Previous reports of Jurassic Folk and Acoustic sessions at the Grove, Seaton
First in this archive section is the report for February 2010
This month we have two events to report on... first Seaton Town Hall, Saturday 16th January...
What a super time on Saturday at Seaton Town Hall Community Fair, thanks to the great response from you that we had to our email on Friday morning. We found enough volunteers to man the tea bar, musicians to come along and put on a show and excellent support from all angles.... all in less than 24 hours ! (see picture below )...
Well, after all the excitement of the weekend with Annie's Haiti Benefit do at the Town Hall, one would have thought that our usual session on Wednesday January 20th would have been a bit of an anticlimax.... but far from it... it turned out one of the best.
Just to set the background; Hilary and I had been having a period of very mixed emotions since the New Year, lots of joy but also lots of sadness. The joy was the birth of our first grandchild (about time too...) called Hetty Rose, and as you can imagine has involved a great deal of our time. But then we lost our sister-in-law after a short illness on January 11th, so it was a very difficult time for the family. Then we had all the flurry of Annie's Haiti Aid, and to top it all I celebrated a rather muted **th birthday on the 19th, and finally the funeral, a large gathering, was on Wednesday 20th. All this preamble just to explain why Hilary and other family members weren't able to come along on Wednesday. So that is why I have had to cobble together some sort of account of the first half, but thankfully Anita was able to take over after the interval.
So here goes...
Jurassic Folk & Acoustic Session, 20th January 2010
A larger than ever crowd greeted me when I arrived at the Grove just after 8pm, must be something to do with Marion and her accosting people in the street outside the Town Hall on Saturday! Lots of new faces, and lots of them looking very young... (although I suppose anyone under 69 looks young to me...!!). Peter (that's me) started off the evening as usual with an old favorite, Daisy a Day, which was helped along by a nice gentle chorus, and this was then followed by Bob Dylan's I'll be Your Baby Tonight, which was also helped on its way by the audience.
Next came Ben, a young relation ( I think.. ) of Ted, who hasn't been for quite a while, so it was good to see him livening up the atmosphere with his woolly hat and gentle guitar. He played two guitar pieces but if he told us what they were called I didn't hear it, but most enjoyable.
Frances followed with two cracking new poems: The first called Hanging Offence relates her troubles with a recalcitrant fairy who seemed to resist being placed on the top of the Christmas tree, and the second was Reflected in The Mirror, which tells of Frances' battle with her mirror which, Dorian Gray like, insists on displaying somebody other than the page 3 girl which she knows she really is.... both very funny!
Mike G followed in his customary rebellious mood with his 12 string spraying chords like a machine gun, and he gave his his inovative interpretation of Dylan's Don't Think Twice, and followed this by Eve of Destruction which had us quivering in our seats in fear... great stuff, Mike!
The hero of Saturday, Annie then came on, dulcimerless this week, and sang Reign of the Fair Maid, followed by, in deference to the imminence of Burns Night, Green Grows the Rashes O, both of which were joined in enthusiastically by the audience.
Robert was in particularly good form this month, and he started out with a song which was first called Hippy Song, but he now calls Festival Song: He explained that it was about a festival that he went to some years back, an excellent song and very funny, but he didn't say in so many words that he had written it, but if he did he should be proud of it. He followed up in Mike G mode (well, not quite) with Machine Gun Kelly... more great guitar work.
Then to finish off the first half who else but the Bard of Seaton himself... Ted Dowse. First he declaimed an absolute snorter of a poem about the recent polar weather we have been experiencing (despite those "global warrming" propergandists the Met Office who forecast a mild winter) called Another Artctic Day... it was absolutely brilliant, the funniest thing I've heard for quite a while, and for those who missed it I'll put it up on the website jukebox when I update it. Then he gave us a song written for a charity concert in Bridport some time ago called "Dancing When the Sun Goes Down" and followed this with a Jurassic Folk favourite "This Love Will Carry Me" (which is already on the website)... magnificent, Ted.
And now Anita takes over.... saying... then we had the famous 10 minute interval for folk to get their breath and their drinks ready to throw themselves into the second half.
This was led by Pete singing a Tom Lehrer ditty "The Irish Ballad" but known generally as "Rickity Tickity Tin" which is useful as it tells of the girl who did every one of her family in by various gruesome methods but we were reminded in the last verse that she wouldn't lie as lying was a sin! Peter also acknowledged the coming Burns Night and used it as an excuse to regale us with a Scottish song "Nancy Whisky", a tale of a Calton Weaver with a rousing chorus we could all join in.
