Our December Concert
Our December night was our annual Christmas Party . This started with John Lennox, 
John Robinson, Harvey Seager and Patrick Halpin in an Ensemble, they played a great selection of tunes and had repeated requests to keep going. While they were playing we were setting up the food which had been brought by people donating to our ‘Jacobs Join’. In other countries and locations this is also known as a Pot Luck Meal, Faith Supper, Jacobs Supper or a Bring and Share. I said to someone at the club who asked if I knew why it was called a Jacobs Join that I would mention it in this newsletter. It seems its is a biblical term and its usage is local to various areas (hence the other names for it mentioned earlier). We then started eating the food while Arthur Frankland played fields of Athenry, Danny Boy, Edelweiss, Ashokan Farewell and Midnight In Moscow. John Lennox was on next, playing a selection of tunes on the piano. He started with Let Do It, then went on to play Love You Just The Way You Are, Mountains of Mourne, La Vie En Rose, If You Love Me and No Regrets. Bernard Belshaw, Harvey, John and Ann Parker played a selection of tunes including White Christmas, Aint She Sweet, Old Bull and Bush, Irish Eyes, Yellow Bird, Jingle Bells, Wooden Heart, Danny Boy, Leaning On A Lampost, Anybody Seen My Girl, Somebody Stole My girl, That’s My baby Now, Baby Face, Blackpool Belle, Roll Out The Barrel, Ma He’s Making Eyes At Me, Oh Jonny and Blaze Away. After the group Bernard Bamber played solo, he started with Silent Night and Noel, he then played Away In A Manger, Little Donkey, I Saw Momma Kissing Santa Claus, Snow Waltz and In The Mood. Andrew Baker was our next player, Andrew played Sorrento, Winter Wonderland, Frosty the Snowman, Mistletoe and Wine and Good King Wenceslas. Sara Daly was our final player of the night, playing Pigalle, Scarlett Ribbons, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Little Donkey, Blue Bell Polka, Banjo On My Knee, Grandfather Clock, Bye Bye Love, You Are My Sunshine, When I’m 64, Oh Mein Papa, Edelweiss, Wind Beneath My Wings, It’s a Wonderful World and Walking In A Winter Wonderland. As usual our Christmas night had been a great night of entertainment. Thanks to all those that brought something along to eat, we had a great feast and great entertainment.
Chester Accordion Club
Chester Accordion Club’s next meeting is on Tuesday 30th January at The Groves Club, Chester Road (A5032), Whitby, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. Telephone Barry Graham on 01978 760065.
Wyre Club
The next meeting of the Wyre Club is on Wednesday 24th January at The North Euston Hotel on the Esplanade at Fleetwood, FY7 6BN. Further details tel. 01253 883681.
Wirral Accordion Club
This club is on every Tuesday at The Place In The Park, 109 Liscard Road, Wallasey CH44 9AE. The night starts at 7pm.
Change of Nights
We are going to be changing many of our proposed concert nights into practice nights, starting with the next meeting on the 17th of January. This is a change we are going to try after consultation recently with people at the club who attended in November and December. Because several people have been coming to the practice nights but not so many to the concert nights we decided to hold more practice nights and fewer concert nights. We will see how this new ratio works out in future and decide on the best format moving forward. We put the nights on but we do need people to attend on a regular basis to support the club. People asked for more practice nights so you have an extra ones from Wednesday, see you there.
This Wednesday
This Wednesday is a practice night. The doors open on Wednesday night at 7.30pm. Bring your accordion, if you have anything for sale such as an accordion etc. then feel free to bring them along and see if anyone is buying. If you have old music you don’t want, won’t play again or which is cluttering the place up, then we do have a donation pile that is always on the side wall as you come in the door. Feel free to add to or take from it. Most importantly bring yourself for a good chat. Please bring along your friends and anyone who might be interested in attending. If you see someone you don’t know then please say hello and make them welcome to the club. If you see someone in the street you don’t know, please bring them along to the club! See you there…
David Batty
February Accordion Festival – Eastbourne
This is to be held from the 9th to the 12th of February.
Artists: Marco Valenti (Italy), Stefan Andrusyschyn, Roman Voloshchuk, Harry Hussey, John Romero.
Teachers:Sammie Catling, Angie Lukins, Jean Hanger, Gennaro Fiondella, Harry Hussey, John Romero.
Friday 9th February
3.00 Arrival and check in, 3.00 Welcome cup of tea or coffee (Concert Hall), 4.00 Welcome party with Harry Hussey (Concert Hall), 6.00 Dinner, 7.30 Harry Hussey (Concert Hall), 8.00 – 10.45 Evening Concert, 10.45 Roman Voloshchuk (Bar).
Saturday 10th February
8.00 – 9.30 Breakfast, 9.00 Group orchestra class – Gennaro Fiondella (Concert Hall), 10.15 Group class – Angie Lukins (Concert Hall), 11.30 Group orchestra class – Sammie Catling (Concert Hall), 12.30 Roman Voloshchuk (Bar), 2.00 Vintage Orchestra – Jean Hanger (Concert Hall), 3.00 Guest concerts – Hosted by John Romero (Concert Hall), 4.00 Complimentary cup of tea or coffee (Concert Hall), 5.30 Busking session – Harry Hussey (Concert Hall), 6.00 Dinner, 8.00 (Concert Hall) 8.30 – 11.00 Evening Concert, 11.00 Harry Hussey and friends (Bar)
Sunday 11th February
8.00 – 9.30 Breakfast, 9.00 Group orchestra class – Gennaro Fiondella (Concert Hall), 10.15 Group class – Angie Lukins (Concert Hall), 11.30 Group orchestra class – Sammie Catling (Concert Hall), 12.30 Harry Hussey (Bar), 2.00 Orchestra Concerts – Hosted by John Romero (Concert Hall), 2.00 Guest Concerts – Hosted by John Romero (Concert Hall), 4.00 Complimentary cup of tea or coffee (Concert Hall), 5.30 Busking session – Harry Hussey (Concert Hall), 6.00 Dinner, 8.00 – 10.30 Evening Concert, 10.30 Professional Artistes Jam Session , 11.00 Busking Session led by Harry Hussey (Bar)
Monday 12th February
8.00 – 9.30 Breakfast
Half Board stays cost £229 per person, Weekend passes are available at £60 and Day passes are £30 To book contact John Romero on 01606 270148
Talks and Lectures at South Ribble Museum
20th January 2018 at 11 am – A History of the ROF Chorley – illustrative lecture by Lyndsey Barrow Illustrated lecture A History of ROF Chorley.
