John Williams and John Etheridge: Hey, Joe!
Musicians John Williams and John Etheridge are set to play a Burgh House charity concert inspired by a very special former Hampstead resident, writes Matthew Lewin
There are two amazing coincidences associated with the forthcoming gala guitar recital by world famous musicians John Williams and John Etheridge at Hampstead Parish Church.
One concerns a capuchin monkey by the name of Joey, formerly of Willoughby Road, Hampstead, who is now one of the happy residents of a sanctuary called Wild Futures in Looe, Cornwall.
The other concerns John Williams’s late father Len (who was also a noted classical and jazz guitarist) who, it turns out, actually started the sanctuary.
The story starts a few years ago when Joey was discovered living in a tiny cage, where he had been for 10 years. He had developed a twisted spine and partially paralysed face due to lack of exercise and poor diet.
He was rescued by the sanctuary, but when former neighbour Angela Humphery found out about it, she immediately rang Wild Futures and “adopted” Joey.
“I have lived in this road for 35 years and I had never heard of someone keeping a monkey here, and I decided to adopt my poor ex-neighbour,” said Mrs Humphery, the wife of former Heath and Hampstead Society chairman, Martin Humphery.
She had managed to persuade the two Johns to give a charity recital at Burgh House in 2008 for another animal charity she was involved in, and was then amazed to discover that Len Williams had actually founded the monkey sanctuary in Looe, where Joey now lives.
John Williams, who lives in Belsize Park, said: “My father loved animals, and particularly Humboldt’s woolly monkeys, and in fact his last year in Australia before he returned to England was spent working in Melbourne Zoo, looking after the hippopotamuses.
“Back in London he actually adopted a Humboldt’s woolly monkey, and a whole room in our flat in Gordon Square was converted into a monkey enclosure!
“That was the beginning of his love affair with these monkeys, and when he later moved to a house in Kent he adopted another two or three woolly monkeys. He finally started the sanctuary in Looe in 1963, when it was originally called the Murrayton Woolly Monkey Sanctuary.
“This is why I have a soft spot for the sanctuary, and I am delighted to be supporting it and Burgh House on January 31.”
The event came about because Mrs Humphery and Burgh House approached the musicians about a charity concert at exactly the same time – and they decided to organise it together and split the proceeds between the two charities.
Williams and Etheridge
Classical guitarist John Williams and jazz guitarist John Etheridge, who lives in South End Green, first got together in a group playing various kinds of African music. Later they decided to carry on working as a duo, which they have been doing very successfully for the past three or four years.
“The music is a mixture of our styles,” said Mr Williams. “It’s not John Etheridge trying to play classical music or me trying to play jazz. We don’t tread on each other’s toes, but we find common ground, partly in some African instrumental music that we have re-arranged. There will also be solo pieces written by the two of us which use both our styles.”
The audience will also hear a remarkable new piece written specifically for the two Johns by composer Paul Hart, called Ludwig’s Horse. “It’s based on a horse that Beethoven had, as well as a melody from one of the piano sonatas,” said Mr Williams.
• The concert, in aid of The Burgh House Trust and Wild Futures, is at 7pm for 7.30pm on Sunday, January 31 at Hampstead Parish Church in Church Row, NW3. Tickets £20 from Burgh House in New End Square, NW3, 0207 431 0144. Seats will be unreserved. Early booking advised