This month saw the AGM which featured reports from the Chair and the Treasurer. In addition, four committee members were voted back on to the committee following the end of their 3 year term. Finally, Janice Jackson was presented with a bouquet of flowers to mark her long service as committee member and role as Chair.
Following the AGM, the attendees were royally entertained by Rob Mason with ‘More Songs and Humour’. Rob had kept us all amused a year ago and was so popular that he was invited back.
Rob’s roots are in Folk music and comedy and it all began in 1974 when some Lancastrians found themselves in Greater Manchester and some weren’t happy. The Lancashire dialect is a large and very important part of the show.
After a very amusing introduction about being warm and welcoming, Rob’s first song was ‘A Mon Like Thee’, based on a Lancashire dialect poem written by a chap from Kent who was so happy with the welcome he received in the county that he wrote about it. Of course, Rob gave us some work to do; we had to sing the chorus.
Next came a ditty with an extremely funny introduction about an invitation received by the Urmston and Caddishead Ferret Associaton to a Salford Civic ‘do’. The man who attended had forgotten that his pet ferret was In his pocket and you can imagine the chaos caused!
Another song was about Charlie Chaplin and his links with Lancashire and in particular, clog dancing. Apparently, some young clog dancers from a town near Wigan were clog dancing on Blackpool prom, were invited to dance in the theatre, met Charlie Chaplin there and then toured with him – he even danced with them sometimes. The song was called, ‘The Moon Shone Bright on Charlie Chaplin’.
We finished the afternoon singing campfire songs after Rob regaled us with tales from his Scout camp holiday. On the penultimate song, we had to sing ‘Pack up your troubles’ whilst Rob sang ‘, ‘It’s a Long Way to Tiperary’, then we had to swap! And in the final song, we had to leave out the ‘ups’ and ‘downs’ in, ‘The Grand Old Duke of York’, then put them back in and leave everything else out!
Rob’s stories and anecdotes included being in charge of the companion set at home, the extending toasting fork, Saturday morning cinema, frozen jublis, conkers, pea shooters and loo paper! He reminded us about how helpful neighbours could be and about ‘making do and mending’. We learned about the ‘fade’ – a bruised apple and about the special rhythm of the mill shuttles.
The audience joined in with the singing, loved the songs he sang and were tickled pink by his humour! Rob was hilarious and tremendously entertaining. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon!
Reports of monthly meetings and information of upcoming events and activity groups can be found on our website - https://www.northwich.u3asite.uk Come and join us for the meeting on Wednesday 18th November, 2pm at Owley Wood Recreation Club, Weaverham, when Davis Hearn will reveal the stories behind our ‘Christmas Traditions’.