News

June 2022

What a month it has been with the fruition of the official unveiling of dad’s Blue Heritage Plaque.  London’s famous Blue Plaques link the people of the past with the buildings of the present. Now run by English Heritage, the London Blue Plaques scheme was started in 1866 and is thought to be the oldest of its kind in the world.

Sue Merchant has worked tirelessly to get a Blue Heritage Plaque unveiled but because of Covid-19, the ceremony had to be delayed several times, which was quite stressful. Finally, I was thrilled when we received news the award would be granted on 17 May 2022 at our old house at 14 Ruxley Lane in Ewell. We chose this date to coincide with my brother gigging at the Epsom Playhouse that night as part of his tour so that he could be there to represent the family. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t possible for me to attend as the journey time was too much because of my M.S. I was quite sad as this was something I’d been waiting on for years but sadly it just wasn’t viable.

The ceremony took place at 12.30 pm at the house, which is now owned by Mr & Mrs Sheriff, and a good number of loyal fans turned up as did the Epsom Choir which was a complete surprise to everyone. They sang several of dad’s songs and pulled Matt Jnr up to help them out. The official said some really nice words and Matt Jnr officially thanked everyone that was there and spent time talking to everyone.

Before people moved on to the Queen Adelaide pub on Ewell Bypass for refreshments, the owners invited Matt Jnr in to look around the house. Not only was that extremely generous of them but an emotional journey for my brother as he had been born there.

I had asked that people sent their photos in but to date, only a few have done that, but I am very grateful to Sue Merchant, Anthony E Catherall, Fiona Hetherington, Gail Oxley-Crawford and Jeremy who have all given me permission to let you share in them.

Talking of my brother, you will know that he officially retired a few years ago but like all artists, who take time away from the tread boards, he got itchy feet and was set to tour last year. Of course, the whole industry was affected by the pandemic and everyone was forced to suspend their plans until the theatres opened again and citizens were given the freedom to venture out again. The Matt Monro Story which includes video clips, home movies and even a sequence where Matt Jnr duets with dad, all play a part in this celebration of the life and legacy of Matt Monro. The tour kicked off on 3rd May 2022 at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley and the last date played at Glasgow New Auditorium on 29th May. It was better than we could have all hoped for and even when the theatre wasn’t completely full, you wouldn’t have known it because the audiences were fantastic and, in most cases, a standing ovation was given and you can’t ask for more than that.

It seems Matt Jnr has caught the bug and he has asked me to work on a brand-new tour. No dates yet but I would imagine either late 2023 or early 2024. It depends on how quickly I can write, lol

Talking of writing, my new book,  “The Autonomous Cruiser: The Complete Guide to Cruising For and with Disabled Travellers”, finally came out on 7 March and made No4 in Amazon’s Disability & Travel section.

This is the first book to specifically address the needs of the disabled cruiser and their carers so they can ensure a stress-free holiday. Having spent more than 40 years cruising the world and also working as a specialist speaker on a number of cruise lines including Celebrity, P&O, Fred. Olsen and Royal Caribbean, I was shocked to find there was nothing on the marking to address the needs of a disadvantaged traveller and that made me very cross.

In the 1990s  I was diagnosed with MS. It was then I began to fully appreciate the absence of advice and information about cruise travel with a special need. I felt strongly that whilst living with a disability presents a lot of obstacles, a cruise holiday shouldn’t have to be one of them and I began what was to become 3 years of painstaking research covering all the possible details a disabled cruise traveller needs to know. Because of the pandemic, the book was put on hold for a further two years and I then had to update it twice, one for Brexit and again for the effects of Covid on the industry. At one point I nearly pulled it but when the industry started going back to sea I decided to persevere.

The Autonomous Cruiser is the result. The most up to date and comprehensive guide available, advising on the whole process of cruising, including: –

  • Cruise and port choices, and the accessibility of cruise terminals. A comprehensive section on fly-cruises including airport guides, car park assistance, wheelchair advice, checked luggage, lounges, and delayed and missed departures

  • Critical pre-planning information including holiday administration, vaccinations, medication, cabin selection, upgrades, pier transfers, luggage services, drinks packages, specialty dining and online check-in

  • Life on board incorporates embarkation, cruise ship etiquette, dining, entertainment, meetings, bridge visits, swimming pools, spa facilities shopping and duty-free, photo gallery, onboard savings, ship visits, port calls, tendering, safety, technology at sea and the travel scams to watch out for

  • Caregivers, chaperones and service dogs

  • A directory outlining the most important disability resources, including accessible shore excursions, dedicated apps, cruise specialists and accessible travel agents

This market first book covers the most common areas of special needs – from those travelling with pre-existing conditions, special dietary considerations, prescriptions and medication, epilepsy, diabetes, heart disease, dementia, cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities, compromised immune systems, breathing disorders, kidney disease, and visual and hearing impairments to make this the most comprehensive guide to cruising available.