Next was Ben who entertained us with two songs "This Could be Love" followed by "I hope You Forget" Sorry if I don't have the correct title for that one. Thanks Ben, hope you'll come again.
Frances - The Bard of Beer - gave us an insight into why her heart still flutters at the sight of a flashing blue light with her poem "Love in a Blue Light". She followed this with an old favourite about her friend Sandra's cat Eric, called "Eric on Patrol".
We were then treated to a Neil Diamond song "Red, Red Wine" from Mike G. He asked Annie & Rob to join him for a Peter, Paul & Mary song "Leaving on a Jet Plane". This was great & had most of us singing the chorus. The Terrific Trio stayed centre stage, this time with Annie leading in a song she assured us we would know - "Every Day" by Buddy Holly. She was right, most of us did. I noticed the younger members of the audience were not joining in - is this why we are called Jurassic Folk?? In the spirit of 'And now for something completely different' Annie led us all in a Blues number "Trouble in Mind". Great Annie, thanks.
Anita then read an amusing poem sent to her via the internet entitled "'Twas the Month After Christmas" sorry, author unknown, regarding the seemingly inevitable Christmas weight gain.
Robert came up for a solo spot, first with "I Know You" a deceptively gentle song written by his friend from Ceredigion in Wales (Cardigan to most of us). We were then treated to two Paul Simon songs "Lincoln Duncan" and "American Tune", both exquisitely performed.
The evening was brought to a close by our own Bard of Seaton - Ted Dowse. First we had a couple of Limericks. One about Nietzsche and another, short enough to repeat here:
"There was a young man from Hong Kong
Who thought that Limericks were far too long."
Yes, it took us a while to get it as well!
This was followed by an amusing poem about Albert Einstein explaining how he arrived at his formula. Ted's first song in this set was "Winter's Shadowy Fingers" gentle but thought provoking. Then we had "Slip Sliding Away" for us all to join in. Ted finished the set and the evening for us with a Joni Mitchell song "Woodstock" with the chorus "We are stardust, we are golden". Indeed we were - after a golden night.
In his closing remarks Pete thanked everyone for coming, audience and performers alike and reminded us all that every Jurassic Folk night was different. We never know who is coming to perform or indeed if anyone will (we've never been without excellent performers yet). All are welcome, new or seasoned performers for poems, songs instruments or whatever or just turn up & swell the audience.
Thanks to all for another terrific Jurassic Folk night. Don't miss the next one - 3rd Wednesday in the month - 17th February. Hopefully you will have Hilary available to put her inimitable style on the evening's report.
Thanks a bundle for all that Anita..
Lastly I have been asked to bring to you notice a couple of upcoming events which could be of interest to you, and you find details of these on the Other Events page.
Roll on spring...
Peter & Hilary
The next Archive is from theChristmas Party on 16th December 2009
Hello All,
What a fun time was had at our Christmas party on 16th December, and as Jolly delivered his pictures on Thursday morning (on his bike, post haste) we were able to bang off this report to the local papers... in the hope that View from Seaton might at last give us a mention... I'm not holding my breath... but anyhow, this is what was sent together with a couple of pics.
The festive season came to the Grove in no uncertain manner last Wednesday as Jurassic Folk celebrated its Christmas Party. Fancy hats, flashing bling and mince pies set the scene for an evening of the special mix of music, song, poetry and frivolity. Much loved regulars such as Frances Lee, Ted Dowse, Annie Bennett, Mike G, Rob Wheaton & Peter Arnold provided the cake with the icing ladled on by the singing vicar, Laurie, who luckily happened to be in Seaton that night with his ragtime guitar and melodic mandolin. The cherry on the cake was provided by local authoress Dee Featherstone who gave us a couple of short but witty poems, please come again Dee. The second half brought everyone together in a riot of sound, playing and singing songs with choruses. The audience were inveigled into joining in by the distribution of kazoos, cymbals, castanets and bells, and they made good use of them. Verdict; roll on the next one, which will welcome in 2010 on Wednesday 20th January at the usual place, The Grove Nite Club, Seaton, and at the usual time of 8.15pm. Everybody is welcome, admission is free, and more details can be had by calling 01297 20064, or looking at the website www.eastdevonfolk.org where, not only can you see pictures of the jollifications, you can now hear some of the performances as well.
