While we are unable to meet we continue to look back at the start of the club. This is the write up from the Eighth meeting of the club on the 13th May 1998.

“M m mmmm mmmm mmmmm m m mmm, oops! Sorry, I'm still humming that Black and White Rag played by Deirdre Adamson on 13th May. Deirdre came down from Scotland to play for us and we certainly had a good time. First we rounded up some of the usual suspects and were treated to Tom Bennett playing Running Bear and a French Medley. A new member Jean Southern made her debut appearance in a duet with George Hicks. They started off with O Sole Mio followed by La Paloma, Spanish Eyes, Burrasque and finally finishing with Oslo Waltz. Although it was Jean's first time at Leyland, she is a regular at the Wyre Club where she is known to knock up a good tune. Rebecca Postlewhite was next with "My Florence Waltz", all this before we met our guest artist Deirdre Adamson. In Deirdre's first spot of the night, she started with Edinburgh Castle, then it was on to some Scottish Waltzes, Clarinet Polka, Scottish Reels, Lonely Glencoe Medley, El Choclo, some Pipe Marches, Retours Des Hirondelles, Canadian Jigs and Marche Aux Etoiles. It was then time for the break. The break was eventful, after the fuss last month when the new Manager of The Highfield tried to walk all over us and failed we were prepared for his next trick, he sent a girl from his barstaff upstairs to tell us that the water heater was not working and also the coffee percolator was broken and therefore could not be used, we were told that we would have to buy our coffee downstairs in the bar, we were prepared with two large kettles which we had brought as a backup in case something like this happened. We did fix his water heater for him though - by plugging it in. Due to our generous nature there was no charge for this repair.

During the break Deirdre was selling her tapes, CD's and sheet music. Whilst I was giving away the last copies I had of Accordion World magazine, accordions could be heard around the room and a lot of talking was going on. I normally make a point of keeping an eye on newcomers to the club to make sure that they are not on their own during the breaks, but in no time someone always seems to make them welcome. If you do see someone on their own then why not go over and have a chat, you never know who you will meet. After the break and the raffle, we heard from Walter Perrie, a duet from Linda Grant and Rebecca Postlewhite who played Pygmies Polka. I then had my turn before handing over to Deirdre who started her second 45 minute spot of the evening with March Hare, Margarets Waltz/Calgary Bay and Hora Staccato. Deirdre cut her finger and got blood down her keys, who says that our players don't give 100%! After cleaning her finger and keys up Deirdre continued with The Royal Mile/The Tartan, Stavanger Schottische, Banjo Breakdown / Crossing the Firth, Black and White Rag, Angus Howie Polka/Pipes and Drums of Powell River, Highland Cathedral and finishing with Teddy Bears Picnic. Some of these tunes were from Deirdre's new CD "The Perfect Blend" which she had on sale at the club. This CD contains amongst others, Black and White Rag, Flight of the BumbleBee, Jigs, Reels Marches and Polkas & having bought it myself I can recommend it. At the end of the evening we were asked by Deirdre to join her in playing old time singalong tunes until 11pm and time to part company for another month. That month wait is up and I look forward to meeting you on June 10th. Players don't forget to bring your accordion.

I have asked some of the club's players if they would like to be a part of a cassette and CD called Leyland Accordion Club Volume 1, which I will be recording and producing on my computer. I can record at CD quality and also edit and produce audio CD's on the computer. These will be high quality recordings of the people who normally entertain you at the club. I have asked around and all the players I have spoken to have been excited by this idea. This will be a nice keepsake and, if you are suffering from club withdrawals you will be able to get a fix from this recording. The cassette will be sold at the club or on the Internet to help promote the club. I will probably be looking at each person recording one or possibly two tracks, one for each side of the tape or up to 74 minutes worth of music on the CD version. After ringing seven players up, who all said yes before I had finished telling them about it, I decided to ask in this newsletter for members to let me know if they would like to be included. Volume 2 could be recorded and released next year.”

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.