Hi Everyone. Sorry that this newsletter is a little late. I have been battling with this year’s winter bug - but I am feeling much better now.

Chairman's New Year Message Hi Everyone - we are well into the New Year now and we've just had our first concert -

Harry Hussey and Lily's Weepers on the 24th January - and what a great concert it was.

I must admit to being a bit concerned about our Lily during the two week's prior to our January clubnite -

she had a very bad cold and it was debatable whether she would be able to play. But I shouldn't have

worried and on the night she was there ‘soldiering on’ - I think the adrenaline rush pulled her through.

February clubnite We are at Goldenhill again on Tuesday February 21st for a ‘players' night’ and the theme is songs with

‘love’ in the title, so start practising. There'll be an opportunity for our Monday Group to perform, a

playing circle and, of course, an opportunity for individuals to play their

party pieces.

March clubnite Amaryllis (left) are the guest artists at our clubnite on March 21st. It's a

few years since this duo, Tracy Middleton and David Garwood,

performed at our club but they've been busy performing at other clubs

and I'm looking forward to hearing them again.

April and May clubnites We've got another ‘players night’ on April 18

th but on our club night on May 16th we've got something

a little bit different – Chris Ray, ‘vocal entertainer with a touch of comedy’. We'll have plenty of

accordion playing on the night but, for many of us, Chris's vocal talents will be a nice change.

June Clubnite Heather Smith is the guest artist at our club night on June 20th. She's a professional musician and these

days she devotes all her time to her first love, the accordion. Heather will be well known to some of you

because of her involvement with accordion festivals and as editor of the ‘Accordion Profile’ magazine

and I know that her performance at our club will be a very special treat.

Well folks to round off my New Year message, on behalf of your committee, I'd like to thank each and

every one of you for your help and support in 2016. We’d like more of the same in 2017, so please do

your best. We're looking for more Young Players, more adults for our Monday Group and more players

for the North Staffs Accordion Band. If you know of someone out there with a hankering to play or listen

to, music on the accordion, please bring them along to the club. It doesn't matter whether they're nine or

ninety years of age, we've got something for them!

Best wishes, Mike.

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Our Christmas Party When Barbara and I arrived at Goldenhill at about 6.40 pm on December 20th, our concert room soon

became a hive of activity as our committee members, guest artists and caterers completed all the

preparations - arranging the seating, tuning-up the audio amplification systems, setting out the food,

candles and crackers on the tables, arranging the raffle prizes, etc.

As usual, we started the evening with some carols. The accordion accompaniment

was provided by the playing members of the club and the

singers in the audience were provided with song sheets. The

singing went on for about 30 minutes and by this time we

were all ready for some entertainment by our guest artist for

the evening, Tony Marchell (right).

Everyone that I speak to always says that Tony Marchell is

an excellent choice for our Christmas party and I can't

disagree with them. He sings, plays guitar and uses backing

tracks and his choice and variety of music is ideal for our party. Tony also plays

and teaches the accordion but these days a back problem prevents him from using

the accordion for his gigs.

Rock and Roll is a feature of Tony's music and it wasn't long before Barbara and I, accompanied by a few

other keen dancers, were rocking the night away.

Carlton Caterers have been providing our Christmas buffet for several years. Their standards have always

been excellent and we weren't disappointed this time. There was an abundance of

food, plenty for everyone, and it wasn't long before our members and guests were

tucking in. At the end of the evening there was some food left, but not a lot, so

some people took a few snacks home with them.

We had an excellent raffle with lots of very good prizes, several of which had

been donated by our very generous club members.

Lily and Lee (big bass and saxophone (right) took a turn at providing some music

while we were eating and they played some lovely Christmas music - Christmas

Song and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Lovely music played by two

excellent musicians and enjoyed by all.

My nephew Matt and I (below) did the next spot.

