The Specials - 'Ghost town'

Saturday Night Jukebox.....
Everyone Has A Guilty Pleasure
Can you show me to seat 1A please?



I was dispatching a normal boring Sri Lankan Airlines flight one evening years ago when I was printing off the final purser paperwork. As the first part of the printout scrolled up with the business class names on, I recognised the surname Lovejoy for 3 passengers. "Oh", I thought, "just like Tim Lovejoy" and I looked at the first name which said Timothy. Oh my god, it must be him! I used be a fan of Soccer AM by default. It was always on on a Saturday morning in our house and despite not being a particular follower of football, I still enjoyed the silliness and humour of the show led by Tim.

Any way I was so excited to find out he was travelling out with his twin daughters that I told anyone who would listen. At the end of the flight, a couple guys from the ramp came up to collect the push chairs etc, I thought they might get as excited as me when I told them. Instead the ramp supervisor answered, "Tim who? Never heard of him!" Whilst looking down at my computer, I launched into a big speech describing him (and mentioning I thought he was a bit of alright), saying he hosted Soccer AM and I was surprised that the ramp guys hadn't heard of him! The supervisor smirked at me and replied, "oh you mean him over there!" Tim had boarded through the gate with his daughters and was at the end of the queue of passengers now facing me at the computer. My face went extremely hot and I was horrified with embarrassment. He probably was too, after my gushing description of him!

To add insult to injury I had to go on board to the cockpit to get my load sheet signed but Tim was putting his baggage away into the overhead locker from the aisle so I had to excuse myself passed him. My face felt like it was on fire and glowing the colour of scarlet. On the way back out of the cockpit, I mumbled for him to have a good holiday and ran out!!


Didn't you know? We invented music!

You are probably wondering what The Specials have to do with Tim Lovejoy but any fan would know that when asked who his favourite band are, Tim answers "The Specials, they invented music"! I'm also a fan of The Specials and I especially love Ghost Town. I remember putting it on in the jukebox when I was 15 and my friends giving me funny looks during the "lalala" bit. Tim, this one is for you!

For more Close Encounters click here, or for more SATURDAY NIGHT JUKEBOX click here!




Comments

The Swede said…
I'm afraid I've never heard of Tim Lovejoy either, but it's a great story and, needless to say, a classic tune.
Shell Hunter said…
TS, he currently hosts a show on channel 4 called Sunday Brunch with Simon Rimmer. Perhaps not as silly as Soccer AM though!
Anonymous said…
Ah, Soccer AM...the lads' mag levelling of the the aesthetic glory that is football. I used to watch this from time to time and it's good to know that Mr. Lovejoy has gone on to even bigger and better things. can't knock his taste - The Specials probably did event music.
Old Pa's Corner said…
Classic story, classic tune....oh! these ramp boys.