Hi Everyone We extend a big welcome to another new member, Adrian Schofield, who travels down to our weekly Monday Sessions all the way from Bolton. Adrian is a folk player on the Northumbrian pipes who is now taking up the accordion.
Christmas Party Arrangements Hi Everyone, Let’s Have A Christmas Party!
Arrangements are well underway for our Christmas party and it will take place on
Tuesday the 18th December at Goldenhill Club. We'll
be starting the evening at 7.30 pm in our usual fashion
with some carol singing, so please bring your
accordions and singing voices to join in. We're having
an excellent buffet, as usual, and fun and music from
our guest, comedian and singer, Chris Ray. He
appeared at our club last year and was very well
received and I’m sure that he will help to make this
Christmas party a night to remember.
Our accommodation at Goldenhill is very spacious, so please invite your families and friends along to
join in the festivities. If you haven't obtained your tickets yet, please get them from Steve. We need to
firm up the numbers soon so that we can advise our caterers accordingly.
Steve's contact details are as follows:
Tel: 01782 787935 mobile: 07939 362294 email: [email protected]
Hopefully, we'll see you at our Christmas party but if not, I'd like to take this opportunity of wishing you
a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Mike Richards.
Celtic Fettlers concert Clubnite Tuesday 16th October We were privileged to have the Celtic Fettlers as the guest
artists at our club night in October. Michael (accordion and
vocals), Bryn (lead guitar) and Keith (rhythm guitar and
vocals) had travelled down from the ‘Black Pudding Belt’-
Bolton in Lancashire. I enjoy a bit of black pudding with my
full English, so I was hoping that I’d enjoy their music as
much. And I wasn’t disappointed, they were excellent!
At the beginning of the evening some of our players ‘set the scene’ by playing a few numbers from our
playing circle book. This went on for about 15 minutes then the Celtic Fettlers started their first spot with
Last Thing on my Mind, sung by Keith. It was a lovely way to start the evening and their first spot,
Richard
Adey
In
February
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which went on for about 45 minutes, included a whole variety of very popular numbers such as
Matchstick Men, Blackpool Bell, Clare Island, Wild Rover, Country Roads and Black Pud Stud.
During our interval we had our ever popular raffle, with an abundance of prizes, and our attendant
members’ award, which was won by Gordon Hunter - congratulations Gordon.
The Celtic Fettlers’ second spot was just as entertaining as their first and it included another selection of
very popular songs, including Those Were the Days, Dirty Old Town, Bluebell Polka, What in the
World’s Come Over You, Side by Side, Wagon Wheel and Galway Girl.
We had a great night - a whole variety of different songs, wonderful musicianship and excellent vocals. I
managed to record most of their performance on my iPad and I’ve already uploaded two of their songs
onto Accordion TV - North Staffs (our YouTube channel), so take a look. Mike.
Players' Night Tuesday 20th November November 20th was a cold and wet night and as a consequence the attendance was a little bit lower than
normal - 30 people. However, I think that those who were there thoroughly enjoyed themselves and over
the evening we heard accordions, a harmonica, the Northumbrian pipes and some delightful singing.
Our ‘Monday Nighters’(above) , led by Steve Hughes, started the evening by giving a very creditable
rendition of the Marines Hymn (the official hymn of the United States Marine Corps), Echo Waltz and
Vive L’Amour
The youngest member of our ‘Monday Nighters’, Emily Bedwell
(right), was our first soloist of the evening. She sang Sweet
Rosalie and she accompanied herself with her accordion. Well
done Emily, your singing is great and I like your accordion
accompaniment.
Moira Hague (left) was next on, with her Northumbrian pipes -
what a pleasant surprise - and she gave a very nice rendition of Yellow Bird, Braeda
Village, When the Battle’s Over and Heights of Dorgan. Well done Moira and it was
interesting to learn, later on in the evening, that Adrian Schofield, one of our new
‘Monday Nighters’, is a very accomplished Northumbrian pipe player.
