DAY SIX......MONTSERRAT......Dinner At Sir Georgie's.

There was another part to yesterday that I didn't mention following our breathtaking yet sobering experience at Air Studios. As I have written before, Lou and Shirley once lived it what is now the Desolation Of Plymouth. The once proud capital stood directly in the path of the pyroclactic flow tumbling down the slopes of volcano Soufrié  and into the Caribbean Sea as did their home and beach bar, not to mention the golf course of which Lou was manager. The scars left by this cataclysm are clear to see but few can have the experiences we have had at the guidance of our fantastic host.

In the afternoon we visited the outlying suburbs of the Capital. We explored the ruins of a local hotel, abandoned, reception, and every other room, covered in thick ash and rubble, waiting for guests that would and will never come. The most poignant sight was, a radio, transistor type, just sitting in the middle of the floor in a bedroom. One could imagine the exhortations to evacuate emanating from the tinny speaker to terrified listeners.

As Day six rolled on we visited Woodlands Beach, volcanic black sand course and gritty standing out starkly against the blue of the ocean. Soon the snorkelling Merlin came back with reports of mating turtles in the area, two having just passed him by.....and surviving the shock, for we soon were able to observe them for ourselves, breaking the surface of the waves in front of us.

Upon returning home, Shirley informed us that she had made arrangements for us to dine at Ovendell  House just outside of the village of Salem, a colourful roadside scattering of wooden shack type bars and shops. We passed JD's Bakery where a photo for our friend of the same name was obtained and local limers lounged ignorant of the fame of their appropriately named establishment. Shirley seemed to know everyone and they in turn got to know us, four tourists on their way to Sir George's place. She is a personal friend of Sir George Martin who has done a lot for this terrific island over the years. Cue our invitation.

Ovendell House is the home of Air Studios builder and the one time Beatle producer. He fell in love with Montserrat and not only built the studios but a smart house too. As we entered, it's perfect lines of smartness contrasted starkly with our Air Studio experience. Comfortable furnishings abounded upon which we were soon lounging, rum punch cocktail in hand courtesy of barman Wilson who's striking resemblance to Tom Hank's football friend in 'Castaway' did not go unnoticed, not least by Wilson himself. The only difference that I could see was that Hank's buddy was white! Running through the centre of the house was a long corridor, off which various bedrooms could be found. But the most striking decoration were the framed photographs that hung on the corridor walls. Each one of these, a signed picture of a Beatle taken by Linda McCartney. Jim was again in his element, as was Merlin snapping as many of the pictures as they could before we were called to dinner.