Memory Lane: Dacca, Bangladesh
One of our ports of call in 1984 was the city of Dacca in Bangladesh. We had 3 concerts to do here in the theatre and by this time we were well travelled and thought we'd seen it all. On the first night, however, two policemen came, with their rifles, and stood either side of the stage. We didn't know whether they were there to protect us and we were in no position to tell them to 'go away' so we just got on with the show. The next night there were 5 or 6 policemen backstage but no one else took any notice and they, like the audience, seemed to be enjoying themselves so another evening passed successfully. The third night you couldn't move for coppers and rifles. This time they were definitely in the way, especially when we nipped off to the wings to change costumes during the mummers play, but they were all very jovial so all we could do was smile back. Then it dawned on us that word had gone around the police station that The Yetties show was a bit of a giggle and they were just taking a couple of hours off work. I'm positive that if Pete, who played St. George, had asked for a rifle to fight the Turkish Knight (Mac) instead of his sword they would have happily obliged him. I hope for their sakes the sergeant didn't find out and there weren't too many burglaries on their beats.
LPs to CD (please note I've added another 6 since September)
50 Stone of Loveliness, 1969
Bound for Baltimore, To Hear The Nightingale Sing, The Maypole, The Hunt, Rounding The Horn, Farming Contractor, Outward Bound, Music Medley, The Leaf, The Nightingale.
All At Sea, 1973
Hornpipe Medley, Spanish Ladies, Fiddler's Green, The Mermaid, The Watchet Sailor, 3 Sea Captains, Aboard The Kangaroo, Can't You Dance The Polka, Ranter's Wharf, Greenland Whale Fisheries, Concertina Medley, Stormalong, The Quaker, The Banks of Newfoundland, The Candlelight Fisherman, Homeward Bound.
Up In Arms, 1974 (with Sherborne Town Band)
Seigfried Line Medley, Old King Cole, Browned Off, Sgt. Major Medley, Colonel Bogey, Bloody Orkney, Hanging On The Old Barbed Wire, Bless 'Em All, Quartermaster's Stores, Position Capabilities Description, Peat Bog Soldiers, Any Complaints?, Guarding The Home Of The Homeguard, D Day Dodgers, Soldiers Ten Commandments, Pack Up Your Troubles Medley.
The Yetties of Yetminster, 1975
Gypsy Rover, Bandy Bertha, One Morning In May, Widecombe Fair, Downfield's Delight, Bread & Fishes, Gentleman Soldier, Monday Morning, Fling It 'Ere Fling It There, The Marrow, Lord Of The Dance, Beau Psaltery, Farming Contractor, Trelawney.
The World of The Yetties, 1975
Out In The Green Fields, The Nightingale, McCann's Jig/Lilting Fisherman/Drowsy Maggie, The Lark In The Morning, Spanish Ladies, Rigs O'Marlow/Cuckoo's Nest, Can't You Dance The Polka, Lamorna, King Of The Fairies, South Australia, The Mallard, The Banks Of Newfoundland, Dorset Four Hand Reel, Landlord Fill The Flowing Bowl.
The Village Band, 1976 (with Sherborne Town Band)
The Village Band, Compliments Returned, Cigareetes & Whusky, Brigg Fair, Our Sarah, Henry My Son, Parson's Farewell/Linden Lea, Farmer's Boy, Whistling Rufus, Barley Mow, Costa Del Dorset, The January Man, The Jolly Ploughboy, Granny's Old Arm Chair, The Parting Glass.
Up Market, 1977
Barwick Green, Sing Me An Old Fashioned Song, Punch & Judy Man, On Horseback, Shrewsbury Lasses, Old Lamplighter, Have A Drink On Me, Padstow May Song, Seven Golden Daffodils, Life Gets Tee-jus Don't It, Portsmouth, Roving Kind, On A Beach Down In Dorset, Come Outside (with Toni Arthur).
The Sound of Cricket, 1984 (with John Arlott)
Cricket On The Village Green, John Small, Hambledon/Stonewall Jack, The Old Cricketer/I Keeps It There Or There About, The Flower Bowler, The High Catch, The Master/A Tickle Of Me Spinnin' Finger, Four Jolly Bowlers, Harold Gimblett's Hundred, Somerset/Beefy's Army.
