A conversation with Pete Gardner Part 1 - a podcast by Mr B A Aird

 80 year old Pete Gardner is from Barnoldswick in Yorkshire England, a Yorkshireman through and through!  Pete had his challenges throughout his life and found that the strict upbringing and expectations of him from his father in particular, made for a tempestuous relationship in his younger years the effect of which made Pete a rather aggressive person using his natural strength to deal with some people that he felt were confronting him.  Pete was a very industrious worker in all he took on, eventually investing in wagons/lorries/trucks and setting up his own successful transport company where he employed several drivers and mechanics. During the 50's and 60's he became enamoured by the music scene and quickly learned to play guitar to compliment his already strong voice particularly suited to country music but not limited to this. Music had a theraputic effect on Pete, he no longer was looking for a fight and channelled his energies into his music, and even song writing.  See his songs on facebook. https://www.facebook.com/Peter-Gardner-Music-page-917768181625253/ Once Pete had decided he had had enough of the transport business , he successfully sold the business and decided to retire, following a 3 month spell travelling in America, he started to visit Austria in 1980 and found he could easily get work as a solo performer. His chosen base was a town named Mittersill where he had regular engagements in both summer, and winter seasons returning on an annual basis until recent years.    The town of Mittersill had become a town proper some 10 years ago, Pete promptly wrote a song about this called ' Mittersill Forever' https://youtu.be/oe9-AjxNeD4  which became a minor hit on the internet and can still be found on facebook and youtube as we speak. Although dogged with occasional ailments and serious health problems in the past, Pete is remarkably energetic and still has no problem jumping into his car and heading for Scotland to visit friends,but in particular, to Austria where he has made many friends over the years.  Some 15 years ago or so, as a Mittersill resident since 2002, I was introduced to Pete by our mutual friend Eric Pletzer proprietor of Mittersill's Konditerei Pletzer www.konditoreipletzer.at , Eric knew I was a keen musician and generally a creative and sometimes crazy tourism guy, Pete and I hit it off reasonably well, we didnt just have a passion for music, but mostly, we loved that great British humour! My working role in Austria has always been in the travel and tourism side of things. Last but not least, apart from his strong Yorkshire accent, Pete is a constant joke teller, any subject you care to mention, he'll make you laugh, this as well as his music making has become his trait, he has well and truly left the aggression behind, at least I think he has?  All the best to you Pete!  Bernie Audio recorded in Mittersill Austria on the 16th, 17th & 18th September 2020. Incidental background music performed by Pete Gardner & Johnny Cash.

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