STOURBRIDGE BRANCH

STOURBRIDGE BRANCH - JUNE 2013

Malcolm's Report

Well keeping up with Our tradition of providing a good nights' entertainment the June meeting was in that category although I must admit when I arrived there were not too many Uke players there but once one or two started to arrive things started to alter & Michael Adcock had already started to collect names of all who wished to play and setting out the running order for the first half & Cameron Aitken was assisting Jonathan Richards with the microphones. Neither Jane or Dave Partington were there & the same for Bob Elwell, George Tummy, & Roy Westwood, nor Andrew Little & Karen [The Dinkydos] because they would at the Severn Valley on both weekends & it is some distance from Stoke On Trent. Our backing group consisted of Matthew Richards & Bernard Francis assisted by some of the audience who I had supplied with rattles that I had from one of the stands at the NEC. Johnny Cartwright was unable to attend because of an accident so there was no harmonica playing, so it was thought, until I produced one of My two harmonicas & played one tune which surprised everyone. Our trio of Two Old Goats & a Kid [Dave Zack & Rob] provided variety & so did Gary on guitar, although He had been attending the meetings for some time it's only recently that He started to play & our youngest player Sam Griffiths, assisted by His father John, made up the evening along with Our celebrity from Channel 4's cooking programme Diane Dawson. I am grateful for Alan Bartlam for the loan of the music stand neither Alan or His wife could be there. Dave Jenkins & His wife Pam where at the meeting from Leamington Spa & were able to give more details about the event taking place on the 20^th July at The Newbold Comyn Arms, Leamington Spa, a few minutes from the shopping centre. I am delighted that some interest has been shown to take part in a fund raising event for the Hippodrome. I am hoping some thing can be arranged for October at The Station Hotel opposite the Hippodrome where most of the artistes stopped while appearing at the theatre. Talks are still going on with the council & the friends of the Hippodrome at the time of writing this report no decision as been made yet to demolish it so things can change – watch this space and again at this time no concerts have been arranged on the Wurlitzer in the Buttermarket Shrewsbury. There are one or two problems to overcome & there is only limited time to work on them. I am delighted that all who attended the 1940s two weekend events on the Severn Valley Railway had a good time even though I was unable to be there myself because Glenys was in Hospital & needed looking after when she came home. There will be an additional meeting in September which will be held on the 2^nd Tuesday because there will be two visitors from Sweden who will be attending. Hope you can all attend this meeting to make it into a great night for these visitors from Sweden. Finally very many thanks indeed to all who attended & performed & backing group to make a good evening entertainment & most all Adam & Sarah at The Summer House for their hospitality.

Turned Out Nice Again Your Roving Reporter Malcolm Palmer

Although I was unable to attend the 40s weekends on SVR My photographer was there & on of the photos are with this report—Andrew & Karen [The Dinkydos] I mentioned in last months report I had been invited to open a Wetherspoons Pub 9^th July [the former Avion Cinema Aldridge] The Express & Star photographer was there & several photos where taken but only one was featured I will find out in due course some I have on My own camera which I have featured George Formby opened the Avion 26^th September 1938.