I got an email from a lady [name omitted to protect the innocent]:

Jeremy – I’m a singer/songwriter and I was referred to you by Bob [surname omitted]. I’m working on a CD and I’m looking for an accompanist. Bob is going to be out of town until Dec. I might want to lay down some tracks before then. I’d appreciate it if we could talk. I’m at [US looking number].

Bob is an old friend of mine that I hadn’t seen for 20 years. Exciting, starting to get a reputation. I called the number and the lady said how pleased she was that I could do it, especially because I am local. Then I realised that she wanted Jeremy Kahn not Jeremy Kahn! Damn that Jeremy Kahn.

At least I beat him in the Google rankings.

I inherited some old photos from my grandmother, including this one which is mounted behind glass in our house.  It shows my grandparents eating breakfast on a very stylish balcony (sorry about the reproduction, but I didn’t want to disturb the mounting).

I asked my father about it and he mentioned some house belonging to someone rich, but I didn’t pay enough attention.

Years later I was researching my grandfather’s business (he was a partner in Trix Trains) and found that he was associated with Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke , another toy train business.

And following up Bassett-Lowke I found his house in Northhampton, 78 Derngate.  This exterior and interior of the the house was designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.  Recently it has been opened to the public.

I think the balcony can be seen in this picture of the house (taken from the 78 Derngate website).

I was revelated by all of this, but when I told my friend Lorna, she said “Oh, 78 Derngate, I know that” and produced a book about it from her bookcase.  And my friend Martin knew all about Bassett-Loake.