I had the honour of meeting Stan first in about 1973, when Jim Mageean
organised a booking for Stan to sing at the Gosforth Folk Club and also do a
workshop in Newcastle. I had heard many of his stories, some second hand, of
his days in POW camp and, although I thought the stories were great, I took
them with a pinch of salt until, at the workshop in Newcastle, a man arrived
clutching a scrap book. He had seen the advert in the newspaper about Stan
and decided there could not be another Stan Hugill and came along. This man
wasn't interested in shanties or maritime matters but had been in POW camp
with Stan and had a scrap book to prove it. He not only backed up a lot of
Stan's stories but had more amazing memories to add. A pity we didn't keep
in touch with him after the evening.

Stan never failed to be charming when we met and he will always hold a very
special place in my memories.

Anni Fentiman

17th Jan 2003