The Mr Mick Story

The idea for the concept album, 'Mr Mick' came from a children's story-book which Steve Augarde (a Somerset writer, and friend of Mutter) was writing at the time.  Steve still lives near Yeovil, quite close to Mutter himself.  Knowing how interested you would all be to see this wonderous document, Steve kindly rifled his attic and amongst the bric-a-brac, he found a copy.  Here it is, then, scanned in for all to see....I hope it doesn't take too long to download.  If you're patient enough, it'll get to you!

This story is  light-hearted, written with children in mind.  You will find that the Stackridge version is a rather darker affair.....

'Mr Mick' the children's story was finally published in1980 by Andre Deutsch. Sold in America, it cost the princely sum of nine dollars, ninety five cents at the time.  This is Steve's picture from the fly-leaf.  Here's how he is described:  "Steve Augarde was born in Birmingham but has lived most of his life in Somerset, where he studied at Yeovil School of Art and Somerset College of Art.  Since leaving college, he has worked on building sites, done some sign-writing, been a gardener for the National Trust at Montacute House and has been a member of a group who sing and play in pubs."

Hmmmm.  This guy has a very Stackridgean feel to him.   And what does he do now, I hear you ask?  Well, Steve still writes children's books. These days they feature wonderfully clever cut-outs.  He showed us several - and despite the need to homogenize (to suit European and American markets) -all his books have a definite touch of Somerset magic about them.  I'll have to persuade him to let us sell some over the web at Christmas. We shall have to see

Here's the book ....   CHAPTER 1