While we are unable to meet we continue to look back at the start of the club. This is the write up from the Sixth meeting of the club on the 1st April 1998.

“The 1st April was an extra night to our normal nights, this was because we were able to book Steve Roxton before he returned to Jersey following his appearance at the International Accordion Festival. The night started with Tom Bennett playing Skye Boat Song and Flower of Scotland followed by myself playing Return to Sorrento. Then our guest artist took over, Steve played and sang so many tunes during the night that that I lost count and I have probably missed out a lot of them from my list, he started the evening with Whistling Rufus and continued with Under Paris Skies, Under the Double Eagle, Reine De Musette, The Entertainer, Bel Fiore, Dark Island, La Danza, The Pedlars, Luci E Ombre, Monty’s Czardas, Retour des Hirondelle, an Irish medley then into a Scottish medley, a Jim Reeves Medley, my favourite - a Johnny Cash Medley and Several Foster and Allen numbers all before the break. After the break and the Raffle we continued with myself playing another number which escapes me at the moment before I played two duets with Tom Bennett, next George Hicks played the Maigret Theme and asked for any requests, he was asked for Sweet Georgia Brown which he then proceeded to play as though he had been practicing it all week, well done George. Walter Perrie then played a few tunes before Steve started his second spot of the night, I have not been in touch with Walter due to work commitments and therefore I cannot tell you what he played but I can assure you that they were up to his usual standard. Then Steve Roxton started his second half, in this we were treated to a Mantovani medley, Ja Tror Po Sommaren which was a Swedish folk tune which Steve sung in Swedish, Perles des Crystal, In Munchen Steht Ein Hofbrauhaus, Fairy Dance, The Music Man, Sailors Hornpipe, Who Were You With Last Night, Trumpet Hornpipe, Bourrasque, Plaisance Fox, Oslo Waltz, Auld Lang Syne and Land of Hope and Glory. Following this Steve asked George Hicks to find an accordion and join him for an old time singalong medley which was a sample of the type of stuff that Steve and George played after one accordion festival a few years ago, they started playing after everyone was supposed to have gone back to their Chalets and ended up entertaining about 400 people until about two in the morning. This singalong took us to 11.15 and ended with the whole club on the dance floor arms in the air singing Land of Hope and Glory and You’ll Never Walk Alone. Steve had quite a queue waiting to buy his tapes at the end of the night, it had been a brilliant evening and I went home with my ears ringing and a sore throat from all the singing. Afterwards Steve told me that when he finished, he was all warmed up and ready to do another hour and would have quite happily carried on if I had let him. Now, I cannot stop whistling that Johnny Cash Medley, it looks like I am going to have to learn it soon. I am looking forward to seeing you all this Wednesday, I hope as many of you as possible bring your accordions along, we need to hear you even if it is just one tune, other people are interested in seeing what level you are at and following your progress, keep practicing and I will see you on Wednesday 8th April. Remember if you play then I will have to play less, what more encouragement can I give you!”

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.