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In the late 1960's I was returning to Manchester from a trip to Scotland, recalled Bryan Davies. The train departed from the station at midnight, and on boarding the train I found an empty carriage. [This would be great for I could lie down and sleep, I thought.]
But just when the train started to move, two men came into the carriage, one very tall and well dressed, and the other small, fat, and also well dressed.
After about half an hour the tall one asked, "When will the sleeper train join the main train?" I replied saying it will be clipped onto the back section when we arrive at Carlisle.
Shortly after looking at both of them for some time the short one said, "Yes, you do know us, we have a singing act and have been a television." They were called Gilbert and Soloman. After the sleeper had joined the train they both said goodbye and left for the sleeper.
A short while later they returned, saying that they could not get into the sleeping carriage as it was locked. "How are we going to get in?" the tall one asked. Me being must helpful says "PULL THE CORD AND STOP THE TRAIN!"
In a flash he pulls the cord and the train pulls to a halt very quickly. By this time I am in panic stakes as the guard comes round shouting who is going to be done and for how much for pulling the cord.
The tall man tells him to pick his bags up and show them to the sleeper. On leaving, he remarks to me, "Thank you very much Mr Bryan. If you are ever in a town where we are doing our show please call us and pick up tickets for our show."
That was the last I heard of them. In 1971 we moved to New Zealand. One Friday, in 1972, my daughter phoned me at work to say that she heard on the radio that my two fellow passengers from the train were on the cruise ship docking tomorrow in Auckland.
So the next day my daughter and I went down to meet the ship. We used the shore-to-ship phone and were given the state room that they had on board.
I made the call and just said hello. Before I could say anymore a voice replied, "Hello Mr Bryan, what are you doing here?"
My reply: "I am waiting for my tickets, please."
We went on board, had a meal with them which I will never forget, and was told that I should be doing PR work for them because my advice to pull the cord cost them a fine; it was in the papers and after that they had loads of work.
We had a good day with them. The ship left that night and we have not heard about them from that day.
Bryan Davies, New Zealand, 2001
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