January 2017 - Music Quiz and Cake
Members of the Horndean & District U3A met for their regular monthly meeting on Friday 6th January 2017 at Merchistoun Hall. It was a meeting with a difference. Instead of a Speaker, we held a social event to welcome in the New Year.
The afternoon entertainment started with members of the singing group entertaining everyone with their superb singing of well known, well-loved songs for about half an hour. They sang: Consider yourself, Forty Second Street, Sentimental Journey, Magic Moments, The Folks who live on the hill, Underneath the Arches, The Lambeth walk, Don’t bring Lulu, Do you hear the people sing, Love changes everything. Members happily sung along! John Palmer also recited two humorous poems.
The leader of the Jazz Appreciation Interest Group Tony Dudley followed this, playing a number of songs on several different instruments, including
1. "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" in D on a Bb clarinet,
2. "Winter Wonderland" in F on a Bb soprano saxophone,
3. "I Saw Three Ships" in C on a 4 octave C chromatic harmonica,
4. "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" in G on Bb soprano sax,
5 "Merry Christmas To You" in F on harmonica.
Tony was accompanied by "Jazz On A Winter's Night” (2009, Oxford University Press) which he played from his iPod through a small portable amplifier/monitor speaker. The recording was by the pianist Nikki Iles, a tutor friend of his from Mediterranean Jazz Summer School days 1997 – 2002, who is the Jazz Professor at Middlesex University and a widely acclaimed performer on the UK jazz scene. Tony’s performance was very much enjoyed by everyone.
Following this out came the cream cakes, fruit cakes, lemon drizzle cakes and chocolate cakes etc. accompanied by cups of tea and coffee which were much enjoyed. Several members of the Committee were concerned as to whether there would be enough cakes or were there actually too many to feed the 100 plus Members present. Happily, there were just a few cakes left, which were soon disappeared, leaving just the empty plates!
Whilst the Members enjoyed eating their cakes and drinking their cuppas, they participated in a quiz set up by Tony Young a member of the Committee. This created lots of fun and laughter and the final results were amazing.
After the quiz the raffle was run. There were masses of prizes because many of the Members had donated lovely items to it. On the day a collection of over £100 from ticket sales was achieved which will be put towards the cost of the Speakers in the coming months.
The Committee thanked and were very appreciative of the help and support from the interest groups and especially the never seen help in the kitchen. They were stars! It was a very enjoyable first meeting of the New Year that enabled Members to socialise, meet new people and enjoy themselves.