A Former Teacher Who Lived In Hounslow For 50 Years Has Released A Festive Album Inspired By The Borough.
Robb Johnson's The Ghost of Love is a modern, comic take on the traditional nativity story, featuring songs like Pound Shop Christmas and Rehoused in Hounslow.
It tells the tale of Mary, an unmarried mum from Feltham, Gary, a Brentford-supporting carpenter, and their two children, Jay and Jimmy, and the Christmases they share. Topics range from light-hearted fare like surviving the office party to serious issues like unemployment and homelessness.
The album, released on Monday (November 30), was inspired by Robb's memories of growing up in the borough, from watching Brentford FC with his dad on Boxing Day to taking his own sons to see Father Christmas in Hounslow High Street.
"There aren't many Christmas songs about Hounslow, but I wanted to write about the place where I've spent most of my life," said Robb. "The Coach and Horses pub, in Hounslow, crops up in a couple of songs and there are some very Hounslow references like celebrating Diwali.
"There's one song about Father Christmas going down Hounslow High Street, which is based on taking my sons to see a parade that also included Noddy and a load of camp pirates - that was one of the most surreal experiences I've had.
"Mary's based on a kid I used to teach who went into labour at school and had to have the baby in a back room."
Robb was born in Isleworth and lived in Chatsworth Crescent, Hounslow, before moving to Hove about three years ago. The 53-year-old used to teach at Alexandra Infants, among other schools.
He has two sons, Hari, 11, and Arvin, 10, who sing backing vocals on Pound Shop Christmas. Robb previously released a live CD of his football-related songs, Friday Night in Brentford, to help raise money for Brentford FC supporters' organisation Bees United.
Once described by Venue magazine as Britain's finest songwriter since Richard Thompson, he performed his anti-war song The North West Frontier at a recent peace rally in Trafalgar Square.
Robb Johnson is performing at The Coach and Horses pub, in Brentford, next Sunday (December 6), from 5.30pm. He will be at London's Drill Hall, in Chenies Street, the following Sunday.
