In Harrogate, Chris’ home town, on Wednesday 16th July 2025 at the Starling Bar, s tribute to Chris Simpson and Magna Carta was held, organised by Graham Chalmers (whois currently writing a book about Chris and the band), under the banner of The Vinyl Sessions.
Here’s a review: https://vinylsessions.org/index.php/2025/07/17/chris-simpson-magna-carta/
Chris was finally presented a gold disk for the album Seasons (1970) by Chris Aldred, the Mayor of Harrogate.
Chris Simpson wrote on July 18th:
“The Vinyl Sessions evening, featuring the album Seasons, at the Starling was certainly a ‘night of nights’ in downtown Harrogate on Wednesday. One of those situations where nothing seem impossible, and given I have to measure my walking movements with a stick it was miraculous! Hike several flights of stairs to be careful, etc, but all in all it was a dream – mostly the people!
I knew so many of them, some people I grew up with in the Dale and in all walks of life. My old compadre Tom Hoy and his beautiful wife Gerry, and of course the wonderful Wendy Ross came along too. We were greeted by our mentor and friend, Graham Chalmers, whose idea it was to pull off those links together into a book! He was impressed and so was I! He has written an excellent account of the Magna Carta story – and he has the title, which I won’t reveal here, but needless to say I was blown away by it. And the other organiser besides Graham – Clive Paine, who did a fantastic job with the sound system. What he doesn’t know about the virtues of vinyl isn’t worth knowing!!
After Seasons, on one of the best songs I ever wrote, Time For the Leaving, had killer lead lines from Davey Johnstone – he uses them with Elton John. Davey was just the most brilliant player in the world and I loved what he did to the songs when he recorded them – he blew everybody away! His taste was impeccable and he also blew the Beach Boys away AND the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with his mandolin, etc. and everyone was floored by his incredible talent. Our tastes in the old days were polished and styled and Gus Dudgeon in the driving seat steered every track home
I guess I was a little apprehensive as I looked out at a sea of faces I knew so well. Graham was a first class master of ceremonies and I think his book will be all for the better having Graham’s immense knowledge giving it its impetus
The album Seasons stood the time test well enough, not hard when they were all million selling works The evening was all worked out – kicking off with a blessing from the Mayor of Harrogate, Chris Aldred, which added ceremony to the occasion by presenting me with the gold disk for Seasons. And then communications from all over the world for my recent birthday was impressive to say the least, but the atmosphere at the Starling was so tangible.
Where it all goes I know not but let Graham’s book tell the story for he has done a great job there. Meanwhile, we listened in silence to Seasons track by track and it was special.
When I think – the thing about it all, the love that glued it all together still has its cohesion.
Thank you to everyone who came along on Wednesday evening (and fabulous that such a great cause, the Harrogate Hospital SCBU, was supported) – you were all magnificent. And you all helped to make my evening so easy and enjoyable.
Lots of love,
Chris x”