We hope that you are all keeping well and keeping yourselves occupied in this strange situation.

We are keeping well here, staying indoors and have only been out twice in three and a half weeks (to buy milk etc.).  Hopefully it won’t be too long before things can return to normal.

Since we didn’t get to meet last time, we thought it might be of interest if we dug out the write-up of the first evening that Leyland Accordion Club met in 1997.

“ After noticing that the assistants in the music shops I visited had little idea what an accordion looks like, and even less of an idea about how to play one, I found I had to travel to find anyone who could talk accordionese. I then discovered that my local clubs were at Stockport and Wyre, these were not exactly on my doorstep and I felt that, although I enjoyed visiting these clubs and will still continue to support them, there was a great enough distance from both of them to Leyland that a club here would go down well. I looked round for a venue and found The Highfield. The place is well known in the area, on an A road and has a nice atmosphere. The first thing I did was ring up the local clubs and tell them of the birth of Leyland Accordion Club. A phone call to Steve Roxton, and we had our opening night guest artist.

The newspapers were informed, leaflets produced, interviews given and photographs taken. After a lot of phone calls and organisation I could only sit back and hope that the first night would be a success.

I had received about thirty promises from people who had phoned or spoken to me in person, this gave me some confidence in the evening going well. A last minute rush to buy coffee, crisps, raffle prizes, raffle tickets, notice board and it was time to open up. By 7.40 we had our first visitors through the door and things were looking good, I decided to delay the start to 8.10 because quite a few people had only just found the place.

It was time to start the show, after my opening speech I played Plasir d’Amour and then was followed by Richard Eastham and Tom Bennett - this filled in the first half hour before our guest artist played. I must congratulate these two players who, despite not knowing what to expect at an accordion club, gave us some good entertainment. Steve Roxton’s first spot had us listening to Whistling Rufus, Under the Double Eagle, Under Paris Skies, The Entertainer, Luci E Ombre, Plaisance Fox, Bourrasque, Montys Czardas, Retour Des Hirondelles, Bel Fiori, Un Gamin a Paris and Reine De Musette

After the break, I opened the second half with Ozlo Waltz and was followed by one piece from Tom and one from Richard. Then it was on with the raffle followed by our first guest artist Steve Roxton .

Steve played us to the end with The Peddlars, La Danza, Carnival of Venice, Perles De Crystal, Wien Blebst Wien, Johnny Cash Medley, Macnamaras Band, Danny Boy, Scotland the Brave, After all these years, Moon River and finally ending with a German Medley. We finished the night off with three of us playing a number of well known tunes, supported by Steve Roxton

During the evening I noticed a lot of people making new friends and I even let the break go on longer than I had expected because so many people were talking in groups all over the room. Before we started I noticed a young lady with an accordion case and asked her if she was going to play for us. She said she was too nervous and so I suggested she played during the break, this she did. She created a nice atmosphere playing alongside all the chatting. I forgot to find out her name and therefore cannot give her the credit she deserves but she did get up at the end and joined in with myself Steve Roxton and Tom, I hope she will forgive me as I only just remembered my own name on the night. I look forward to her gaining more confidence and having her own spot. I tried to ring most people who turned up for our first night to find out how they liked the evening, I looked for suggestions for future nights, and the response was very positive. It looks like we are on to a winner with the Leyland Accordion Club.

We had an attendance of 45 people, 19 of who were accordionists, the rest were partners of accordionists or people who just came to listen. We had people from Accrington, Altringham, Blackpool, Horwich, Charnock Richard, Eccleston, Clayton Le Woods, Brindle, Croston, Eccleston, Euxton, Fleetwood, Hesketh Bank, Leyland, Macclesfield, Maghull, Fulwood, Ingol, Lostock Hall, Bamber Bridge, Houghton, Penwortham, Rufford, Stockport and Warrington.“

David Batty

Hopefully that was an interesting blast from the past, now to move up to date with some items to keep you entertained during the lockdown.