David

After leaving Westhoughton Secondary School I became an apprentice at Hawker Siddeley (now known as BAE Systems) Horwich, where I trained to be a Jig & Tool draughtsman. I was entered into the international apprentice competition and was very pleased to come second in Great Britain.

In 1974 I joined the local newspaper ‘The Bolton Evening News’ as an advertisement representative and it was during this period that the Weavers were born in my back kitchen. It was my then wife Christine who came up with the groups full name.

Kevin Collins who was the artist for the B.E.N. did a lot of design work for posters first used by the Weavers and did the front cover artwork for our first L.P. ‘HOWFEN WAKES’

The Weavers first got on T.V. when my Mother and my Aunt wrote to the B.B.C. suggesting that the Weavers be considered for a talent programme entitled ‘We’ll Call You’.

It was after this successful appearance that we were offered the
‘Sit Thi Deawn’ series, making the Weavers a household name over the North West.

I have two grown-up daughters- Andrea and Joanne and I now live in Cottam, Preston with Helen and her children Laura and James. I have two older brothers: Denis (who used to play bass in the Weavers), Winston (my inspirational BIG BROTHER) I had an older sister Gina (she was killed in a car accident when I was 12yrs old). and last but certainly not least my baby sister Jeanette. My father George (hence my middle name) died in 1976 and would have been proud of the Weavers C.V. having watched them cut their teeth as residents of the local folk night at Westhoughton cricket club. My Mother (Glady’s) who is now the grand old age of ...??? (She was thirty when she gave birth to me) is still one of the Weavers greatest fans.