A pair of young brothers from Hitchin, who made Comet headlines last year when they ran into hometown music idol James Bay, have met the star again – and got him to sign their front page story.
Rowan and Finn Scourfield headed into London with mum Inga yesterday to see stage show School of Rock – a fitting choice for the boys, who aspire to be musicians themselves.
James, who himself hails from Hitchin, was in London for a clothing launch – and he remembered the young pair from their chance meeting in Oxford.
Inga told the Comet: “James sent an email to his mailing list about what he was up to in London, and when we got the message through – we were going to London for a day out anyway – we thought we would go and say hello.
“The boys like to get stuff signed, so they ran around the house, looking for things they could take with them.
“Of course they had a copy of their front page story, as well as a CD, and the picture with James they took last year.
“James came over and said ‘I remember you two’ – he was really lovely.”
Samuel Lucas JMI School pupil Finn, 10, said that meeting James again was “really cool”, and Rowan, who is now 12 and goes to The Priory School, said: “I was really excited and nervous – it was so cool to see him.”
Rowan and Finn are very much into their music, inspired by hitmaker James and his brother Alex Francis – also a performer.
Inga said: “Both the brothers, James and Alex, are really lovely and chatty with the boys when they see them. They are real inspirations, and the boys would love to follow in their footsteps.”
Rowan and Finn’s other passion is for meeting stars.
Inga said: “They love getting autographs and photos with people that inspire them, and they seem to have the knack of being in the right place at the right time!
“They challenge themselves to get as many things signed as they can. When you’re young you can just go to up to your idols without thinking twice – they are really comfortable with it.
“They have met children’s author Michael Morpurgo, the cast of School of Rock, players from Hitchin Town FC, and folk bands from festivals.”
The Scourfield brothers play many instruments, just like mum Inga – who plays the fiddle and piano – and dad Paul, who is in ceilidh band Chalktown.
Folkie Finn’s current favourite instruments are the guitar and keyboard, while rocker Rowan champions both the guitar and the drums.
They have written a couple of songs together under the name Back to Back Bros – and Rowan even wrote a song about the Grenfell Tower fire which he is hoping to record soon.
To hear the boys’ music, go to songwriteronline.co.uk.
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