Just back from Douglas Adams’ 60th birthday party and memorial at Hammersmith Odeon, with Pete Harvey (ex-Sun).

Who did we see?

• Clive Anderson

• Terry Jones (yes, him)

• Jon Culshaw

• Sanjeev Bhaskaw

• The Heebee GeeBees (Deayton, Pope, Fenton-Stevens)

• Rory McGrath

• Robin Ince

• Simon Singh

• Helen Keen

• John Lloyd and the readings of Liff

• Richard Curtis

• An electronic Stephen Fry

• Likewise, Mark Cawardine and Neil Gaiman

• Geoffrey McGivern

• Susan Sheridan

• Dirk Maggs

• Bloody Martin Smith from Croydon

• Sundry friends and family

• A troupe of eight line-dancing rhinosceri

…and then they broke into a musical latter third of the show, featuring some of Douglas’ favourite bands / people who used to come round his house and gig for booze; this included Margo Buchanan and Gary Brooker – a name which went slightly over my head because they were playing stuff like I Wanna Be A Rockstar (by Buchanan, a tune which Adams had used for an Apple TV advert) and Etta James.

But then Margo stepped forward and explained Adams’ guitar collection, all left-handed bar the one he bought for a friend… Dave Gilmour – and himself steps to centre stage.

[crunch, world stops suddenly]

Turn to Pete… “Ooh – they kept that quiet.”

Pete: “Good thing, too”

Next three songs: Wish You Were Here, by Gilmour; Too Much Monkey Business by the entire ensemble, and then at this point you suddenly realise quite why Gary Brookers’ voice is so familiar… because they launch into a live, pitch-perfect, exactly as you remember it from the 1970s rendition of Whiter Shade of Pale, with a guitar solo break by Gilmour. I swear Brookers’ voice has not changed since 1967, and I wasn’t even alive back then.

Train back to Richmond, sarnie from M&S.

Happy Birthday, Douglas – your party was a blast.