The stuff of music legend, you can’t mention Widnes Station to anyone without them referred to Paul Simon and the track Homeward Bound. As with most claims to fame it is disputed but Widnes is still holding strong as our very own Geoff Speed booked the gig!

The Simon and Garfunkel hit was believed to have been penned by Simon whilst waiting for the milk train in September 1965 after 4 nights in Widnes, before heading to his next UK tour location in Hull.

Girlfriend, Kathy Chitty is reported as the muse behind the song.

Working for BBC Radio Merseyside Geoff Speed’s show Folkscene ran for 47 Years. He ran a local folk club, ‘Howff’ at The Grosvenor Hotel, with his friend Robin. They booked Paul Simon for the club, agreeing to pay this unknown teenager £12 and put him up for a week thanks to Geoff’s parents!

Did you know that this folk club was owned by Frank Murphy who went on to run the legendary Frailers Guitar shop until his passing in 2025.

Speed himself wasn’t convinced the song was written on the station as the train was already pulling in when he dropped Simon off and he had to run to catch it! It is more likely to have been written at Speeds dining table!

Speed recorded Simon’s slick performance at the Howff Folk Club as he did with numerous shows, a familiar sight with his tape recorder over his shoulder and a microphone in hand. The Sound of Silence had been a beautiful moment to capture, as the 150 strong audience was stunned.

Simon took the tape with him back to America, promising to copy it and send it back to Speed, he never did, but he perhaps got a little too busy!

The music scene owes a great deal to Geoff Speed! (1942- 2019) Find out more about his contributions to music during his time on BBC Radio Merseyside here.