Report from the October 2022 Convention

by: (Norman) Pa Jones

It started brilliantly and it continued to be brilliant. The October ’22 USGB convention that is. Yet again we gathered en masse in the famous Digswell village hall with our various types and sizes of ukuleles to chat, play, sing and be merry. An educational workshop is becoming the new norm and this day’s class was given by the famous ukulele band of George Bartle and Amanda Harkett together known as Opera-lele. Brilliantly funny and supremely talented they perform works from operas and musicals using ukulele accompaniment.

The subject of the workshop was ‘harmonising’ and the aim of the class was to work towards adding harmony to vocal lines and for us all to end up singing in four-parts. It lasted from 11.30 to 12.40 and was interesting, musically educational, funny and thoroughly enjoyable. The hall doors were opened at 10.30am and an hour later the crowd began to swell in time for the workshop.

The Tewin Ukulele and Colin Tribe sales desks were on hand again throughout the day and the refreshment breaks for lunch and tea were provided as usual by the lady members of the Marsh family. Overall, there were approximately 40 attendees and 17 acts on show. The two concert start times were 2.00pm and 5.50pm and during one break there was an impromptu ukulele duet by Colin Tribe and Geoff Osborne called ‘The Sheep Song’ or was it ‘I’ll Never Find Another Ewe’?

Once again, our historic keyboard maestro ‘Rumpole’ Bailey was unable to attend so the versatile David Grigg took on the job of tinkling the ivories and a new upright bass player called Richard Battersby was on hand to make up the backing band. Master of Ceremonies, Ray Neal was unable to play or sing on the day but introduced all the acts in inimitable style and kept things ticking over till the very end. He also had the happy task of presenting an award to Dave Huntington who recently retired as society treasurer after 23 years of service. He also announced that this very day was the birthday of the society secretary James Spencer. No award was offered as James had decided to keep quiet about it so all attendees were kept in the dark until someone let the cat out of the bag.

President Malcolm Marsh kicked off the first concert proceedings with his trusty banjolele and led the way for the following performers. Paul Redfern (electric ukulele), Will Cowell (tenor ukulele), The Tewin Ukulele Group (mixed ukuleles), Julie Grey (tenor ukulele), Zip Pain (zippy tenor ukulele), Robert Handscomb (banjolele), James Spencer (tenor ukulele) with Anna O’Neil (bass ukulele), Clive Bloor (white tenor ukulele), Paul Hilder (soprano ukulele), and Pa Jones (baritone ukulele). Closing the afternoon session was our dynamically explosive guest duo Opera-lele.

What an exhilarating and magnificent show they gave to the gobsmacked audience who were virtually mesmerised by the sights and sounds before them. Two or three folks later mentioned that some of what they saw and heard brought a tear to their eye. View the performance list elsewhere in this magazine for details of their three renditions.

The evening concert was a mix of additional artists and some encores from the first session performers (initials only). Malcolm Marsh, Barry Cutler (tenor ukulele), Eric Bateman (concert ukulele), Brian Elliot (tenor ukulele), Johnny Key (banjo ukulele), Sylvie Budd (tenor ukulele), P. Redfern, R. Handscomb, W. Cowell, P. Jones, and C. Bloor. Most players opted out of using the backing band so it would have been great if David Grigg and Richard Battersby had performed a duet in each of concerts.

Only one George Formby banjolele aficionado was still on site for the usual finale thrash and that was the inimitable Johnny Key so to make it a worthwhile effort he was joined for the wingding by Malcolm Marsh (maracas), David Battersby (bass), and David Grigg (keyboard). Supplementary vocals were added by Linda Neal, Pa Jones and Barry Cutler.

Will April 2023 be as good as this one? Join us and help it to be so.

(Norman) Pa Jones.