Tom Alexander, from Glasgow, makes a welcome return as our guest on Wednesday April 16th.  Tom, best known as half of The Alexander Brothers, appears for us as an accordion soloist.  He is one of the classiest players around, and has a professionalism that comes from a long career in show business.  Tom played for us about a year ago, and made quite am impression with his wonderful playing.  The venue is Woodley Methodist Church, Chapel Street/A560 Hyde Road, Woodley, Stockport, Cheshire SK6 1BL (J25 on the M60).  Admission is Ј5, we begin at 8pm, and anyone who would like to play a number is most welcome.

In recent weeks our main focus of attention has been on the health of Peter Whiteley, who suffered a heart attack in February that necessitated a triple by pass operation.  Although the by pass operation itself went well, Peter suffered another heart attack during surgery, as a result of which he went into intensive care for about a fortnight.  He is now at home and recovering, though it will be some time before we see him again at the club.  SAC members and friends have certainly rallied round with good wishes, cards, prayers and visits.
Brian Jenkins, our other MD, has also been absent quite a lot lately, through a combination of illness and brass band commitments, and to the helm as acting MD have stepped new member Dennis Pepler OBE and SAC Vice Chairman Derek Pritchard.  Dennis, an experienced church organist, has taken to conducting like the proverbial duck to water, and has brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to leading our band practices.  Dennis and Derek are also prolific arrangers, and in just a few weeks we have added 'Espana', 'Cara, Mia', 'Pariser Polka', 'Moonlight and Roses', 'Greensleeves', 'Hey There', 'Oh! Mio Babbino Caro', 'Music to Watch Girls By', 'Theme from Vltava', and 'Tambourin' to our repertoire.

The 2008 AGM resulted in two changes to the Committee, with Joan Campbell becoming the new Chairman, and Adrienne Sharpe taking over as Secretary.

Three SAC members invaded Yorkshire on February 2nd, winning prizes at the NAO North Central Festival in Saltaire.  Rachel White won the Senior Musette - 1st, Senior Polka 1st, and Frosini Solo - 2nd; Dorothy Brincat (with Kesia Leatherbarrow) - Higher Preparatory Duet 1st Higher Prep Solo (Own Choice) - 2nd, HPS (Test Piece) - 2nd; Tom Johnson - HPS (TP) 1st.  Well done, guys - you did yourselves and the club proud. 
SAC President Johnny Coleclough, in addition to his long-standing pub and club residencies, has recently added choirmaster to his CV by becoming conductor of a ladies choir.  I'm sure there's a joke in there somewhere!

Ray Peacock played his accordion in Tescos, Altrincham, on three days before Christmas, with a collecting box for the Red Cross.  He collected Ј173, and Tescos doubled it. Okay, so it was ages ago - but our near legendary bellows shaker still deserves an honourable mention.

The souvenir book about Stockport Accordion Club's history is now virtually finished, and should prove to be an interesting read for anyone who has ever been to our club.  Having been involved with the club since 1987, and being part of the various highs and lows, doing the research has been almost like studying my own family tree!  I have been researching the archives of the Stockport Express, Accordion Times and Accordion Review as far back as the mid-1930s.  The original club was formed in 1937, folded during the war years, and then revived in 1948.  By the early 1950s the first club had run out of steam, but in 1956 Clifford Wood picked up the baton by forming his orchestra, which functioned until the early 1970s, followed by a revival in 1987.  The present club descends directly from the 1987 incarnation.  There's lots of photos through the years, including band pictures dating back to the 1950s, and it is interesting to see how disgracefully we've all aged!  Next stage is the proof reading ...watch this space!!

On the subject of writing books, I am now seriously considering writing 'An A to Z of the Accordion, Volume 4'.  Writing these books involves a lot of time, effort and expense, and the decision to begin all over again is not something to do on impulse.  Just recently a number of people around the country have contacted me with ideas, stories, pictures and information, one of whom was Eric Dabrowski, who many years ago did a stage act in the variety theatres playing the accordion and juggling whilst riding a unicycle!  I met the colourful Eric (also a World War Two Monte Cassino veteran) at the recent 'Accordion Extravaganza' at Doncaster Racecourse, and he has sent me his story plus some amazing action photos of him on stage.    
I thoroughly enjoyed the 'Accordion Extravaganza'.  The facilities at Doncaster Racecourse were first class - ideal for a music festival.  There was a non-stop programme of concert performances, with easy parking, trade show, food and refreshments all to hand.  Organiser Harry Kipling should be commended for his efforts and initiative.  The only downside of this super day out was the attendance, which was poor.  Some people attributed this to March 2nd falling on Mother's Day, though I suspect that this was only partially responsible for people staying away.  All the ingredients were there for a really great day for the accordion, but a total attendance of less than 90 must have been very disappointing for the organiser.  Events like this will simply disappear if people don't support them.

Alexander Korbakov is our guest artiste on June 11th, so there's yet another date for your 2008 diaries.
 
Rob Howard (0161 480 8858; email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )