Government of the

Principality of Hutt River
www.principality-hutt-river.org/gov  
 

HRH Prince Leonard met Jon and his band, the Foster Brothers Band, for the first time in 1984, at GTV9 studios, Melbourne, Victoria. It was believed to be a Thursday night and Prince Leonard was making a guest appearance on The Bert Newton Tonight Show.
Prince Leonard was there on a promotional visit and as part of that visit he was knighting Bert Newton live on the show.
Jon English and his band ‘The Foster Brothers’ were also making an appearance on the show. whilst in the lounge the 2 got to talking and it was later that evening, after the show, the guests were gathered and chatting in the Channel Nine Green Room and of course music became a topic with Jon deciding to ask Prince Leonard if the Principality had an anthem? When Jon found out the answer was no, he suggested that maybe they could write one for him. From that moment on Jon was a supporter of the Sovereign and the Principality of Hutt River.

As it turned out, it was one of the band that wrote what is the Principality's National Anthem, it was Keith Kerwin, (guitar and vocals) that sat down one afternoon a short while later in a hotel room and scribbled the anthem down on the back of a sound studio notepad and that is now history.

Read about the History of the Principality National Anthem see a copy of the original handwritten word composition and download the PHR Anthem, as recorded by Sir Jon and the Foster Brothers.

Jon and the Foster Brothers Band recorded the anthem in a studio with Jon providing the vocals and they presented that recording to HRH Prince Leonard. Whilst many other have recorded the Anthem now, including international Philharmonic Orchestras, it is the one laid down by Sir Jon and the Foster Brothers Band that from that day has been the one that is played here in Nain and wherever else HRH has been on official engagements.
That recording is also made available to download free from our website via the link referred to above.

Some years after first meeting, Jon and the members of the Foster Bros were Knighted by HRH for services to music and the PHR thus, all are Knights of the Royal Order.

Over the years Prince Leonard and members of the PHR Royal Family have met up with Jon wherever he has been performing and they have been able to get to and on these occasions Jon always mentioned their presence and performed the PHR Anthem live on stage for them.
We were looking forward to catching up with him in May this year, as he was to be performing in Geraldton (not far from Nain) as part of his latest tour The Rock Show - Oz Edition.

Sir Jon died peacefully during the night of March 09, aged 66. The cause of death was post-operative complications.
At the time of his passing he was surrounded by his four children and other close family members, it is to his family and loved ones that we now aim our thoughts at this time.

What better way to play Jon out....
 Jon English & Simon Gallaher - Spamalot!
'Always look on the Bright Side of Life
Courtesy of Jon and Harvest Rain Theatre Company.

Tribute from Harvest Rain Theatre Company..
Today, we’re reminiscing about our dear friend, Jon English, who passed away yesterday. Here’s a video of him performing in our production of SPAMALOT with his long time friend and sidekick, Simon Gallaher. His performance in SPAMALOT turned out to be his swansong – his final theatrical performance in a career filled with great moments on the stage. We feel sad to lose a legend, but somehow we’re sure Jon would be whistling this tune to all of us today….

Thanks & Farewell Jon.

Sir Jon has left the building...............................
 

Condolences from us all.

  HRH Prince Leonard
       Sovereign
Principality of Hutt River

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The Website of Sir Jon English  and  Sir Jon's Facebook page.
 

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