STOURBRIDGE

STOURBRIDGE - CHRISTMAS MEETING 2012

Our 21^st Anniversary meeting was a great success there were about 60 who attended 30 of which played the Uke, apart from the break for the well prepared buffet of which very many thanks are given to Chris Richards and Diane Dawson who had a lot of hard work to do for the preparation, it was none stop entertainment for the evening which started at 7.30pm & ended 11.15pm. I must thank Adam & Sara of The Summer house for allowing us to have a buffet in a venue that now does excellent food throughout the day & evenings & also for such an excellent venue. Very many thanks to Our backing group Matthew Richards on Keyboard [Wolverhampton] Dave Partington Guitar [Lytham St Annes] & Bernard Francise washboard [Walsall] & Dave & Christine Richards for PA equipment & Jonathan for adjusting the Microphones between each act – there is a special thanks to Our Guest Al Jolson [Roy Westwood ] Roy's wife was taken ill a few days before but not wishing to let us down He made the journey from Worcester to entertain Us. All of us hope that You had a save journey back & that Your Wife Sue is making a recovery. Roy Holloway's Wife was also in hospital & still is at the time of writing this report all hope that She is making progress & that also applies to anyone who could not attend the 21^st Anniversary players or none players. At this point I would like to wish everyone –A Very Happy New Year—I found out after the meeting it was after Xmas That Matthew Sproston [Gloucester] & His Fiancé Beccy made the Journey to Gretna Green [Scotland] & got married, many congratulations from us all at the Stourbridge Branch. My thanks to all who had travelled some distance to attend, Jane Partington would have been there but She was taken ill on arrival & had to stay in the local Hotel. I have enclosed a list of Andy Eastwood concert bookings I trust that You will support the production team at some of the venues near You. The Buttermarket Shrewsbury & Organ Concerts –at the time of writing this report the STOT are awaiting a quote for a new starter for the blower motor, until it is fitted tests can not be carried out on the organ as soon as that has taken place & proved to be working concerts can once more be arranged. One thing the STOT are looking for will be taking on younger members to run the concerts in the future. Dudley Hippodrome meetings are still taking place with the Council to have the demolition plan stopped for five years so that the friends of the Hippodrome can get things moving to turn the Iconic building back to a theatre that can be also used by other groups when no major productions are taking place. On Friday 7^th Dec Councillors where invited to take a look inside, what few arrived where very much impressed at the size of the building, I also invited the BBC Midlands Today reporting team & they too where impressed & was featured on Midlands Today on Monday 10^th December I was interviewed but due pressure of time My interview was not featured, never the less it was good publicity after the BBC team had left there was some time to spare before locking the building up so I decided to make My debut & I am featured on Face book page see still photo on this report – I may well have been the first person to play a Ukulele there since Sam Bass in 1952 ? there is public meeting taking place at The Station Hotel at 6-30 on Sunday 20^th January & on Friday 25^th a fund raising evening for the Hippodrome Trust with top line bands at JBs within yards away from the Hippodrome 7pm-1 am ticket 6--£8 Finally now that 2013 is here its time to start thinking about The Severn Valley Railway 1940s event will be on The last weekend in June & first weekend in July.