18th January 2018 – Britain on Film: Let’s go to the seaside!
Come along for a showing of Britain on Film: Let’s go to the seaside! Travel round our varied coast, filmed throughout the 20th century from 1901 to 1978. Repeated again on the 17th February 2018.
27th January 2018 – Britain on Film: Railways!
Come along for a showing of Britain on Film: Railways! A major new collection of rare archive films charting the history of the UK’s railways and bringing home the romance of rail travel in the early 20th century. Repeated again on the 8th February 2018.
24th February 2018 at 11am Illustrated lecture – “Alston Hall: Lives of a Lancashire Mansion” by Colin Dickinson
11th March 2018 – Local History Walk with Dr David Hunt. Special Opening for Crocus Sunday opening 1 – 4 pm – ‘Exploring Leyland Old Graveyard’. Meet at the Museum, 2pm local history walk. Exploring Leyland Old Graveyard.
All of the above events are taking place at: South Ribble Museum and Exhibition Centre, Church Road, Leyland, Lancashire, PR25 3FJ
Tel: 01772 422041
Kicking Off: Women’s Football in Preston
A hundred years ago Preston’s Dick, Kerr Ladies ran out onto the pitch at Deepdale for the first time and impressed a crowd of 10,000 spectators with their skill. They secured a 4-0 victory over the team from Arundel Coulthard & Co – a win that marked the start of their
amazing journey to becoming world champions. Drop into the Discover Preston Gallery to see the display celebrating the Dick, Kerr Ladies success, find out more about their individual stories and take a look at the women’s game in Preston today. The Exhibition is open from 9th Dec 2017 – 31st Jul 2018 at the Harris Museum Art Gallery & Library, Market Square, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2PP
Festival dates for your 2018 diary
Love Folk Festival – 9th Feb 2018 – Southport, Merseyside http://www.theatkinson.co.uk/events/love-folk-festival-2018/
February Accordion Weekend Eastbourne – 9th Feb – 12th Feb 2018 www.carillonstudios.com
Chester February Folk Day – 24th Feb 2018 – Chester, CH2 3AU, Cheshire http://chesterfolk.org.uk/folkday.html
Manchester Irish Festival 2nd – 18th March 2018 www.mcririshfestival.com/
March Accordion Weekend Blackpool 9th March – 12th March 2018 www.carillonstudios.com
Seacroft Accordion Festival 23rd – 27th April 2018 Sceptre Promotions 01780 782093
Crossover – Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Festival – 4th May 2018 – Congleton, CW12 2LR, Cheshire http://crossoverfest.com/
Chester Folk Festival – 25th May 2018 – Kelsall, Cheshire http://www.chesterfolk.org.uk/
Wirral Folk Festival – 31st May 2018 – Ellesmere Port, CH65 6QF, Cheshire http://www.wirralfolkonthecoast.com/
Middlewich FAB Festival – 15th Jun 2018 – Middlewich, Cheshire http://midfest.org.uk/
Lymm Festival – 21st Jun 2018 – Lymm, Cheshire http://www.lymmfestival.org.uk/events/summer-festival/
Just So Festival – 17th Aug 2018 – Rode Hall, Cheshire http://www.justsofestival.org.uk/
Fleetwood Folk and Blues – 31st Aug 2018 – Fleetwood, Lancashire http://www.fleetwoodfolkandblues.com/
Seacroft Accordion Festival – 13th – 17th September 2018 Sceptre Promotions 01780 782093
Head for the Hills – 14th Sep 2018 – Ramsbottom Cricket Ground, Lancashire http://headforthehills.org.uk/
Manchester Folk Festival – 18th Oct 2018 – Manchester, Lancashire http://www.manchesterfolkfestival.org.uk/
Midland Accordion Festival Birmingham 2nd – 4th November 2018
Membership
Many people have already paid membership for 2018, this remains at the same price it has always been which is £5 per year. I keep prices down to make the club affordable while still helping towards our expenses. You can pay your membership January. The proceeds go towards guest artists, stamps for postage, shortfall on room hire on quiet nights and also an Internet service to send out the newsletters to those who choose to receive the newsletter by email (those who get the newsletter by email get working links they can click on rather than have to type in). If you are paying by cheque please make your cheque payable to “David Batty”.
March Accordion Festival Blackpool
This is to be held from the 9th to the 12th March 2018 at The Carousel Hotel in Blackpool.
Artists: Julie Best, Jean Corrigan, Rosemary Wright, Harry Hussey, John Romero. Teachers: Julie Best, Rosemary Wright, Harry Hussey, John Romero. Organisations and Traders : Acorn Instruments, Harry Kipling’s “Accordion Treasures”, Carillon Music. Half Board stay is £229 per person.
To Book Contact John Romero on 01606 270148.