by Philip Brady

I always thought Robert Farnon was indestructible. His melodies filled my childhood with wonder and joy. For me he was the latter day Puccini. Listen to the soaring string arrangements on Jack Parnell's "Lovers Love London". Be stirred by rousing marches like Derby Day. My father bought the David Rose record Portrait of a Flirt before I was in long pants. ABC Australia's Maurie Lockie on radio was using Journey into Melody as a theme to "Yours For the Asking" (request show) when I started riding a bike to school.

By the time television began Down Under in 1956, Robert's music was coming thick and fast to introduce every program from the MelbourneOlympic Games to Royal visits in Oz.

By 1958 I was an established broadcaster and TV host myself so I used every opportunity to dress up my shows with a Farnon fanfare or two.

You can just picture my delight when David Ades invited me to interview Robert at an April meeting of our Society in 1993. Imagine the thrill when my silver haired hero strolled into the Bonnington and greeted all of us present with the warmest of smiles and a friendly hand shake. I was in awe. I had a total eclipse of the heart - to quote a Bonnie Tyler song.

My love affair with Robert's music, mini symphonies to me, has endured,nurtured by the recent releases of so much material on Vocalion and other enterprising labels.

That April day so long ago renews my spirit. Robert's anecdotes over dinner, the long chats we enjoyed between drinks, the photo sessions and taped interviews, the video I shot, the maestro was so generous with his time and affection. He made every member feel so special, so important.

The icing on the cake for me was also being in the company of other musical giants that day like Sir Vivian Dunn, Clive Richardson and Ron Goodwin. I thought I had died and gone to Heaven. Thank you David Ades for giving me the keys to the Kingdom!

Our friendship endured. On one of Robert's milestones I recorded a special piece Life Begins At 80. I always phoned him on his birthday and we exchanged Christmas cards every year.

In the words of another celebrated composer, Irving Berlin, the song isended but the melody lingers on.

Goodbye my cherished friend.