THE U3a FOLK & POETRY GROUP – A.K.A. “THE WILLING WARBLERS” LOOKING GOOD AFTER THREE YEARS.
The days of our “infancy” when we met in the rooms of the 229 Project in Kempston seem far off now and the look and sound of our group has changed significantly. Initially at 229 we had no musical accompaniment and around ten members. Now we have three guitarists, two twelve string and one, recently added, six string and a whole host of talented singers. Total membership being around thirty, meetings usually attract around twenty members and a good time is had by all.
We sing all kinds of folk songs, old and new, folk ballads, even straying to some good old 50’s and 60’s Rock and Roll and we are always on the look out for “new” material.
The Willing Warblers have done a number of gigs , the last being at Colmworth Golf course, in May, where we provided the entertainment for a Bar-b-Que organized by the Golf Course management.
Any monies The Warblers make are donated to Charity and rehearsals for these events help us to improve our overall performance and give us something to aim for.
I must emphasise that everything we do is approached in a very relaxed, light hearted manner as none of us have aspirations to performances at the “Albert Hall”. Although our guitarists, who provide the overall musical guidance are very talented musicians.
The poetry side of our Group survives well with poems on topical subjects mixed with comic monologues and classic poems being performed at each meeting.
We meet a St. Mark’s Church in Avon drive on 2d and 4th Thursdays, from 7pm to 9pm and we welcome new members, so why not join us; if you have an instrument, bring it along. Some percussion would be nice! not too loud of course as we share St Marks with various other groups and members of the public.
There is no requirement to join the Warblers on the gigs, performing in public is not everyone’s thing, but rather than singing to the Bathroom mirror, why not come and sing with us.
DOUG OVENDEN (Group Leader)
