Meet the Players
Hi, David Williams here. I have two small roles with Sheringham Players
under my belt. I find everything to do with theatre productions, be it amateur or
professional, exciting; casting, directing, rehearsing, set design and building, treading
the boards, working backstage… All these issues call on the creative capabilities of
a number of diverse people. When the curtains go up —call me an old softie– it
always brings a lump to my throat which comes back with the response from a good audience.
I really would like to spend more time in this activity but, as some of you may know, my
first love (other than Brenda, of course!) is music.
In the 1950s I was a trombonist with the RAF Fighter Command Band,
touring the country and loving every moment of it. On demob, I became part of the jazz
scene for a few years playing double bass as well as trombone. But, the time came when my
professional needs had to take precedence and I took time away from music to study for a
qualification. My time away eventually extended to over 30 years.
After moving to Norfolk in 2000 I discovered Cromer & Sheringham Brass Band (CSBB).
I joined the band And have enjoyed every minute of my ’comeback’. The CSBB
performs regularly in North Norfolk at a wide range of events: Concerts, carnivals,
festivals, private functions and carol services. Forthcoming events include the
Remembrance Day service at Cromer church, a concert at Sheringham’s St Peter’s
church (05/09/09) and Rhodesia Day at Southrepps Hall.
A small band evolved from the CSBB a few years back, which plays a variety of popular
music and jazz. The band is called ’IDUNNO’ after each member, on being asked to
suggest a suitable name replied… well, you’ve guessed it! IDUNNO performs
publicly and recently opened this year’s Cromer Carnival at the Runton Road marquee.
We’d love it if you’d come along to hear the bands sometime.
Brenda Williams writes: For the past 7 years I have been a member of Sheringham players
and I’ve been involved in most of the productions since either on stage or back
stage. It’s been great fun working with so many talented people. However, my main
love has always been singing. I can remember being lifted on to the table of an East End
pub, when I was very little, to belt out a song. This would probably be labelled child
abuse today but it didn’t harm me and sparked my lifelong love of singing. I
graduated, in my teens, from pubs to dancehalls and I have appeared on the same bill with
the likes of Gene Vincent and Jerry Lee Lewis.
After I got married (First time around) and started a family—apart from singing in
the bath– I didn’t sing again until I joined “Sing for Joy”, a group
run by Teresa Verney who is the most dynamic, energetic and enthusiastic woman I’ve
had the good fortune to meet. She runs several groups and firmly believes that everybody
can sing. (*She’s obviously never heard me– Ed). We cover a wide range of songs
from gospel to pop, such as “Tracks of My Tears”, “California
Dreaming” etc. Some songs we even sing in African languages and this can be very
challenging, but Teresa has the patience of a saint. We get there in the end with her help
and with the support of each other. There are no divas in our groups; just a wonderful
feeling of friendship and camaraderie.
To date we only perform a couple of concerts a year including one at Christmas which is
mainly for family and friends. There is a mass concert in the spring where all the groups
get together. This is held at Aylsham Church and is always a great success raising upwards
of £1000 for charity. The Cromer group was formed about 4 years ago and I’ve been
involved from day 1. Singing with the group has been confidence building and has helped
many in the fight against depression and pain, and it has allowed me the chance to return
to something I love.
If anyone would like to find out more about “Sing for Joy”, please do not
hesitate to contact me.
I’D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR STORY TOO. PLEASE CONTACT ME AND TELL ME YOUR TALE.
Films For The Winter
In spite of the disappointing turnout for the Alan Ayckbourn trilogy shown in August,
there will be a season of films in November/December, with each of the four titles having
been chosen by those who attended the Ayckbourn trilogy. The titles are as follows:-
- 19th November "The Third Man" (1949) Orson Welles
- 26th November "The Hustler" (1961) Paul Newman
- 3rd December "Bad Day at Black Rock" (1955) Spencer Tracy
- 10th December "The Innocents" (1961) Deborah Kerr
Hopefully there will be another season the next time our regular booking of Thursday
evenings at The Cottage are free for a couple of weeks. Anyone who has a recommendation
for a film they would like to see shown ( under 3 hours long ), please contact Derek, Val,
Greg (as secretary) or David (as editor).
Please support our social evenings. The more, the merrier.
Derek Bull.
And finally... The editor's thought for the day.
I have a friend, whom I will call 'friend C'. This is not because I wish to preserve
her anonymity but because it then looks as if I've got two other friends! Anyway, 'Friend
C' works as a nurse at an old people's home and she has sat by more than her fair share of
death beds. She told me that as they reach the time of their passing, people share all
sorts of intimate secrets. She also revealed that about the only things she had never
heard on somebody's death bed was that they wished they'd worked more on bank holidays or
that they wished they'd had less sex.
So, next time a bank holiday rolls around you know what to do - take the day off and have
sex. It's your duty!
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