Item 330 - Lo and behold

British songwriter, composer and pianist Les Baguley was born in Bristol, the younger son of Walter James Baguley and Minnie Nora Langbridge. He wrote songs in the late 1940s, including “I’m Happy Right Here” (1947) and “Nice to Know You Care” (1949). In the 1950s he collaborated with Norman Newell for “The Story of Joe” and other songs, and they appeared together at the London Palladium. He also partnered with Danny Arnold for a variety act called “Arnold and McGooley.” He arranged songs for popular singer Dorothy Squires and acted as her accompanist; he also went with her on some tours. In 1956, under the name Emma Jane, Squires recorded “Come home to my arms,” a song he wrote for her. Many of his songs were recorded in French, some in collaboration with Michel Rivgauche; John Williams sang the French version of his “Our Concerto” entitled “Un Jour On M’avait Dit” in 1958. In 1966 he toured with “The Big Star Show” as pianist for the Diamond Twins. In London in the 1980s he sometimes played the piano at Macready’s Actors’ Club in Covent Garden, and he regularly played at the Steering Wheel Club in Curzon Street. For Sunday lunches at the Bull Hotel in Wrotham, Kent, he was at the piano in his signature Stetson hat, sometimes with Keith Grant on the drums.