There was a lively energy in The Olde White Lion as the band belted out The Rolling Stones’ ‘Brown Sugar’, and the flashing disco lights made the cigarette smoke look like a mass of swirling rainbows. The pub was packed and the dance floor full as the lead singer encouraged everyone to join in the chorus. ‘Brown sugar . . . how come you taste so good?’ rang out as people sang at the tops of their voices.

‘Is it always this busy on a Saturday night?’ Jane asked, raising her voice above the music.

‘Yes, thanks mostly to the band. If it’s too noisy for you, we can go down the road to a quieter pub.’

‘It’s fine, I like it here,’ she said.

‘What would you like to drink?’ Nick asked, getting his wallet out.

‘Please, let me get the drinks . . . and I won’t take no for an answer,’ she said firmly.

‘In that case, I’ll have a Bacardi and Coke. I just need to nip to the gents.’

Sandra was still behind the bar. Jane ordered Nick’s drink and a glass of white wine for herself.

‘Did you have a nice meal?’ Sandra asked.

‘It was the best food I’ve ever tasted,’ Jane said. ‘And Nick is great company.’

‘I hope your friendship blossoms into something more for both of you,’ Sandra smiled.

‘So do I,’ Jane replied without thinking, realising how attracted she felt to him. She was pretty sure Nick felt the same way about her.

Jane paid for the drinks and carried them over to a small table near the dance floor. The band was playing ‘London’s Calling’ by The Clash as Nick returned from the gents.

‘Is this your sort of music?’ Nick asked.

‘I like all sorts really,’ Jane said. ‘But I do like heavy rock, like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. I saw Janis Joplin live at the—’

‘Royal Albert Hall, twenty-first of April 1969. It was her one and only UK performance,’ Nick interrupted.

‘You were there as well?’ Jane asked, hoping he had been.

‘I certainly was,’ he said. ‘I remember everybody was up and dancing, which was unbelievable in a posh place like the Albert Hall. It was a night I’ll never forget.’

Jane grinned. ‘Same here. She put her heart and soul into every song. That raw voice she had was incredibly emotional.’

‘I know just what you mean,’ Nick said. ‘But the highlight of the night for me was when she sang “Piece of My Heart”.’

‘Now that song did rip your heart out,’ Jane agreed. ‘It made me cry back then, and still does when I hear it now.’

‘Can you remember who the support band was?’ Nick asked.

‘Yes,’ she replied.

‘Well, who was it, then?’ Nick asked.

‘It was Yes,’ she replied, knowing she was right.

‘I know you said yes, but who was it?’

‘It was the band called Yes!’