Hilary brought along a couple of trays of mincepies and they vanished "toot sweet", and so she was able to concentrate on scribbling her shorthand to produce her usual masterpiece of journalism, which follows herewith....
JURASSIC FOLK AT THE GROVE CHRISTMAS PARTY 16 DECEMBER 2009
After quite a bit of sorting ourselves out Peter welcomed everyone and introduced the evening to a jolly good crowd with I'll get by with a little Help from my Friends which was very nice, thank you Peter. He then asked our Nightingale, Annie to follow which she did with Everybody's Talking at me - Echoes of my mind. Then she sang an American carol The Virgin Mary Had a One Son.
To follow Peter welcomed a lady we have not met before but she lives in Seaton. Her name is Dee Featherstone and she introduced herself with a bit of a story about her background in folk. She chose to give us a poem she had written about a friend who had had a dreadful day. She followed this with another poem about an artificially inseminated cow - very funny, thank you Dee.
Robert came next and sang the Irish Rover which he has not sung at the Grove before and he followed that with The City of New Orleans both of which were excellent as ever.
Frances then regaled us with a poem she wrote last week called Can't Knock It - all about skittles. Next her famous Mum's the Word.
A warm welcome back to Laurie from Bristol who this time managed to bring his wife Karen to join in with him. He explained that living in Bristol he saw members of the Carnival Band with Maddy Pryor which inspired him to sing Wake Up Wake Up which was a very lovely Christmas song. Next they sang a very familiar carol, The Holly and the Ivy but to a folksy tune and Laurie accompanied it on his mandolin. Karen then had a rest while Laurie gave us a little tune The Dill Pickle Rag.
Ted then came to finish off the first half for us and began with some of his jokes - a Sam Ware joke (Somewhere... Over the Rainbow), a Laurel and Hardy joke, then something about polar bears and September October Nowonder. Then there was a bit of fun with the cappo and he gave us the Seaton Carol (both a poem and a song) after telling us about his life as a small boy in Sherborne and a nativity scene in the street at Christmas which he had so much enjoyed.
Peter called for the famous interval in which to chat and replenish drinks. Cherry kindly circulated the song sheets so that we could all join in with the second half of the evening.
To reintroduce the proceedings Peter was joined by Anita and they sang Coulters Candy. Then a collective was formed - i.e. Ted, Robert, Annie, Mike Gee (making a late appearance) and Laurie. They began with a Beetles - Across the Universe and Mike did a special of his own Peace, Love and Understanding.
Then we had The Boxer led by Ted, Sloop John B led by Robert, Put a Little Love in your Heart led by Annie, John Barleycorn- Ted, Sixteen - Peter, Calypso Carol - Annie, Mr Tamborine Man (with harmonica) - Ted, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - Robert, Lord of the Dance - Laurie, Wild Mountain Thyme (with instrumentals) - Peter. Then Wendy put in a request for Wild Rover which Ted led after persuading Peter that it would be OK. The "audience" helped with hearty rendering to all of those songs.
Peter thanked everyone for coming and wished all a very happy Christmas and New Year. At this point, Robert's better half, Sue, caused Peter and Hilary great embarrassment by thanking them for all they do - the sentiments were much appreciated.
Next - New Year - 2010 (how scarey) Wednesday 20 January at the Grove just after 8 oclock. We look forward to seeing you.
Well, that about covers it for 2009. Thanks again to Jolly for the photos, and All that remains is to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Fulfilling New Year...
Peter & Hilary
And now to the session of 18th November 2009
Hello Everybody,
Well, (Peter speaking) after Hilary's enormous success at MCing last month I'd rather hoped she'd do it again, but she refused pointblank and claimed that she couldn't compere and take notes at the same time... funny, I always thought that women were supposed to be able to multi-task.... Anyhow, a goodly crowd once again crammed into the Grove Bar, and though we were a bit down on artists, unlike the previous 2 months, this enabled everyone to have a decent sized spot and even allowed me more than my customary one or two, although that could be regarded by some as a downside...
Enough... let Hilary tell you, with her renowned zeal for the facts, exactly what happened....
JURASSIC FOLK AT THE GROVE 18 NOVEMBER 2009
A very warm welcome to everyone. Peter got things going and warmed up by singing an old favourite, Bottle of Wine which was excellent (the wine, presumably, not the song?.. Peter). He followed it with You Never Wanted Me, a song he has had not performed before and is one he has always liked after hearing it sung by Sandy Denny at a folk club in Stratford. There was complete silence and it was very lovely (the silence, presumably, not the song?... as before).