During the interval we had our usual raffle, and the draw for our attendant members’
award - member not present so next month the award will be £20.
Our playing circle was first on after the interval and we worked our
way through numbers from the playing circle book. Anyone can join
in and it’s an ideal opportunity for club members to play for about
30 minutes with their friends and, of course, the rest of the audience can sing along.
Two of our guests, Graham and Linda Cossins, had travelled up from
Church Stretton. They’d learned about our club from Paul and Chris
Hobbs and it was great to meet them. During the second half Linda
(above) gave a lovely rendition of Begin the Beguine, If You Love Me and another piece,
which she’d composed herself, with ‘no name’. Linda’s a very good player and hopefully
she’ll be back entertaining us soon.
Our theme for this club night was ‘Latin’, so most of the tunes played came from Spanish
and Portuguese speaking areas of the world, including the following: Steve Hughes - April in Portugal,
Amapola, Betty Nixon - La Paloma, La Cucaracha, Ken Hall (right) - Spanish Eyes, Derek Wilton -
Coffee in Brazil, Brazil, Tony Britton – Sway, Mike Richards - La Cumparsita, Black Orpheus, Spanish
Gypsy Dance, Morinita Do Brazil Mike.
ACCORDION TV - NORTH STAFFS You've probably noticed that I've been using my iPad to video our guest artists while they've been
performing at our club nights. This started as an experiment after I'd produced some home videos of
myself and Paul Hobbs playing and successfully uploaded them onto YouTube (‘Michael Richards
Accordion’).
My first attempt at videoing our guest artists took place in July, when the Kyiv Duo and Stefan
Andrusyschyn gave me permission to video their playing. Their playing was superb, as you know, and the
video quality was acceptable. Furthermore, when I uploaded these videos onto Facebook the response
from viewers was very favourable, so I decided to persevere.
I broached the subject of having our own YouTube channel at one of our club committee meetings and it
was agreed that I'd attempt to do it and that we'd call this channel ‘Accordion TV - North Staffs’. This
channel is now ‘up and running’. It currently contains videos of the Kyiv Duo, Stefan Andrusyschyn and
the Celtic Fettlers and I'll be uploading other videos in the future, so please take a look.
Kind regards, Mike.
Midland Festival 2018 On a sunny Saturday 3
rd November Ken Hall and I (right) went for a day
visit to the Midland Accordion Festival organised by Barry Smith and
the Black Country Accordion Club at Dudley. As a newish member of
our club it was the first visit by Ken to such an event and he was very
much looking forward to the day.
We got to the Quality Hotel at 9.30 am just in time to join in the ‘Folk
Orchestra’ run by Tracey Middleton and David Garwood of the
'Amaryllis' duo. Following this we had a walk round visiting the trade
displays and listening to Alan Young and others trying out some of the displayed instruments. I think that
Ken was amazed at the high prices of some of the instruments and got inducted into terms such as
cassotto and double cassotto. We met many 'festival friends' of mine, and Ken started on the journey of
making new ones. It was nice to see Harry and Pat Hussey, Harry having made amazing progress from his
recent illness.
To a good audience Helen Rich and Malachy Cairns provided the lunchtime entertainment with Malachy
including vocals to the accordion duet. After another walkabout we went in to see the 'Play your Party
Piece' where players of varying standards took to the stage, some of them playing as small groups having
met up at the festival. This was good fun with the humour and banter adding to the enjoyable music.
After dinner a concert was scheduled at 7.30pm, the first on the bill
being The Kennet Accordion Orchestra. Knowing their reputation I
had been looking forward to this. In they trooped, eleven players,
the men with identical uniform to the North Staffs Band, the ladies
differing with blue blouses. After a pause for effect, MD Nigel
Pasby appeared dressed flamboyantly as Freddie Mercury (see left).
The audience erupted in laughter. After this entrance the band
started off predictably with 'Queen' music, a medley including
Bohemian Rhapsody and Barcelona. The performance was
outstanding and Nigel, aka Freddie, hilarious. It wasn't until his
moustache came off that Ken realised it wasn't a ridiculous reality!