He was singing and I was playing the accordion accompanied by a

backing track. We got off to a bad start because Matt's amplification

system, which we'd painstakingly setup at the beginning of the evening,

wouldn't work, so Matt had to use my microphone system and this wasn't

set-up for singing. Nevertheless, the show had to go on and I think that

we gave a reasonable rendition of Galway Girl, The Fields Of Athenry,

Dirty Old Town and The Red Rose Cafe.

Tony's last spot was ‘the icing on the cake’. We all had a great time and

there was plenty of singing, dancing and good music. It wasn't long

before the evening came to a most enjoyable conclusion and hopefully our Christmas party was an

excellent beginning to a very enjoyable Christmas for you all.

Best wishes, Mike.

Hussey and Lily’s Weepers Wow! Another great January clubnite to remember – the post Christmas jazz. Harry Hussey joined jazz

ensemble Lily’s Weepers for a great night of popular jazz. The ticket sales were good – and when I

arrived at 7.00pm Harry was already playing and raring to go. Unbelievably he had driven down from

Glasgow straight to the club and there was no stopping him all night. As usual I was very glad to wave

goodbye to the pile of Christmas cakes and mince pies residing in my porch - as was Duncan, who

showed great restraint again. Soon the tables were set out, with tea candles giving the room a great jazz

club feel and there was also a commemorative programme for everyone containing a light hearted

Goldenhill friendly jazz quiz from Terry Brunt. Barbara, Helen and Greta were cutting cake and setting

out the food at the side in readiness for the interval.

As usual trombonist Terry did a great job as band leader and Harry Hussey was on the front line with

Pete Brown on trumpet and of course Terry. Peter (Pedro) Robinson was on guitar and banjo, Chris

Pendlebury was on drums and yours truly on bass made up the rhythm section.

We began with The Best Things in Life are Free followed by Indiana, All of Me,

Lady Be Good, St. Louis Blues and S’Wonderful. Pete and Terry gave us some

great vocals and Harry and Pedro some delicious solos. All too soon it was time to

stop for food. This was briskly served and followed by Terry’s famous jazz quiz.

The second set then kicked off with Beautiful Dreamer, I Got rhythm and a lovely

feature from Pedro, joined by Harry and the rhythm section, with a Latin treatment

of I Love Paris. Then

saxophonist and club

member Lee Slater

together with Harry and the rhythm section

played Misty and Wave. Harry went on alone

to play Georgia and Indifference, a beautiful

musette waltz. Kicking off again with gusto, the

full band played It Don’t Mean a Thing if it

Ain’t got that Swing, Sweet Georgia Brown,

with vocals supplied by Delaine Wood from the

audience, and a lovely Louis Armstrong classic,

What a Wonderful World. Finally the evening

was rounded off with a storming Tiger Rag,

(ending with three changes of key!) and When the Saints go Marching In as an encore. Suddenly it was

time to go home - it had been a wonderful night and everyone seemed to have had a great time.

Lily

Marianne Reutter My childhood dream was to learn to play the accordion. Due to a problem in my

back I wasn’t allowed to learn to play this until I was 19 years old. My friend in

Switzerland taught me to play the ‘Schneewalzer’ (Snow Waltz) on my

continental button accordion. From then on I went for lessons at a music school.

Originating from Switzerland I had an inborn love for the accordion. My father

used to play the accordion in a dance band without being able to read music. My

uncle on my mother’s side – who I never knew – also played the accordion.

Unfortunately I could not remember any melodies and needed to use a score sheet

all the time.

When I came to England I used to entertain our friends and W.I. members.

Unfortunately, I was very nervous especially when playing for a group meeting of W.I.’s in Macclesfield

of approx. 200 members. However the reward was great when I got a roaring applause.

Approx. 10 years ago I tripped over a large box and hurt my shoulder badly and playing my accordion

went out of the window. My only consolation is that there is the North Staffs Accordion Club and their

beautiful concerts which my husband and I enjoy very much indeed. I hope that these concerts will

continue for a long time. So please keep playing and enjoy this wonderful gift of yours. Like in my case,

you never know what tomorrow brings. However, my best wishes go out to you.