Dorset is Beautiful 1972
Country Medley, Fill Up The Cider Cup, The Shepherd's Song, The Tailor's Breeches, Dancing At The Manor, No Sir No, The Blackbird, Home Dearest Home, Diggery Venn, Landlord Fill The Flowing Bowl, Dancing On The Green, The Country Carrier, The Mallard, The Storyteller, Buttercup Joe, The Nutting Girl, Dorset Is Beautiful
Our Friends 1971
Aunt Hessie's White Horse/Vila Fiord, Out In The Green Fields, Lamorna, Merry Blacksmith/Sheehan's Reel/Colonel Rodney, Towersey Fair, Flop Eared Mule/Hen & Chickens, Rolling Hills Of The Border, Rodney's Glory, Sweet Thyme, Santa Anna, Derry Hornpipe/Bottom Of The Punchbowl, The Lark In The Morning, Kelly's Joy/The Teetotaler, The Dreadnought, The King Of The Fairies, The Dancers Of Stanton Drew, Shandon Bells/Father Kelly's Jig/The Swallows Nest, The Threshing Machine.
A Little Bit of Dorset 1981
The New Rigged Ship/The Soldier's Joy/The Fairy Dance, Poor Poor Farmer, The Bell Ringing, The Beggar's Song, Windmills, Back N Back Yer You, Gypsy Woman, The Life Of A Man, The Last Rose Of Summer/The Bloody Fields Of Flanders, Nellie The Elephant, My Grandfather's Clock, Levi Jackson's Rag, The Grey Hawk, Curate & The Vicar, The Ruined Maid, Needlecases, Us Poor Fellows, John Peel.
In Concert 1979
Razzamatazz, Roll Alabama Roll, Farmer Farmer Won't You Marry Me?, The Scarecrow, Suzannah's A Funny Old Man, The Lark In The Clear Air, Dorset Fore-arm Smash, Dad's Medals, Lucky Knickers, The Village Pump, My Little Lisa, Five Drunken Nights, The Sailor Cut Down In His Prime, Sailing On The Briny Sea, Sylveste, Dancing Days, Alabama Jubilee.
A Proper Job 1981
Singing All The Way, Beaumont Rag, Jolly Ploughboys, Ball Of Yarn, Romance, John Barleycorn, Primrose Polka, Linden Lea, The Scarlet & The Blue, Astley's Ride/Balquidder Lasses, The Wanderer, Rose In June, Bluebell Polka, Ee Weren't All Bad, Lilliburlero, Dorsetshire Hornpipe, Early One Evening, Farewell She, Frost Is All Over/High Level Reel.
Mornin' All 1972. Bob Arnold (Tom Forrest of The Archers) with us doing the backing vocals and music.
Jim The Carter's Lad, The Jolly Waggoner, Postponed, Stow Fair, Needle Cases, Poor Old Horse, As I Was Going To Banbury, Turmit Hoeing, Where The Violets Are Blue, Three Maidens A Milking, When Jone's Ale Was New, The Rest Of The Day's Your Own, Richard Of Taunton Deane, The Bell Ringers.
These can be purchased at £6 each (including post & packing) from the PO Box. If your favourite is not on the list please let us know. I will be adding to it gradually so your choice can be next on the list.
Doing the Dorset Dirt
Well, we made it!! After weeks of rain though it should have been called 'The Dorset Mud' or even 'Flood'. Fortunately it didn't rain on the day, if it had then life would have been very unpleasant. As it was we arrived back in Dorchester completely plastered in chalky slime. I'm still chipping bits off from unusual places. It's the bike I'm talking about you understand. The object was to raise money for Halsway Manor Library Development Fund and, thanks to your generosity, I was able to add over £800 to the bank balance. I don't actually know the exact figure because some of it went directly to Halsway. Needless to say I'm pretty chuffed with the result. Next years ride has already been mentioned by my co-nutters so I'll have to keep fit and try and make sure I'm not in Kettering the night before.
Yetminster Fair
This years date is the 11th of July. Put it in your diary. If you wish to plan your accommodation in advance then best ring Sherborne Tourist Information [contact details removed].
Musical Heritage of Thomas Hardy Concerts
This is a concert, which is always a great pleasure to do, but doesn't crop up very often. I am frequently asked when we are going to perform it again and this year, so far, there are three opportunities to see it. Two are mentioned in this Newsletter at Charlton Horethorne near Sherborne and Bradwell Grove near Burford. The third is in the church at Aust in Gloucestershire on Saturday, 13th of June. Your contact there is Dr. Peter Dobbins [contact details removed].
Bonny