The full band programme was:
A Little Bit of Queen, Every Breath you Take – The Police, Telephone – Lady Gaga, I Want to Know
What Love Is – Foreigner, Bee Gees Medley, China in Your Hand - T'Pau, The Stripper – David Rose,
Grease - Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, Music – John Miles, with all of the music arranged by Nigel.
The leader of the orchestra is David Hall, a brilliant player adding some razor-sharp embellishments. It
has 1st, 2
nd, 3rd players and one 4th accordion (Helen Newton who also performs in duet mode with Nigel
and to whom I have to thank for this information) an electronic keyboard bass player and Helen's son,
Matthew, as percussionist.
Following this we had lovely performances by Rosemary Wright, the Amaryllis duo and the Lukins
family, David and Angie joined by son, Andrew, on guitar. David concluded with some spectacular
solos. By then it was after 10 pm and time for us to head off home, so we unfortunately missed The Kyiv
duo, Jovan Rynjak and Alan Young, ending up a bit envious of those staying for the weekend.
Steve Hughes
Moira the Piper Hundreds of pipers around the world played a tribute to mark the centenary of the end of the Great War
by playing the retreat march, 'When the Battle’s O’er', on Remembrance Sunday. One of these was
member Moira Hague playing her other instrument, the Northumbrian pipes. The tribute was planned to
start at 6 a.m. (the time that the Armistice of Compiègne was signed on the 11th
November, 1918) and at
that time Moira and one bagpipe player did their bit in the darkness at the Macclesfield cenotaph. Luckily
the rain kept away for the occasion. Well done Moira.
Our club becomes a Registered Charity We have for years been recognised by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs as having tax exemptions but
following an increase in our annual revenue we have had to apply for listed charity status through the
Charity Commission. This has been approved and the Charity Commission have now listed this club as
registered charity No 1180528, a number that you will see in future on our publicity material. HMRC
have acknowledged this and confirmed our tax status as that of a charity. It also means that we could
claim gift aid on donations made to the club by a tax payer.
Reminder of Stockport Fundraiser Stockport Accordion Club’s big annual charity fund raising concert, organised by club member John
Jones MBE, takes place on Friday December 7th, 7.45pm, at the Broken Cross Club, Macclesfield,
SK11 8TU.
This year’s line-up includes the Stockport Accordion Band, Walter Perrie, Helen Rich, the club’s
Accordion Spice and Scottish Quartet, and the amazing and inimitable Pearl Fawcett-Adriano. All
proceeds are in aid of the East Cheshire Hospice.
Tickets are £8, and available from John Jones on 07871 767708. All are welcome.
It’s that time of year when we bring a little Christmas cheer
to our local care homes.
Here we are ready to entertain the old folk at the
Ravenswood Care Home in Kidsgrove. Betty chose a nice
selection of medleys, including a few war time songs, and
some favourites from our circle music. As it was the middle
of November, we avoided carols as we didn’t want to
confuse the lovely residents, some of whom enjoyed a good
old sing-a-long. We’ll be back at this home on the 21st of
December when I’m sure carols will be a major feature.
(photo left to right : Tony Briton, Ann Millward, Betty Nixon, Steve Hughes)
Tony Britton
BBaanndd GGiiggss TThhiiss mmoonntthh tthhee bbaanndd hhaass bbeeeenn bbuussyy wwiitthh ppeerrffoorrmmaanncceess aatt CChheeaaddllee GGuuiilldd HHaallll ffoorr tthhee CChheeaaddllee ppeennssiioonneerrss,,
BBaaggnnaallll HHeeiigghhttss aanndd tthhee MMiinnttoonn CCeennttrree’’ss CChhrriissttmmaass FFaayyrree,, bbrraavveellyy ffaacciinngg tthhee eelleemmeennttss oouuttssiiddee aatt tthhee
llaatttteerr.. On 15th
December We will be playing Christmas music at Affinity Outlets (ex Freeport), Talke.