In expectation yours Marianne Reutter.

French evening at Granvilles, Stone

Bon Accord gypsy jazz quartet, led by Richard Adey, will be providing French-flavoured music at

Granvilles Brasserie and Music Bar, Granville Sq. Stone, Staffs, ST15 8AB from 7.30 pm on

Thursday, 23rd February.

Club and committee member, Graham Hughes, died at the Douglas Macmillan Hospice on the 10th

January, and was cremated at Carmountside Crematorium on 20th

January. Our condolences go out to

Graham’s wife Anne and all of the family

Here he is remembered by Geoff Millward.

Graham Hughes It is very sad to announce the passing of Graham.

He introduced himself one band practice night about 12 years ago. He had been to a

concert of ours, liked what he heard and just came along to practice night. I was

always early on these nights and we

chatted and went on to become very

good friends. I found out that he had

many interests. He had a love of miniature Shetland ponies

and bred them. He was a member of the Pony Club and gave

lectures on breeding etc. and he entered the Shetland World

Championships in Paris on several occasions winning

altogether - one World Championship, two Reserve World

Championships, five European Championships and two

Junior European Championships. Also on his smallholding

at Mow Cop, he and his family bred Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. To go into other things would take

too long – his wood carving and his making of beautiful miniature gypsy caravans. He also had a well

stocked fishing pond and his closest acquaintances were welcome to fish there.

As a teenager Graham joined the merchant navy and sailed around the world. On leaving he was then

called up to join the army for his national service.

Getting back to the accordion club - after joining he purchased an accordion. It

needed attention so he went to Peter Whitely to have it repaired and this

resulted in him having lessons with Peter. When I retired from my percussion

work, I asked him, “What can I do now?” The answer was, “Get an accordion

and have lessons with Peter”. This I did and we both travelled to Peter for our

lessons every Thursday morning. He worked hard and became a good player

and spent many hours enjoying his accordion. Sadly because of hearing

problems he felt unable to join the band. He would have been a valued

member.

We also started to go to the accordion festivals and we made lots of friends there. He was truly the life

and soul of the party, and one of the most pleasant and respected gentlemen one could wish to meet.

Graham also became a member of the committee and will be sorely missed as our ‘concert secretary’ –

another job he did well – viewing as many artists as he could to ensure good entertainment for our

members at clubnites.

We thank you Anne for allowing Graham to spend so much time with our club. We will miss him but we

will never forget him.

Geoff Millward

Lily: In 2005 I asked Graham to write a piece for the newsletter in our ‘How I Came to Play the

Accordion’ series and the article is printed below. I thought that you might like to read it again.

How I Started Playing the Accordion. I started to play the accordion at the age of eight and finished at the age of nine. Now

you are probably wondering why I had such a short career as a virtuoso. I think at the

time someone offered my parents a cheap instrument. It was a 120 bass Hohner and I

think that my mother thought that you bought them by weight. It was very heavy so

she thought that she had got a bargain for the money. Once I was strapped into it,

there was a grave danger of my falling over flat on my face or collapsing over

backwards. It then became clear that the real reason why the instrument was bought

was because either way, for at least an hour, she was sure to know exactly where I

was.

It was decided that I would grow into it so a teacher had to be found. I don’t remember his name but he

lived in Sneyd Green so I had to get a bus from Porthill to Burslem, then one from Burslem to Cobridge. I

was then faced with the walk up the hill to the teacher’s house arriving totally exhausted. The next hour

was spent with me attempting to understand what the heck he was talking about. He used to emphasize

certain points by tapping me firmly on the knuckles with a wooden ruler. This went on for about six

months and I wasn’t much further on music-wise so my mother decided that she would get me another

teacher

All this happened around 1942 and this was when my fertile mind became suspicious of my parents’

motives. At the time we were at war with Germany and the German Luftwaffe were dropping bombs on

the Shelton Iron and Steel Company and my next teacher was at Basford. I then started to put two and two

together. Well think about it, I was taking my German accordion into the area that the Germans wanted to

bomb. Was my mother an enemy agent? Was there something hidden in my accordion that the German

bombers could get a fix on? And then to make it worse my cousin who lived in Oxford Road was killed

during a raid. After that I couldn’t wait to give up music and my parents were glad that I did. It’s only

now after 62 years that I have decided to try again. I was rubbish then and I still am, but this time I want

to play for my own pleasure.

