Rob Howard

On Wednesday, March 14th, SAC sees the welcome return of Bert Santilly as our Club Night guest artiste.  Bert is a most accomplished and versatile accordionist, with a wide repertoire, and known to many of you as a workshop leader at the Caister and Pakefield festivals.  Admission is Ј4.   As always, we begin promptly at 8pm, and all are welcome, including those who would like to play a tune or two.  SAC is now based at Woodley Methodist Church, Chapel Street/Hyde Road, Woodley, Stockport, Cheshire SK6 1BL.

Early in February we received the terrible news that Anne Kearney had died, after a battle with cancer over the last three years. Anne did not recover from the anaesthetic after an operation for liver cancer.  Anne, originally from Ireland, travelled weekly for several years to practices all the way from her home in North Wales, and was a member of the SAC Orchestra, the Weaver Valley Accordion Band and Chester AC.  She will be missed.  R.I.P. 

Soon after learning about Anne came the very sad news that Pete Fitzpatrick, who attended many of our Club Night concerts, had also passed away, aged 72. Pete Fitz, as he was known, was a former All Britain Irish traditional champion on both piano accordion and piano, and had also played the organ in clubs, backing singers.  Pete was a legend on the Manchester Irish scene, and was very well liked by all who knew him.  He attended many of our Club Night concerts, and once played a short spot for us.  R.I.P.

We have been without our MDs during February, with Peter Whiteley visiting relatives in Australia and Brian Jenkins laid low through the prolonged effects of a really bad cold. Chris Green and Derek Pritchard ‘drew the short straw’ as stand in leaders.  Conducting is most definitely not a soft option, and the rest of us are grateful for their efforts at keeping us in order and leading us.

SAC Vice President John Nixon is playing concertina with a small jazz combo at a pub called The Horseshoe, on Thursday March 1st, 9 till 11pm approx. Admission is free and the Horseshoe (a CAMRA approved pub for its beer) is located in the small village of Lawton Heath End, Staffordshire ST7 3RA - about 6-miles SW of Congleton.

SAC members Rachel White and Sarah Hodge entered the NAO North Central Area Accordion Festival in Saltaire, near Bradford, on February 24th. Rachel came first in the Senior Polka, and second in the Advanced Solo Test Piece + Own Choice sections. Rachel and Sarah came second in the Open Premier Duet section. Well done, girls, and good luck at the forthcoming UK Championships, which take place at The Spa, Scarborough, over the Bank Holiday weekend, May 4th/6th. Rachel and Sarah have entered a duet section, and Rachel is contesting the NAO Advanced Championship title. 

Our next Club Night concert with Bert Santilly is on the horizon, so I hope you can make it for yet another night of great music.

Rob Howard        (0161) 480 8858        email:  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it ">