Peter

I think your account actually says more about misunderstanding and misfortune than it does about dishonesty or fantasy.

Paul Graham was primarily involved in the technical and recording side of things, and by your own admission he told you exactly that when you approached him about payment. That does not sound like someone trying to deceive you more someone operating in a limited role without control over the finances.

As for Shaun Brown, much of what you are relying on appears to be second-hand gossip from Steve Masters, including a story you openly admit you cannot verify regarding two men being sent to Steve Masters house to retrive some money owed. It is unfair to allow rumours and anecdotes to become accepted fact decades later, especially in small media circles where personalities and disagreements often become exaggerated over time.

The unpaid invoices and the train fare incident clearly left a bad impression, and you are entitled to feel frustrated about that. But financial disorganisation, lack of money, or projects failing to materialise are not the same thing as being “strange people and fantasists.” Many independent media and creative ventures of that era operated chaotically and hand-to-mouth.

Equally, the fact that Paul had no money on him after the LV18 business meeting may simply reflect the reality of struggling freelance broadcasting projects rather than deliberate bad faith. From what you describe, there is no actual evidence that either man intentionally set out to scam or deceive you.

It is probably fairer to say that the projects were poorly organised and ultimately unsuccessful, rather than turning two people into caricatures based on old grievances and hearsay.

And all this to only ask if anyone had any recoerings.

Regards

Paul G