Graham Hughes 2005

Carols in Newcastle With Steve Houghton conducting, band members, supported by members of the

Beginners/Improvers and the Youth Sections, a total

of 17 players, gave a lively rendition of carols,

Christmas songs and a few band numbers in

Newcastle under Lyme town centre on Saturday the

17th December. Decked in Christmas jumpers and

hats we were situated in the Limelight Boulevard, an

indoor precinct housing the Vue cinema, Pizza Hut

and other fast food outlets and bars. We also had a

passing audience from a multi-storey car park.

The extra volume given by the non-band players was superb and the playing drew many

complimentary comments from the passing public, many of whom stopped to listen to us

and gave donations for RP Fighting Blindness, our sponsored charity. Compliments also

came from our conductor, Steve, who said that he hadn’t heard us playing so well.

Despite being a bit on the cold side it was a very enjoyable afternoon full of the Christmas

spirit.

Farmhouse Carols. On the 15

th December, getting Christmas off to a great start, Steve

Hughes, Graham Butler, Tony Britton and Betty Nixon played carols and

Christmas songs for residents of the Farmhouse Rest Home in Redstreet,

(across from Tony’s home). We had a great reception and were very

impressed with the residents’ singing.

North Staffs Accordion club and Facebook... Dear Members, you may be aware that the North Staffs Accordion Club has a new Facebook page. .. You

may not be familiar with Facebook, however, people you know - family members, children or even

grandchildren... may well use it. We have a Facebook page to share information about clubnites,

concerts, achievements in the different sections etc. One of the other reasons we have a Facebook page is

to try to attract new blood into our fabulous club.

So ... please, please, please can you spread the word to everyone you know that we have a Facebook page

(even if you do not use it ...!) and ask them to ‘ like’ our page.

Helen Browne

Broken Cross Concert The annual fund raising concert organised by member John Jones in aid of the East Cheshire Hospice, on

Friday December 9th at the Broken Cross Club in Macclesfield, raised £977.

Accordion Magazines It seems an appropriate time to make a note in our newsletter about accordion

magazines this month. Why? Well, Heather Smith, the editor of the established

magazine, ‘Accordion Profile’, is our guest artist this year in June, and the first edition

of a new magazine ‘Accordion Post’ has made its appearance edited by a man we have

had as guest at our club with his band a few times i.e. Barry Smith (aka Barry

Schmidt), of the Black Country Club.

Accordion Profile A5 in size printed monthly; 28 pages.

£25 p.a. (inc. postage)

Editor: Heather Smith 01482 805387 heather@accordions/karoo.co.uk

Accordion Post A4 glossy printed bi-monthly; 36 pages

£34 p.a. (inc. postage)

Editor: Barry Smith (no relation) accordions2010@hotmail.com

Copies of each of these magazines will be on display at our clubnites.

April Festival Heather Smith’s next festival runs from Monday April 3

rd to Friday April 7

th, at Seacroft Holiday Centre,

Hemsby, Norfolk. The guests include Denise Leigh and Stefan Andrusyschyn, Amaryllis, Norvic

Concordia, Jovan Rnjak, Harry Hussey and Bert Santilly; the trade show includes the Birmingham

Accordion Centre and Robaccord Publications.