I was actually cruising on P&O when the book was released but I did 18 radio interviews before I left and a whole bunch while on board. I got a full page in the Sunday Times, which I’m very proud about, and was reviewed in Best of British last month. World of Cruising released my article a few days ago and the piece I wrote for Cruise International is due out on 1st June.  I have also done several blog articles and dozens of BBC and Hospital radios since I got home but the book is only as good as its publicity so if any of you have a social media site, I would be grateful if you could post a copy of the book cover there as this is a subject, I am very passionate about.

The Autonomous Cruiser by Michele Monro is published by Clink Street Publishing and both the paperback and eBook are available to buy online from all good retailers including Amazon.co.uk

If you’d like to read my article that was featured on wheelchairtravel.org I’ve put the link below.

https://wheelchairtravel.org/top-tips-accessible-cruising-with-a-disability/

and here’s the one that came out on the World of Cruising website

 Cruises for disabled travellers: Top tips for… | World of Cruising

I also have a new Author’s website – michelemonro.com and as well as the information on both of my books it will be used in the future for any updates to the book and news of the port guide sequels.

I was amazed to find over the last few months while doing the radio promotion on the new book that several people were not aware of dad’s brand-new album that we brought on in 2020 especially as Stranger in Paradise: The Lost New York Sessions went straight to the No8 spot in the official album charts and stayed in the charts for six months. The first CD is brand new material recorded with just a five piece band but `I decided to combine it was a second disc with all of dad’s more familiar titles, remastered of course by the fabulous Richard Moore, for any new fans of dad’s music. If you didn’t grab a copy head to Amazon and pick it up for the ludicrously low price of £4.24 as there are only two left in stock.

I was upset to learn nearly two years ago that a few albums available to upload were inferior in quality compared to what is available in sound today so after airing my complaints Universal gave the go-ahead. Richard mastered them within weeks, and now at least someone has finally pushed a button which has made them live.

The remastered downloads of 8 of his 9 original Capitol albums now appear on all good download and streaming sites as of 8th April. The last album “We’re Gonna Change The World” and three brand-new compilations gathering together the rest of Matt’s Capitol catalogue will be made available at a later date.

This is The Life (1966) – Available in Stereo for the first time digitally. Brand new re-master from original US master tape.

  1. This is the Life –

  2. I’m Glad There Is You

  3. This Is The Life

  4. You’re Gonna Hear From Me

  5. I’ll Take Romance

  6. Strangers In The Night

  7. On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever)   

  8. Sweet Lorraine

  9. My Best Girl

  10. On A Wonderful Day Like Today  

  11. Merci Cherie

  12. Honey On The Vine

Here’s To My Lady (1966) – Available in Stereo for the first time digitally. Brand new re-master from original US master tape.

  1. When Joanna Loved Me

  2. Real Live Girl

  3. When Sunny Gets Blue

  4. Laura

  5. People

  6. Here’s To My Lady

  7. The Good Life

  8. You’ve Got Possibilities

  9. Rain Sometimes

  10. Sweet Talkin’ Hannah

  11. Nina Never Knew

Invitation To The Movies (1967) – Brand new remaster from UK and US Stereo master tapes