We then welcomed Frances who had a new poem called Things that go Bump ... a true story that we had all read about in the local paper to do with a car finding an inappropriate resting place in the front of her house.
Mike Gee was invited next with his guitar very cleverly sounding like a lute. He played several tunes dating back to the 1500s and the time of the reformation and were originally folk songs classical composers turned into something else. If you would like the names of the tunes, contact Mike as my notes are unreliable as usual. Anyway, they were all very good and very interesting, thank you Mike.
Peter then introduced Kay who, although living close by, has not performed for us before... we clash unfortunately with the Sidmouth fiddle night. She sang a typically traditional "doom and gloom" song, Ginny on the Moor, followed by a Scottish chorus song which I think was called Fare Thee Well my Island my Home ... lovely Kay, thank you.
Next, good favourite Robert with a new to him song Patience of Angels by Boo Hewerdene which Eddi Reader made a hit, followed by a Paul Simon song Lincoln Duncan ... another Robert has not done for us before... then Sweet Baby James, which is not new to us, but one he sings so well ... Robert always manages to choose wonderful songs.
Frances came back with a poem about her computerised cat which is another true story and very amusing as usual.
Before inviting Ted to finish off the first half of the evening, Peter said how much we welcome all performers, and we would particularly like to try and encourage those new to performing, giving them a platform in friendly and unintimidating surroundings. Ted then regaled us with a poem inspired by the acquisition of some fluffy ducklings called Roger and Lilly by his grandson and his new wife ... it was a very exciting and full of tension and suspense, but it all turned out to be a DREAM. He then sung a song about democracy (what's that ?) It's Coming Through a Hole in the Air. Then, the very brilliant hymn to humanity, Leonard Cohen's I Am the Light.
Then we had a famous interval.
Peter explained our late start due to the new parking arrangements in the Co-op car park. So long as you arrive with your car after 8 oclock you will be safe from the watchful eye - 2 hours are permitted during shop opening hours and no time limit at other times. So, in future a more realistic starting time will be 8.15pm. Also .... he brought it to our attention that the next session will be a Christmas one ?????
So, to introduce the second half of our musical and poetical extravaganza Peter sang Green Grow the Laurel followed by a famous epic ballad which he first heard at about the age of seven while living in India, called Abdul Abulbul Amir. Anita very kindly joined in with the singing. How very nice to hear Peter sing some new songs - a great pleasure (wot's wrong with my old songs..? Peter).
Kay was invited next to give us another song - this was in praise of men, Drink to the Ladies and she followed that with a more modern song called Eldorado and we all joined in with the chorus. Excellent Kay, thank you.
Robert was welcomed back with an amazing Tom Waite song I Hope I Don't Fall in Love with You. Then Fences and I Know You both written by his friend, Jonathan Turner who lives in Cardiganshire. Thank you Robert.
Frances gave us a poem about her daughter's first boyfriend which turned out to be a ginger tom cat ! This was followed by Taking the Chair which was quickly scribbled from recollection during the interval.
Mike Gee was next with a Peter Paul and Mary 500 miles, followed by Roads and then a Tim Harding song, How Can We Hang on to a Dream. How many styles does this man have ?
Ted was asked to come and finish off the evening for us which he did in his usual great panache with Marrow Bones which was very funny, and a wassail song which is traditionally sung to ensure a good crop of apples. And then he finished up with Wide Wide River, which he related he'd got from a Cd by the ex-drummer of The Band who has now turned into a traditionalist... (??) Thank you very much Ted.
Out of time but a reminder that we meet next on Wednesday 16 December at 8.15 with our Christmas party costumes. Any ideas for making it a special evening gratefully received. Thank you all for coming and helping to make another good session.
There we have it, that was November, so now to December. Last year we devoted the second half to chorus songs and it has been suggested we do this again. So the idea is that anybody who wants to lead a particular song contacts me with the words etc., and I'll incorporate them into a song sheet for the night from which we will collectively choose what is actually sung on the night. Any other ideas for the evening will also be very welcome, and ofcourse I expect a lot of surprises, both visual as well as musical.
So get back to us with any cunning plans, and we'll usher in Christmas with music and mirth. As always, everybody is welcome so bring along your grannies, babes, boyfriends, ex-husbands (perhaps not..), Uncle Tom Cobley and all.
As always, thanks to Jolly for the pics....
With all the best,
Peter & Hilary.
And now for the October 21st 2009 night...
So that's it.... while I was languishing at home feeling very sorry for myself nursing some sort of lurgy, you were all having a great time at the Grove being entertained by a cast of international stars! And to add injury to insult, I had hoped to at least to relive the night by listening to the recording on my little machine, but horror of horrors... it was not to be, as nothing was recorded at all.... just can't get the staff, nowadays... But as a positive, I have had reports that Hilary emerged as a superb compere, so I should soon be able to pass that job over to her.
Enough of my natter, over to Hilary for all the facts of the night...
JURASSIC FOLK NIGHT AT THE GROVE, 21st October 2009
Of all the nights for Peter to feel unwell ... he was very unfortunate to miss such a gem. Rather at the last minute I had to convey Peter's apologies that he would be unable to be with us tonight and in my dilemma appealed to Graham to start the evening off, which he did very well with Rudigore from Gilbert and Sullivan's High Noon. He then introduced Annie who came on to sing East Virginia. She followed that with the Johnson Boys' Break of Day accompanied by her dulcimer.
Now, you will have to excuse (yet again, but for different reasons) my haphazard approach to getting it right. But, at this point of the evening, because I was in the know, so to speak, I was very pleased to introduce and warmly welcome Ted's friends from St Martins in the Scillies. They came in the form of two ladies, Jenny playing the whistle and Nancy Morton on an assortment of accordions, together with a gentleman, Richard Morton who sang and played the guitar - all coming under the name of Beggars Belief. St Martin was apparently the patron saint of beggars - hence the name - or at least part of it. They claim to sing 1960's pop songs ! However, I think folk songs more like. They began with an Ian Campbell folk song followed by a chorus song, Lizzie Lindsay and then, with a change of accordion, a music hall song recently sung by Eliza Carthy about a damsel possessed by great beauty. All wonderful, thank you.
Frances followed this with a poem about losing things - in particular, her spectacles (they were eventually found on her head - and I thought she was going to say on her nose which I have done before now). She followed this with another poem about Addiction - but this was about the addiction to redecorating the house. Thank you Frances as always.
Mike Gee came next, paying tribute to Mary Traviss of Peter, Paul and Mary fame who died a little while ago. She was someone he held in great esteem and influence. He sang a Tim Harding song and Oh Suzannah in great form.
Next we introduced Pete, unknown to us and apparently on an English break from living in France. He claims to sing mostly old country songs and began with a Jimmy Rogers, King of Country, Standing on the Corner accompanied by his guitar. Then, he produced his flat Whitington guitar (apparently very trendy a the moment) and gave us a 1896 gospel song which did have a refrain. Brilliant.
Welcome back after a long absence, to Hunt, Gamble and Trezise - an unaccompanied trio of great acclaim. They sang Ripe and Bearded Barley followed by Miners Lament - both were utterly brilliant and a real treat, thank you.
Ted was invited to finish off the first half for us and he began with a poem about a hurdy gurdy man so he couldn't decide if he was pleased or sorry that Tony, our own hurdy gurdy man, was not with us tonight. It was all a bit strange but very funny and included lighter fuel and a fire dance and the lack of health and safety. He then sang When I was a Young Boy - thank you Ted.
There followed a somewhat brief interval as I was unable to gauge timing and was afraid of running out of it and to begin the second half Pete from France was invited back and he began with a blues Lickney Hopkins, Ellie May. Then from 1929 Blind Alf Reedy "How Can the Poor Stand Such Times and Live". Thank you so much for coming. (Apparently they don't have folk clubs in France)
Graham came next and sang unaccompanied Mother and Me. Beggars Belief came back with The Leaving of Liverpool (which is almost Wild Rover but not quite) and its almost raucous chorus but it is very good to sing once in a while. They followed that with another 60's song of Donovan's Mellow Yellow - all excellent.
Frances, as one would expect, came on talking appropriately about Halloween and ghosts and gave us a couple of poems about all the ghosts they encountered after moving in to her present cottage in Beer. They really are very funny and quite thought provoking - do they (the ghosts)exist, or do they not ? According to Frances and her family they most certainly do.
Hunt, Gamble and Trezise came back with Cold and Stormy Night (from Brighton station?) followed by a gospel song In My Time of Dying - oh so good.
