwards - do please tune in.

Text me on 07786 202956, e-mail bev.bevan@bbc.co.uk or phone 08453 009956.

And please tell your friends to spread the word.

Cheers, Bev.