Crann and I met at Sandown Grammar School, toether with Rob Young, Martyn Ford and Graham White, where we formed Les Paysans, a skiffle, then jazz, then rock and roll band, in which Crann played a home-made tea-chest bass. When we learned that we both played in brass bands we attended each other's band practices, and we both ended up in Ryde ATC Band. I remember Crann's meticulous handwriting, always in fountain pen. He did well in maths and physics, and went on to do a degree-level apprenticeship with Elliott Automation, and finished his professional career at Plessey Radar in Cowes. Whilst all this was going on The Cherokees and The 69 Club evolved, with Crann playing a beautiful bass guitar made by his equally talented father. Crann was responsible for keeping the band up to date with the rapidly evolving American rock scene. Crann's unique sense of humour can still make Helen and I laugh. He told us that when he enrolled at The Medway College of Technology and was asked to spell his unusual name he said "C-R-A-8_N-N. The 8 is silent." Crann and I slowly lost touch, but we got together a couple of years ago at Quay Arts, where we reviewed the Cherokees vinyl releases and reminisced with the audience. He will be sadly missed by all who encountered him.