Mike Gee was in his element and sang Hello, This Heart of Mine and the Irish version of Kilkerry Mountain - whisky in the jar.
As if we hadn't had enough treats tonight, Dave Trezise introduced a long ago friend from the Stepps Folk Club days of yore, David Robert, who lives in America and is over for a visit. He was persuaded to give us a turn and sang a Van Morrison song about civil rights - You Couldn't Take all the tea in China. He followed this with Mr Bo Jangles - a request from Ted - very perfect. Then I have an incomprehensible note - Townsnansant ???? (Anybody know what she is talking about here?- Peter)
To finish off a most perfect (apart from Peter's absence) evening Ted read a poem/rhyme about stone soup - quite a lesson - then he sang By the Lonely Prison Wall. He was then joined by Beggars Belief, Annie, Mike and Hunt, Gamble and Trezise who gave us Long and Dusty Road in the key of G. What a lovely whistle.
A big thank you to all for coming, particularly our visiting performers for making it such a wonderful evening, and see you again next month on Wednesday 18 November, same time, same place, 8 o'clock, The Grove, Seaton.
Well, there you have it... it looked a great night...grrr... thanks Hilary and thanks Jolly, as always for the pics.
Meanwhile, and hot off the press, this afternoon Hilary got a phone call from the Co-op chap she has been badgering for months, to say that they are modifying the car park monitoring so that it is now turned off when the Co-op itself closes at 10pm in the evening. So that means that if we didn't enter the carpark until 8pm we would be OK to park for the evening as the 2 hours time allowed finishes at 10pm. What do you think... should we delay the start by 15 mins to 8.15... ?? Please let us know what you think, so if agreed we can circularise the new start time to everyone.
That's enough for now... I shall continue to sulk...
All the best,
grumpy Peter and ecstatic Hilary.
And now here is the one for September, 2009. .....
Well, what a night we had in September! We needed something to cheer us up after the terrible news of the previous night of the demise of democracy in East Devon...(local contentious matter, won't boor you with it here.) ... the revolution is on its way and not a moment too soon, let's sharpen up the guillotine blades!
But to cheerier things... It is getting somewhat of a truism that every night we have seems to be the best ever, but that was certainly the feeling after this one. The packed bar area, to which we usually confine ourselves, was clearly inadequate to encompass the gyrating, and at sometimes quite frightening, onslaughts of Flaming Morris from Feniton, so for the first time we trooped out into the main arena to enjoy their performance, and at the same time keeping out of the way of their flailing sticks.
However, the majority of the session took place as usual, in that we had sterling performances from all our regulars, and some brilliant contributions from some newcomers, particularly the ragtime guitar picking vicar who was quite a revelation; although he is not local I'd better not mention his name...! The session ran well over time with all the talent we had to fit in, but as usual Jenny, the Grove manager, didn't mind at all.Let Hilary describe the night....
JURASSIC FOLK AT THE GROVE WEDNESDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2009
Well, it was a warm welcome to everyone at the start of the new season of Jurassic Folk. In anticipation we also warmly welcomed a gaggle (Hil.. I don't think that's the most apt collective noun to describe 4 blokes and a lady!!! - Pete) of Morris Men who will be performing for us later in the evening.
As an experiment, Robert very kindly brought his PA system and with assorted microphones it was decided to see what everyone thought about the idea of being amplified and to give it a go. Our welcoming host, Peter, sang the all time favourite Summertime most beautifully. He went on to sing, unsung by him before, a very lovely song Will the Circle be Unbroken.
Frances was invited to follow with some of her most brilliant poems. She explained that she had recently won 3rd prize for a poem in a competition but as it was one of her rather serious poems she chose, instead, to read the winning one by Patricia Williams which was a funny one about sand in the sandwiches (which we all know about) called A Day at the Seaside. The next was one of Frances' own about medical consultants who are not quite as clever as they think they are. She followed these with a couple more very little poems called the Psychologist and the Rose Grower written while taking part in a creative writing course having pulled the subject out of a hat - very well done Frances I would say.
Then, I took a double take seeing such a familiar face in the wrong place. We were delighted to see an old friend from our Priddy days, Paul Weston, holidaying in the area and able to come and take the stage with his viola and played Boys of Blue Hill - he gave us a bit of background history of violas and then played ... I didn't quite catch it, but something to do with Kate Keering ??? Anyway, thank you very much Paul.
