Last Saturday at Wembley, when they played Jeff Beck’s ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining’ at the end of the game, it reminded me of Daphne Biggs, the long-standing QPR Supporters Club secretary and away travel organiser. I thought to myself “I’m sure there’s a lot of Ranges fans here today who don’t know the significance of why the song is played after home games when we win – let alone today”, and so I contacted long-standing R’s fan Pat Harrison for the full story and here’s what she had to say:
“At the Player of the Season Dinner & Dance in the early 1990’s, Daphne always loved to get on the floor towards the end of the evening and dance to ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining’. At the time, when myself and the Official Supporters Club used to plan and arrange the event, we always gave the DJ a song list before the day and we made sure that ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining’ would be played for Daphne.
That is my recollection of how it became ‘Daphne’s Song’. Oh how I thought of dear Daphne when they played that at Wembley on Saturday. As far as I know, the tradition of playing it after we have won a home game was in memory of Daphne. That is my recollection but, if anyone else comes up with an alternative idea of why it is played, then I will be interested to know the details.”
So, if anyone knows more, do add some comments after this piece.
That’s not the song’s only Rangers connection though. It was written by two New York songwriters; Scott English and Larry Weiss, and it was recorded by Jeff Beck and released on 10th March 1967 – the Friday after Rangers had beaten West Bromwich Albion in the first League Cup Final at Wembley.
Beck had been the replacement for Eric Clapton when he left the Yardbirds in March 1965, at the recommendation of Yardbird and Beck’s teenage friend Jimmy Page (well before Page found fame and fortune with Led Zeppelin). Beck gained a reputation for being somewhat unreliable though and was dropped by the band.
He decided to go solo, with ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining’ his first release. A young Rod Stewart sang backing vocals on the Columbia label single and it reached number 14 on the UK singles chart, number 17 in Ireland and number 25 in Australia.
The record was produced by Mickie Most, one of the most successful record producers of the 1960’s and 70’s and the owner of RAK Records – the label that later re-issued the single in 1972 and again in 1982.
One of RAK’s most successful artistes was a young singer/bass player, originally from Detroit. In 1971 Most went with Jeff Beck to see a band made up of sisters called ‘The Cradle’ (Suzi Quatro and her sisters). He did, Quatro moved to the UK and became a big worldwide success in the 1970’s.
What’s less well known is that Most was also a keen Rangers fan and season ticket holder in the South Africa Road Stand for many seasons – and so the story comes full circle. Most died in 2003.
My thanks to Pat Harrison and Robin Haldane for their help with this piece.
Martin Percival
If my memory serves me correct, I believe Daphne passed away shortly before the Play off semi final against Oldham Athletic. Due to it being her favorite song the club played this at full time in memory of her and it has stuck ever since. With regards to hearing that song, like yourself it always reminds me of Daphne as well.
Neil is about right. From memory Daphne died in August 2002. I worked at the club at the time. That was the season we ended up at Cardiff in the play-offs. But we had a wretched time of it in the first half of the year. We were only just out of administration and while after Christmas the team was superb we had some decidedly mixed results beforehand.
I was in charge of the matchday presentation and we decided to play Hi-Ho Silver Lining as a tribute to Daphne after pigbag at the end of every game we won. Thankfully the tradition has stuck.
I was wondering how long it would be before it was collectively forgotten or we had to explain it.
JimF
Great Write UP
Gotta Add
The Lone Ranger
Hi Ho Silver And Away…
I remember that Minute SILENCE for Daphne before Kick off of the Plymouth fixture at Loftus Rd in August 2002.
The Utmost respect from the entire stadium including the 2000 Argyle supporters.
Thanks Martin, a very good read. Interesting to know that Hi Ho Silver Lining just happened to be first released in 1967 a few days after Rangers had beaten West Bromwich Albion in the League Cup Final at Wembley and there we were all singing it after our amazing Play-Off win at Wembley. I love the fact that the record producer of Hi Ho Silver Lining, Mickie Most, was a keen Rangers fan and season ticket holder. It makes is even more appropriate that we now play it in Daphne’s memory It would be interesting to know just how many of our present Rangers fans know why Hi Ho Silver Lining is played when we win at home.
Jim, Neil and Pat – thanks for adding to the story with some additional facts and background. Kerrins – yes, I do recall that day. Great respect from the Argyle fans.
I remember being at Wycombe Wanderers on August Bank Holiday Monday when news spread that Daphne had passed away the day before. Coincidentally, the day of the Plymouth Argyle game mentioned was also the day my mum passed away. First home game in over 12 years i had missed as a result.
I’ve just swapped texts with Rs fan Stuart Bilbe on the subject of Mickie Most. Stuart asked ex Rs player Barry Silkman about his connections to Mickie Most. Apparently Silkman (now a football agent but once a crooner who nearly had a music career instead of football) knew Most through the music business and charity football matches and they were pals. When Silkman signed for Rangers in 1980 Most then bought an Rs season ticket. One night after a game Silkman went to Morton’s Club in Berkeley Square with Most, Simon Stainrod and Terry Venables and sang a few songs. So that’s probably where Most’s interest in the Rs originated from – his frienship with Barry Silkman.