St Andrew's Day 2015

The Saltire (Cross of St Andrew)

While there was no official theme this week Richard, as at the same time last year, pointed out that this was our closest session to St Andrew's Day, so a thin veneer of Scots Pine came over the club.

While we weren't exactly a huge throng it was "pleasant and delightful" to be joined by Gary, who hasn't attended for a while, by Terry H, who probably hasn't previously been to our current venue, and by Malcolm, a newcomer to the club and happy to sit and listen to the rest of us make fools of ourselves! (Only joking)

The important news is that this week (4 December) really should be a session worth attending. Some of you have already been invited specifically but if anyone wants to turn up "on spec" you will be very welcome. More about that in next week's blog but by then it will be too late!

Colin was MC and Richard started of proceedings in Caledonian mood with Erin Go Bragh (Roud 1627, Laws Q20) - canine vocalist Indy joining in very appositely with the final "Erin Go Bragh" at the end of Richard's last verse. Mike took us across the Atlantic for New York Girls (Can't You Dance The Polka) (Roud 486), while Colin brought us back home to the West Country with The Wurzels' version of The Blackbird.

Simon followed Colin's lead of songs about birds with a racing pigeon in Dave Sudbury's King Of Rome.

Terry H took us to The Wars Of Germany (Roud 5608) and Gary to South Wales with Bryn Phillips' Silver And Gold about a miner, John Gates, who turns to needlecraft after the closure of his pit before Richard brought us "back" to Scotland with Bob Ferguson's parody of Cam Ye O'er Frae France, called Cam Ye Here Tae Dance.

Richard wasn't the only one to sing Caledonian songs. Simon managed The Handweaver And The Factory Maid (Roud 17771) and The Laird Of The Dainty Dounby. Colin sang Tramps And Hawkers and Dougie MacLean's Scythe Song. Even Gary, who often eschew's theme's, sang Eric Bogle's Shelter, maybe accidentally on-topic.

In the absence of Maggie, Terry H sneaked in a rendition of Danny Boy (Frederic Weatherly) before Richard finished us off for the evening with Johnny Todd.

Here's a selection of songs sung during this session.

(Number of people present - 7, of which 6 performed)