STOURBRIDGE BRANCH

STOURBRIDGE BRANCH - JULY 2013

Malcolm's Report

Well it certainly was a great night again & with some excellent playing in different styles by every one, Zack [on washboard] was the stand in for Bernard, along with the backing group Matthew Richards on keyboard & Dave Partington on guitar. It was nice to see Jane & Dave from Lytham St Annes & Matthew Sprotson & His Uncle from Gloucester, & Dave & Pam Jenkins from Leamington Spa & Andrew Little from Stoke On Trent . I have not heard any reports about the event at Leamington Spar on the 20^th July [I could not go because of problems at home with Glenys ] so Bernard Francis was not at the meeting, neither was George Tummey [but I found out later that George had passed away & His funeral was on Thursday 8^th near Bewdley. I could not attend [see later] Roy Westwood now spends time looking after His Wife & unable to get to any meetings so He was not there neither was Bob Elwell or Alan Bartlam. In September there will be two meetings – one on the second Thursday 12th [The reason being is that we will be entertaining two players from Gothenberg who will not be able to make it to our 3rd Tuesday meeting, but that will take place as usual on 17th September. Now just before the end of the July meeting some may recall I received a phone call from My Son Andrew asking Me to return home because Glenys was in pain around the right kneecap [the side where She had the operation on 27^th June & She wanted to go into hospital, it so worked out when I got home it was not so bad & I booked an appointment to see a doctor at our surgery. She had a fall in the toilets & when it came to the weekend her head ached so I got Her to Russells Hall where X-Rays where taken. Everything was ok but She was kept in over night & I fetched her out on Monday Morning, but She had a second fall at home on Friday 26^th July so it was back to the Hospital again even though she was ok apart from problems on the Saturday. On the Sunday it was different, She had gone into a deep sleep & remained like that for five days & She passed away on Friday 2^nd August, she was 72yrs & We had been married 52 years. The Funeral was held on Tuesday 13^th August at Gornal Crematorium & I must thank every one for attending & from all the other things I am connected with & all the many cards which I have not counted yet & the donations to C8 Ward of Russell Hall Hospital where the staff were great in all the hospital. I must now thank all those who turned up at the Funeral & for the couple [Pat & Len] & also Kevin Bridgwater who look after the undertakers for their support at this very sad time. I have not counted the final amount yet because it is still coming in. I would have liked to have been at the Winter Gardens Morcambe on the 27^th July, it appears by reports that it is so similar to Dudley Hippodrome except for electrical power which the Hippodrome has not got but who knows? I may well be staging a similar sort of event at Dudley Hippodrome because following on from a full council meeting on Monday 5^th August when a decision could have gone for demolition instead a reprieve was given to examine the Friends Report in full & since then more & more support to see it used as a theatre again & the benefits it will bring to Dudley Borough are becoming more especially from business people so My wish will come true to be connected with My own theatre & full fill the dream I had in September 2011 when I started collecting signatures while at an Exhibition at the Station Hotel across the road from the Hippodrome – the council's decision did help to soften the blow of loosing Glenys in a small way I know She would have wished for Me to continue with all My interests. Returning back to the Avion Aldridge this is a photo which I had not got for the June report it is one that Ned William had taken I would have had difficulty in cutting the tape with a Uke in My hand. I hope next month to say that the Organ is fully working at The Buttermarket & the organ concert list can be made . On Friday Andrew & Myself visited Leominster & I had a memory look around the town including the Priory Church where Glenys & I where married on 3thd April 1961. Glenys Sisters & Brothers live there one as the Stepping Stone Café in West Street [ See Photo ] & serve excellent food if ever you are in Leominster. Finally very many thanks to all who attended & also to the new owners of The Summer House Angie & John. Turned Out Nice Again Your Roving Reporter Malcolm Palmer