BeHeld and Parkinson's UK
"What's happened to the square table?" people demanded.
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| "Where is everybody?" asks Moseley. |
Actually, the herring-bone arrangement of tables was a bit alien to our regular congregation, slightly spooky, but, given the turn-out of 33 bodies, it worked well.
"Why am I not MC?" one person sulkily enquired.
Not downhearted, we embarked on a memorable evening of music that was well attended by regulars, and by visitors representing the local branch of Parkinson's UK.
This was always planned to be a special evening.
If you came along, you'll know that it was truly extraordinary.
The intention was to raise money in aid of Parkinson's UK.
We achieved that - see below.
The usual sing-around occupied the first half, and there were many charming songs.
There were quite a few about love, yet another song about sheep, one about slaughtering cattle, one about a pretty alpine flower ... and one hundred and one deaths in the Arctic wastelands.
One song that was introduced as having 'certain inuendo' was, in reality, sexually explicit, (with dire consequences!)
Angela and Paul wound up the first half with a musical collaboration containing warnings about the dangers to health of tobacco, intoxicating liquors and feral beings of the female kind.
I hope that our visitors understood that such matters are simply representative of our musical tradition.
Then, after an interval of free association, we did something we've never done before ...
We featured a band: BeHeld.
Our friends, David, Roger, Mick and Jane have been associated with the City Folk Club since those chilly, dismal days in a damp, dark basement of a failing social club.
You remember David, our original genial host, don't you?
In a pre-sabbatical life he appeared thus:
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| I have a plan ... |
BeHeld performed a marathon set lasting 40 minutes. (Nobody went to sleep!)
We were treated to several of David's self-penned numbers, imaginatively re-arranged since we last heard them.
We beheld ...
BeHeld!
BeHeld!
Many thanks to everyone who came along to support our club and this event:
Angela for sharing MC responsibilities, Lynda for suggesting the idea, (and counting money,) Jane for liaising with the band and her Parkinson's colleagues, those colleagues and representatives of Parkinson's UK, BeHeld and everyone who sang and/or played from the floor ... and, most importantly, to everyone who so generously contributed to this worthwhile charity.
The bottom line was a magnificent £330!
Then we all went home in confidence that we'll all meet again when the weather improves.
Worry not: it's back to the square table next week!
1 comment:
Dear Colin.
We could all see how pleased you were with the outcome of yesterday evening. It made quite a change for most of us to be associated with any "good works." Who would have thought that the extra sixpence-halfpenny that Brenda & myself contributed (each) would spark off such a wave of goodliness? We awoke this morning still feeling good about ourselves. {Only the Lord knows how Ken must be feeling}.
Of course at least some of this success came at a price which surprised some of us. Whilst there was widespread appreciation of the Folk group "BEHELD" many were disappointed that I only got one turn and Brenda was intimidated into a complete silence. I think people might have given even more generously if that were not the case. The suggestion that I might have seen fit to perform my seminal masterpiece "Shake Baby Shake" in such circumstances is quite without foundation.
The extent of Parkinson's surprised me. I will confess I never did like him, a horrible supercilious person, and was pleased when the BBC handed his show over to ITV - who - soon had the sense to pull the plug on it. The damage he has done is nothing short of criminal in my view. Let's hope that our gesture last night will go some way to treating those unfortunates and it will be a warning to others to be more circumspect about the things they choose to watch.
Regards
LA & SB
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