Another Great January Jazz Night Make the 22nd of January 2019 (4
th Tuesday in January) a special night for your calendar and help us see
out the Christmas season with what seems to be becoming an annual event – a great night of music and
merriment with Harry Hussey and Lily’s Weepers – again at the larger venue of Goldenhill
Workingmen’s Club.
There will be lots of well known jazz and show tunes and
plenty of fun (not to mention the fantastic Christmas cake,
mince pies and sherry). Harry takes on the clarinet role again
on the front row as he did last year, revelling in being part of
the band. There will also be guests joining the band and of
course Terry’s wacky jazz quiz. We are offering all this still
at the wonderful bargain price of £5.00!
Tickets are out now and are available from Steve Hughes on
01782 787935 or 07939 362294 or they can be purchased at the Christmas party.
February Clubnite We are in for a treat at the February clubnite. Richard Adey returns as our
guest, this time to Goldenhill, on 19th
February. He has been on several
occasions, has always had a good reception from the audience and has a
lovely, gentle, easy listening style with something for everybody. He began
playing as a youngster and studied with Ingrid Gould for a while. As well as
at accordion clubs he plays in restaurants, hotels and possibly most
pedestrian streets in the country. Not to be missed.
SSttuuaarrtt’’ss EExxccuusseess FFiinnaallllyy,, wwiitthh pphhoottooggrraapphhiicc eevviiddeennccee,, aafftteerr oonnccee cchheewwiinngg hhiiss mmuussiicc
pprreevveennttiinngg hhiimm ffrroomm ppllaayyiinngg aatt aa bbaanndd pprraaccttiiccee,, SSttuuaarrtt SSiimmppkkiinn’’ss
lloovveellyy ddoogg ZZiiggggyy hhaass ffoouunndd aannootthheerr wwaayy ttoo kkeeeepp hhiimm aawwaayy ffrroomm tthhee
bbaanndd..
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
I would like to thank all contributors to this newsletter, both with articles and
pictures. All offerings are always most welcome. Lily
MMeerrrryy CChhrriissttmmaass aanndd aa HHaappppyy NNeeww YYeeaarr
DDiiaarryy
Holditch Working Men’s Club
Mondays except day before
clubnite
6.00 - 7.00pm Band music practice
7.00 – 8.30pm Beginners’ class
Bradwell Workingmen’s Club:
Tuesdays other than 3rd
7.30pm i) Pre-rehearsal session and
ii) Use of bass. (alternate weeks)
8.00-10.00 band rehearsal
2nd Thursday 1.00 –3.30p.m. Solo and group session
Goldenhill Workingmen’s Club
3rd Tuesday of month 7.30pm Club night
December 18th Xmas party with comedian Chris Ray
January 22nd
(n.b. 4th Tuesday) Jazz with Harry Hussey and Lily's
Weepers
February 19th Richard Adey
March 19th Players' Night
April 16th Steve Roxton & Jean Douvin
May 21st Players' Night
June 18th Julie Best
Band Appearances
Sat 15th December 1.00 pm Carols at the Affinity Outlets (ex Freeport),
Talke
Sat 2nd
March 7.30 p.m. Cheadle Methodist Church
Saturday 23rd
March Newcastle Music Festival (to be
confirmed)
Monday 25th March 7.30 pm Black Country Accordion Club
Accordion Tuition. Pauline Hardwick Tel 01782 397298 accordion and/piano
Stefan Andrusyschyn Tel 07958261024 accordion and piano
John Romero Tel 01606 270148 accordion and keyboard
Club Management President Steve Houghton 01270 768178
Committee Chairman Mike Richards 01782 642101
Secretary Steve Hughes 01782 787935
Treasurer Mike Richards (acting) 01782 642101
Safeguarding Mike Richards 01782 642101
Tony Britton, Helen Brown, Ken Hall,
Paul Hobbs, Margaret and Lee Slater.
Web address - www.northstaffsaccordionclub.co.uk
Newsletter Editor Lily Lynch email - [email protected]
REGISTERED CHARITY No 1180528