For booking details call Sceptre Promotions on 01780 782093;

for further information contact Heather on 01482 805 387;

email heather@accordions.karoo.co.uk

John Romero’s Festival John Romero is running an accordion festival at The Carousel Hotel, South Shore, Blackpool, from

Friday March 31st to Monday April 3

rd. The guest artists include Oleg Sharov, Anastasia Sharova,

Thom Hardaker and Harry Hussey, and John Romero. The trade show includes The Accordion Shop,

Acorn Accordions, Birmingham Accordion Centre, Harry Kipling's ‘Accordion Treasures’, Robaccord

Publications and Carillon Music. £225 per person (half-board, £80 deposit) - balance to be paid on arrival

at the festival;

telephone 01606 270 148. Website: www.carillonstudios.com

Accordion visit to Castelfidardo May 16th to 20th 2017 London-based Peter Le Geyt is organising another accordion group visit to Castelfidardo, Italy, from

May 16th to 20th 2017, and there are at the time of writings still a few places available for this unique

accordion holiday.

The proposed itinerary includes flights, hotel accommodation, coach transport throughout, factory visits,

entrance fees, places of interest, group dinner with entertainment, and accordions to play during the stay.

The trip is fully escorted. This will be Peter Le Geyt’s 4th organised visit and on each occasion those

involved have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

For further details tel Peter on 0208 977 6680 or email: plg@plgmarketing.com

Barlaston Charity Concert A charity concert has been organised by our club to be held at the Barlaston Village Hall on Friday 7th

April featuring the club band and Stefan Andrusychyn (accordion) and Denise Leigh (soprano). All

profits will go to RP Fighting Blindness, our sponsored charity. If you are interested in coming along –

please let me know.

I know this tale of woe isn’t about the accordion but as there is a bit of room in the newsletter and as this

has been a jazzy month, I thought you’d let me share with you again a pivotal experience that happened

to me back in 2006 and which I wrote about in that year’s Christmas newsletter.

A Baptism of Fire A few months ago, one Wednesday night, I got a phone call from Pedro, my bass teacher. He said that a

certain jazz band was desperate for a bass player for a gig on the Saturday and wondered if I wanted to do

it. ME!!! My only thought was that they had obviously got to the bottom of the barrel …and there I was.

Even more amazing was that I found myself saying ‘Yes’ and immediately went into panic

mode – after all I had only been playing double bass for a few months. The only jazz band I’d

ever played with was my little ‘Band-in-a-Box’ computer programme. Pedro assured me that

I would be alright and said that he would provide me with the chords to most of the likely

songs that this band plays. He would also give me a list for the bandleader, who would know

that it was my first ever jazz band gig and that I would be unfamiliar with the music. He also

added that the bandleader had said that he carried chord sheets too.

“Anyway”, he added, “It’s only a wedding ……... no one ever listens!”

As the week went on I was beginning to feel like I was going to my own execution and I practised like

mad with the old Band-in-a-Box, trying to build up a little speed as I had heard that the band could play

at a furious tempo. Saturday arrived and I set off. It was on a farm and was a fair distance away, so I

entered all the relevant details into the satnav and with a heavy heart – set off. Well satnav is very useful

if you have a sensible operator but as usual I had not given it the right information and it begged me to

perform U-turns all the way. I finally turned it off at Uttoxeter and, eventually, after many frantic phone

calls, arrived at the lovely farm somewhere near to Hatton. There was a very large marquee set out for a

grand sit-down wedding breakfast in the middle of a field and the guests would be strolling around near

the marquee listening to the jazz, eating canapés and drinking champagne until the meal was served. Very

posh! We would be in a small gazebo.

I got out of my car and, helped by the band, unpacked the bass and equipment and set up ready to start. I

asked the bandleader what we were playing. He shrugged and said that he didn’t know and was going to

make his mind up before each number. My heart started to sink. He then saw my folder of music and said,

"Oh, you don’t need that”.

Me: “Yes I do, I’ve never played in a jazz band before.”

Bandleader: “No you don’t, you can play by ear.”

Me: “PLAY BY EAR? No I can’t, I need to see the chords!”

Bandleader: ‘Yes you can. Right everyone we’ll start with Indiana,”

Me: ‘Indiana, what’s that? – I don’t even know the tune”.

