The Strat is named after Tony Stratton-Smith (nicknamed ‘Strat’), a former journalist who became a larger-than-life industry character as a manager and the founder of Charisma Records.

Bands he managed included The Nice, the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and Van Der Graaf Generator. Notable Charisma acts included Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Julian Lennon and Lindisfarne.

He also helped finance Monty Python And The Holy Grail and Vivian Stanshall’s Sir Henry At Rawlinson End.

‘Strat’ sadly died in 1987, aged just 53, ...