Emil Viklický

Emil Viklický came to the Porthcawl [nee Barry] Summerschool and he invited many of us over to his one in Fydlant, CZ, over the ensuing years. We connected within the European jazz and folk sound, as well as our love of the American origin of the music, and we went on to record and tour many times together in the Czech Republic. He is a truly generous musical spirit, and struggled many years under the Soviet kosh. I feel honoured to be able to call him my brother. The track ‘A Thousand Ships’ on the album ‘Food Of Love’ is dedicated to Bobby Wellins.

The ‘Welsh’ summerschool – it moved to Glamorgan University for several years - was a great connection and support for me, not living in London. Dave Wickins asked me to do it, and our association grew even more through our work with Emil. I met life-long musician friends such as Pete Churchill, Nikki Iles, Anita Wardell and Julian Seigel there, as well as spending quality time with such friends as Bobby Wellins and Pete Saberton, Oren Marshall, Lee Goodall and Chris Batchelor.