  1. Alfie

  2. Georgy Girl

  3. Theme From “The Sand Pebbles”

  4. A Time For Love

  5. I Will Wait For You

  6. Moment To Moment

  7. Born Free

  8. In The Arms Of Love

  9. Wednesday’s Child

  10. A Man And A Woman

  11. Strangers In The Night

These Years (1967) –  Brand new remaster from Stereo US master tapes

  1. There’s A Kind Of Hush (All Over The World)

  2. Release Me

  3. Don’t Sleep In The Subway

  4. What To Do?

  5. The Happening

  6. These Years

  7. You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me

  8. Music To Watch Girls By

  9. Here, There And Everywhere

  10. Spanish Eyes

  11. Nobody Cares For Me

Invitation to Broadway (1968) –  Brand new remaster from Stereo US master tapes

  1. Look For Small Pleasures

  2. Stranger In Paradise

  3. The Impossible Dream

  4. The Apple Tree

  5. I’ll Only Miss Her When I Think Of Her

  6. Come Back To Me

  7. Hello Dolly!

  8. Sunrise Sunset

  9. Walking Happy

  10. If She Walked Into My Life

  11. Put On A Happy Face

The Late Late Show (1968) –  Brand new remaster from Stereo US master tapes

  1. If She Should Come To You

  2. When I Fall In Love

  3. Maria

  4. Hello Young Lovers

  5. September Song

  6. Time After Time

  7. This Is All I Ask

  8. I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face

  9. Days Of Wine And Roses

  10. The Shadow Of Your Smile

  11. Autumn Leaves (Les Feuilles Mortes)

  12. The Party’s Over

Todo Pasara (1968) – Brand new remaster taken from the 1st generation mixdown masters for the first time ever.

  1. Alguien Canto (The Music Played)

  2. Que Tiempo Tan Feliz (Those Were The Days)

  3. Lo Que Quedo (All That Remains)

  4. No Puedo Quitar Mis Ojos De Ti (Can’t Take My Eyes Off You)

  5. Todo Pasara (Everything Will Happen)

  6. Vete Por Favor (Walk Away)

  7. Nacida Libre (Born Free)

  8. La Montaña

  9. No Me Dejes (If You Go Away)

  10. Amandote Otra Vez (Lovin’ You Again)

  11. Si Tu Te Vas (If You Go)

  12. La Perla Y El Rubi (The Ruby And The Pearl)

En Espana (1970) – Brand new remaster taken from the 1st generation mixdown masters for the first time ever.  La Estrella Del Sur Mixed to Stereo for the first time and Dónde Hallarse? Has been re-mixed due to damage to the master tape. Newly added bonus track ”Ven Mi Amor” also receives it’s first time Stereo mixes

  1. Sueño Imposible (The Impossible Dream)

  2. No Me Pesa, Es Mi Hermano (He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother)

  3. Te Esperaré (I Will Wait For You)

  4. Jean

  5. Si Yo Fuera Carpintero (If I Were A Carpenter)

  6. La Sombra De Tu Sonrisa (The Shadow Of Your Smile)

  7. Dónde Hallarse? (Where In The World)

  8. En Días Como Estos (On Days Like These)

  9. Los Dos (Two People)

  10. Puedo Ser Feliz (You’ve Made Me So Very Happy)

  11. Qué Tonto Fui

  12. La Estrella Del Sur (The Southern Star)

All eight albums were re-mastered completely in high resolution audio by Monro archivist Richard Moore.

We’ll post more information on the remaining 4 sets as soon as the release date is confirmed.

As you know Richard and I launched dad’s very own YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/MattMonroOfficial and put together a four-part audio documentary to celebrate dad’s special 90th birthday. The programmes were written and narrated by myself and feature an intimate portrait of the man behind the voice, drawing on previously un-broadcast interviews, extremely rare recordings previously thought lost, interviews with his family and friends and messages from some of his more famous fans.  I also made a deal with Aviator so every two weeks we feature a rare television performance of dad and the YouTube channel still has all the ones you may have missed by not visiting yet. It’s all totally free and if you register the site will send you a reminder every time something new is added.

The cruise lines seem to have had a change of strategy and are not prioritising specialized entertainment speakers at the moment preferring to stick to destination talks. This has meant that Peel Agency has cancelled the Christmas cruise I was booked for on Fred Olsen in December this year. I don’t know whether it is to cut down on money but I feel it is very short-sighted as having no alternatives to destination talks is boring for a lot of people. I went to a few when I first started cruising some four decades ago but I’m on holiday to have fun and these talks are additional to the port talks they offer to try and sell tours. While many will find them interesting there should always be light and shade on the schedule and I’m surprised at Fred. Olsen has taken this approach especially as my reviews and umpteen other entertainment speakers have always been strong.

I am devastated by the news. If anything, Fred. Olsen should have honoured the bookings made to more than 50 artists. I for one had cancelled other work to take this booking which I now can’t get back and the legion of Matt Monro fans who continued to attend my talks don’t have a further opportunity to hear more of the story.

Anyway until July take care of yourselves and keep spreading the MM legacy.

 

Much love

Michele xx

Past News
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
December 2020 – March 2021