Aberfan 50

Rescuers working at the site of the Aberfan disaster

Last week's session had no official theme but one major theme emerged. It was the 50th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster when a colliery spoil tip collapsed, killing 116 children and 28 adults. This inspired many of the songs though some other minor themes also emerged.

Colin was MC and Derek started the Aberfan theme with a song which wasn't written about that disaster but had an appropriate feel: Number Two Top Seam (Roger Watson).

Mike sang a version of Max Boyce's Duw It's Hard with a verse about Aberfan. Geoff sang New York Mining Disaster 1941 (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb), ostensibly about a fictional American disaster which, although Geoff didn't realise it when he sung the song, was actually inspired by the Aberfan disaster.

Maggie's retirement bash

Maggie S

Maggie S arrived to last week's session, mince pies in hand, almost convinced that it was our Christmas session but in fact it was a party to honour her contributions to the club over the last 30 or so years that she has been first its treasurer and then the overall organiser. A very good crowd turned out to mark the occasion. In practice Colin took over a few weeks ago but there's no problem with an excuse for a party.

With so many friends old and new appearing throughout the first half it seemed we'd never start on a second round, so rather than miss anyone out, I will try to list all of the songs sung on this occasion - though I will struggle with a couple of them.

Simon had arrived indecently early to help with the set-up, not that there was much to do, so Colin asked him to start off proceedings.

Halloween 2015

Stanton Drew stone circle
(photo: Simon Meeds)

So, after last week's session the handover has officially been made. Maggie has retired from running the club and Colin is the new master: holder of "the book" and the money bag (sometimes affectionately called "the scrotum"), which Mike made forty years ago. We hope and believe that Mike and Maggie will still be regulars at the club but this move takes some of the responsibility from Maggie's shoulders which she has borne for so long.

The themes this week were Halloween and Australia/New Zealand (being the finalists in the Rugby World Cup). I think almost all, if not all songs met the former theme and a couple gave a nod to the latter.

Halloween

Ghost catchers

This week's session was actually on Halloween so there were, as you would expect, lots of ghosties and ghoulies and... things that go bump in the night but in fact it turned out to be quite an eclectic evening.

It was an evening for couples. In a very rare occurrence Colin brought his wife, and even more unusually, Gary (currently unable to drive himself about) brought his wife, Helen. While it's a treat for all of us, since  Helen is an excellent singer, the unfortunate trade-off was that they had to leave at half-time.

Joe and Josci were also present but decided not to sing this time. Joe wanted Simon to sing something with him but I'm not sure it would have worked unaccompanied. See what you think.

Things that go bump by the campfire (with added rugby)

Brian Bedford with Jacey Bedford
and Hilary Spencer, the members
of the disbanded harmony group,
Artisan

Being between Halloween and November 5th, this week's theme was supposed to be "Things that go bump by the campfire". Talk of campfire songs seemed though to bring us round to rugby songs, some of which, usually in cleaner versions, were sung. If an excuse was needed, it was found in that the Rugby League World Cup was taking place in various venues around the country.