Mike Gee came next and because he had to go after the interval gave us an extra number or 2. He began with Mary Lou followed by Wild Mountain Thyme followed by Mrs McGrath by Bruce Sprigstein which he found on Utube. Thank you Mike.
Welcome to Laurie who performed for us for the first time although he has, apparently, been before. He used to live in Kilmington and has now moved to Bristol but whilst returning to the area to conduct the funeral at Exeter Crematorium of a friend and fellow performer, he felt able to come and see us and give us a turn which he did with a John James ditty about a man who was very rich - but not with money - Ragtime Millionaire. It involved a foot stepping chorus - excellent. Ralph McTell is one of his heroes and he sang the first song written about the first song he ever wrote .... ??? (I really must learn to concentrate) Thank you very much Laurie.
Next, Robert who always sings such wonderful songs, and who provided the amps, began with Spanish Leather followed by a John Martin song Spencer and Rover - thank you Robert. Then Annie asking how to top that, sang Well, Well, Well giving us a chance to have a good sing, followed by All the leaves are brown - Californian Dreaming. Very good Annie, thank you.
In his usual spot before the interval, Ted, the Bard of Seaton, gave us a poem apparently requested by Robert's beautiful lady, Sue, about seagulls - it required audience participation - shape, shifter and change colour ?? But it was brilliant as ever. He then sang a song which he wrote as a result of going to a folk club run by Mitch in the Marshwood Vale called Only One Song - it was self explanatory - and very amusing.
The interval came next followed by the event we had all been waiting for ... namely a very jolly performance by a wonderful Morris troupe called the Flaming Morris of Feniton - they get together every Wednesday in Feniton Village Hall, starting 7 October, 8 o-clock, and welcome newcomers and you don't have to be a man ! One of the Morris men goes by the name of Fiona and very definitely isn't a man. So there you go. In fact, she then came and a bit out of breath, gave us a song something about So You Take this Yellow Handkerchief and Flash Company. Also from the Morris Troupe, Graham, an old friend, sang Spanish Lady.
Here we come to the highlight of the evening, Anita, who unable sadly to give us a song tonight, gave us a poem called Farewell - very poignant and from the heart ! Next we were able to welcome back Laurie - rag time guitar, In My Country Garden - all in my notes but not making a lot of sense but so was the word "excellent" which it was, as was the following instrumental written by Scott Joplin for the piano - Maple Leaf Rag.
Previously unobserved in the corner we were able to recognise and welcome Susannah Billetter, who runs Tiverton FC and who visited us eralier in the year. She sang Donna Donna Donna for us followed by a song she had written a few years ago. All superb, thank you, and hope to see you again. Paul returned with his viola and performed a tune for a squeeze box.
Once again it was a great pleasure to welcome back Robert with an Eric Clapton - If I can Reach the Stars - and the Beatles, Hide your Love Away. Thank you for that and for the not overpowering amplification.
The Nightingale of Colyford, Annie, with another (after Donna, Donna, Donna) Israeli song Evening of Roses. Then on her dulcimer a Romeo and Juliet type tragedy Willie Moor.
We have had such a full evening full of brilliant talent, Peter had to apologise for cutting performers short and getting them out of order but we were able to get Frances back with her poem the Village Bus which was very funny. And, ... we were able to finish off the evening with Ted of course in the key of D and Hey Mr Tamborine Man with a backing band of Laurie, Robert and Annie. 
Thank you to everyone for making it such a good evening and see you next month - that is Wednesday 21 October at 8 o-clock.
So, to reinforce the thanks Hilary has already expressed, we were most grateful to have the spectacle of Flaming Morris enlivening the proceedings, which gave us the opportunity to use the main hall of the Grove for this first time. I was sorry we couldn't have given them more time than the three dances they did, but we overran by half an hour to try and fit everyone in as it was... but a big thanks lads & lassie!
And also again many thanks to Robert for bringing along his amp, which in my opinion worked very well. However, I would be glad of any feedback from everyone as to what they felt about it. Its future use would also depend on the willingness of Robert to spend the time and energy to bring it along, set it up, and dismantle it at the end of the evening... a somewhat thankless task! But please let us know what you all think, one way or the other.
Nothing has progressed about any change of venue, but this is ongoing and suggestions are always welcome.
Thanks, as always, to Jolly for the pics...That's it for now, hope to see you all in October,
Peter & Hilary