Bandleader: ’Oh you will – it’s in Eb ......... ready everyone?”

At this point I hastily summed up my options. I could cry – always worth a try - but somehow I thought

that it wouldn’t make any difference and was an unfair option as I was entering into very much a male

dominated world. I could have gone home – but I thought, ‘No, sort yourself out woman, remember

you’re British.’ So I gritted my teeth and at this point a saintly banjo player took pity on me and offered

to hastily write out the chords to Indiana and we set off. It made me sad that on my great debut I did not

even have the luxury of playing a familiar tune just to get me going. Anyway, it was OK and we had

made a start. After that there was no time to write down chords and so, on the numbers that I did not have

in my folder, most of them it seemed, the banjo player shouted out the chords to me one bar in advance

and I kept the beat.

At the break I realised that I had not eaten and was getting a sinking feeling, so we flagged down a

passing waiter and got handfuls of smoked salmon canapés which took the wolf away from the door. Into

the second set and we were going hell for leather in what seemed like a number with endless solos, and

the thought occurred to me that if the number didn’t finish soon I would be spending the next few days in

bed. Finally, half an hour before the allotted finishing time, the meal was announced and with no

audience to play to we were allowed to finish and pack up.

Thank the Lord for Elastoplast! Pedro gave me a couple of pieces before I went and told me on no

account to play without them. Without this I would definitely have had no skin left on my poor aching

fingers – something that I probably would never have thought of. With the gig over, and as I was driving

home, I smiled as I forgot the negative and thought about the positive things that had come out of the

afternoon. One was the complimentary remarks from the trombonist which went a good way to lifting my

spirits as we packed up. Another was the welcome remuneration that I received marking the first (and

possibly last) spot of gainful employment that I had completed for many years.

Lily 2006

Diary Mondays 5.00pm-6.00 pm Accordion classes for young players at the Holditch

Mondays 6.00pm – 7.00 pm practice band - except

day before clubnite

Class for those wishing to join the club band.

Mondays 7.30 p.m. - except day before clubnite Beginners’/Improvers’ night at the Holditch

Tuesdays other than 3rd

8.00pm Band rehearsal at Bradwell Workingmen’s Club

Every 3rd Tuesday of month 8.00pm Clubnite at Goldenhill Workingmen’s Club 2nd Thursday of month 1 p.m. Solo and Group Session, Bradwell Workingmen’s Club

February 21st clubnite (players’ night) Theme - Songs with ‘love’ in the title

March 21st clubnite Guest duo - Amaryllis

Friday 7th

April Band charity concert, Barlaston Village Hall

With guests Stefan and Denise.

April 18th Players’ night

Tuesday May 16th Players’ night with Chris Ray vocalist and comedian

Tuesday June 20th Guest – Heather Smith

Tuesday July 18th Theme - TV, advert or programme theme music

Members’ Adverts

Accordion Tuition. Pauline Hardwick Tel 01782 397248 accordion and/or piano

Stefan Andrusyschyn Tel 07958261024 accordion and/or piano

Mike Gibson Tel 01782 660865 piano

John Romero Tel 01606 270148 accordion

Accordion Adverts Parrot piano accordion 120 bass, 2 bass couplers, 7 treble couplers including a wrist master coupler. It is in good condition

and makes a lovely sound. Tel: 01706 828994 or 0781051314 or email shelagh.mayer80@gmail.com

Price - any reasonable offer!

Roland FR7 Midi accordion with spare battery. Offers around £700

For details ring Geoff on 01782 626874

Chairman Mike Richards 01782 642101

Secretary Steve Hughes 01782 787935

Treasurer Mike Richards (acting) 01782 642101

Committee

Tony Britton, Helen Brown, Norman Brown, Graham Butler, Paul Hobbs,

Lily Lynch and Greta Moseley

Web address - www.northstaffsaccordionclub.co.uk

Editor Lily Lynch email - accordions@nor