1999: THE FORMATION OF TAG - APRIL TO SEPTEMBER

SOIL EROSION

TAG was the brainchild of TAG's Secretary Fee Warner (who by it's formation was a published author and University Lecturer undertaking PhD research).

Although Fee was a regular visitor to the site her husband of twenty years, Kevin has never been - until March 1999. When he arrived to take cutting and saw the muddy, bank he commented,

"Someone should build steps here before somebody falls and breaks a leg".

Kevin meant that his wife could break a leg, but from that simple observation from someone who has never been a 'Bolan Fan', the idea of 'The Steps' was born and from it TAG!

THE SITE WAS UNSAFE & GETTING WORSE!

It was clear that as much of this soil erosion had happened since the PRS Memorial Stone was laid less than three years earlier that urgent action was needed to make the site safe. Fee felt strongly enough about the site to know that only hard work and determination would make it a reality.

TAG SEEKS PERMISSION TO BUILD STEPS

The landowners were Railtrack so TAG wrote to them asking for permission to build steps and care for the site on an ongoing basis. We did not ask for a lease on the land and certainly never even drempt of asking to own The Bolan Tree.

TAG NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY

Initially Railtrack did not take TAG's proposals too seriously. Neither did Richmond Council, who TAG contacted with regard to planning permission. Both wanted Architect drawn plans of the steps.

Fortunately Kev and Fee's friend Mark Rowe, who was not a Bolan fan found a friend willing to help. Graham worked for Tower Hamlets Council in London, although he like Kev, Fee and Mark lived in the Midlands. Graham was a volunteer for the National Trust property 'Whitley Court' and worked there in his own time for free as English Heritage's worked towards getting Whitley Court's fountains operational and the grounds laid out as they were when the house was at its peak and Royalty regularly visited.

Graham, also not a Marc Bolan fan, understood why people do work for free on land that is not theirs. Because "If it needs doing and if no one else is doing it ... Then the only way it will get done is to Do It Yourself". Graham drew up the plans and didn't charge TAG anything at all. Many thanks Graham. Below are the annotated, colourised version of the plans.

TAG FINALLY TAKEN SERIOUSLY

Once TAG had proved that we were serious and determined to build the steps and care for the land, Railtrack and Richmond Council 'came on line'.

FUND RAISING AND TAG'S AUCTION

Although TAG formed in April 1999, time was needed for the Warner Family to all 'pitch in' and help make Fund Raisers so that the costs were kept as low as possible! Selling Fund-raisers was done both on-line on the newly developing TAG Web Site, and by travelling the country to sell the fund-raisers directly to fans at Marc Bolan Conventions. Fund raising began at the June 1999 Liverpool 'Bop', followed by the July Leicester 'Bop' and on 16th September 1999 at the London 'Bop'. It was a MAMMOTH Effort to raise enough money which TAG did in just six months! Fee talked Ellie's school into renting her their badge-making machine which was hand-operated and required three pulls to make one badge. It needed too much strength for Fee to do it herself so Kevin made all the badges although Fee made the badge designs. Kevin never expected to have to make 1,500 badges*! Many were sold as 'sets of 12' mounted onto A4 cards with the 1999 original 'TAG Logo' on the top, before being slipped into A4 plastic wallets. These worked out cheaper than buying individual badges. * That meant almost 5,000 hand-pulls in all! In addition, a French fan donated his recording of the 1977 Nantes Concert for a limit edition CD pressing. This was a mad-rush to get them ready for the Liverpool Convention. They didn't arrive until the Friday afternoon, when Fee and Ellie were due to head off early the following morning to drive to Liverpool for the 'Bop'. Fee and and the whole family were up until past midnight folding the inserts (see below left) Fee had already designed, printed and cut to size, and slipping them into each of the CD cases so they could be sold at the Liverpool Bop. In 2000 CD's were quite a new format and were expensive! Fee set the price of each CD at "£12.00 if you're nice or £10.00 if you're mean!". After a 'leading light' in the 'Bolan Scene'*, paid just £10.00, Fee withdraw the chance to pay that and simply made them £12.00 each! * He had seemed interested in getting involved in the Steps Project when it was discussed at the dinner paid for by Kevin Warner's brother Sean in April 1999 after the 'Sir George Martin Record Label Launch', but since then he never communicated with TAG about the project again, although he attended the other Bolan events that year. There is further information relating to events in 2000 Here. The main Fund Raising event was an auction of donated items, hosted by Michael Green at his 'Birmingham Bolan Bop'. Items included photographs signed by Pete Sanders, 'T.Rex Songbook' illustrations signed by the artist George Underwood (see left). The photograph of George Underwood was taken by James (Jim Jam) Ryder whose help with donations was invaluable. The two highest priced items were unpublished negatives, enlargements and contact prints given to Fee by Marc's mother, which Fee donated with all proceeds (over £300) going to TAG. They are shown below. Each 'lot' was in two frames. 1) Enlargement. 2) Original Contact Print with it's negative. Fee funded the frames, mounts, enlargements and negative creation from the contact strips herself so that the entire auction costs went straight to TAG. Fee also funded the costs of the prints, frames, and mounts for the George Underwood illustrations and the Peter Saunders prints.

MEMORIAL BENCHES IDEA 'SCUPPERED'

Initially, it was our intention to place Two Memorial Benches at The Site as part of the Steps Project. In June 1999 Kev & Fee visited various High Quality Bench Manufacturers. Photos were taken to send to the other Members of TAG for Discussion. Unfortuately the local Residents rejected the idea of Benches, fearing they would attract school children & teenagers to 'loiter' in the area. It is a shame that this work came to nothing, but such is life! Some of the bench images are shown below.

 

 

DECEMBER 1999 - TAG OFFERED SITE LEASE

When the T.Rex Action Group (TAG) applied to the landowners of the Tree Site, Railtrack, for permission to build the steps and care for the site, and proved they could work to a high and professional standard TAG were offered a lease on the land and with ownership of 'The Bolan Tree' which was a clever move because it meant they were no longer liable for The Bolan Tree's felling. The offer of a lease was unasked for and completely unexpected!!! Of course from Railtrack's view point the piece of land contained a landmark of importance to Bolan fans which was an unhealthy tree which Richmond Council had reported was dying. Therefore when that time came Railtrack would be liable both for the expense of felling, removal and disposal of The Tree, but were no doubt aware that this action would result in many unhappy Bolan fans. Therefore to offer a lease with ownership and RESPONSIBILITY to TAG absolved Railtrack of further liability.

NATURALLY TAG ACCEPTED THE LEASE

Although in the past people had 'talked' of 'doing something' at the Tree Site TAG was the first group who had demonstrated, by getting all that Railtrack had asked for in the way of architect plans and resident approval that they were people who could do the job! The offer of the in perpetuity lease was made as long as TAG paid the legal costs for the landowners' solicitor's charges. TAG accepted the lease on the site surrounding both the 'Bolan Tree' and the 'PRS Memorial'.

For the first time in over twenty-two years, the site was in the hands of people who CARED