Ridings Rose Centre         25th April 2026

Report by Phil Barr/ Photo and Videos by Phil Barr and Thelma Srivastava

With the Daily Trump news never being short of unpredictable, it is just possible that you may have missed a piece describing how he has recently sacked a military chief called Randy George. Well, all I can say is that George should have behaved himself.

   Much nearer to home early indications suggested that things were looking very positive prior to another Wakeylele gig. In Walton, for example, Peter Joule was making his way to the local shop for a newspaper feeling On Top of the World whilst in town, Melvyn was joining a bewildered busker in an imprompu performance of ‘Streets of London’ and all this under the blue skies and warm sunshine of late April.

   Inside the Ridings, too, things were, for once, hotting up as band members arrived in good numbers, despite the enforced absence of notables like Sue and Joe the packhorse, meaning that we would be singing and playing unplugged. No matter, with about twenty players, the resolve remained high as Chris mustered his troops for a big push. Eleven o’ clock signaled the start of a mainly tried and trusted set of songs, with kazoos helping to keep people alert to our presence in Urban Spaceman and Mags’s expert versatility with percussion instruments alongside Val’s bass enhancing Da Doo Ron Ron. Then, when briefly switching from playing to videoing the Buddy Holly number, it was clear that things were progressing nicely. Not only that but the full gamut of individual touches were on show, Mike S’s bright pink waistcoat contrasting with Elsie’s delicate embroidered top, while Thelma’s exotic looking necklace showed up Roy’s battered looking Stetson which he claims is aboriginal. Fortunately, he had left his didgeridoo at home. Then to round off the set there was a decent debut performance of ‘Its a Heartache, as the steady flow of cash continued to be deposited towards a very worthy cause, no doubt pleasing our YAA rep, Richard who himself was sporting his YAA cap as he strummed along with us.

  Chris gave strict orders for the band to be back in their seats by 12:05 p.m. and this almost worked but one has to make allowances for the fact that although we may be full of the joys of Spring the number of Spring chickens amongst us is somewhat – ahem – small. However, I mustn’t forget to point out how good it was to see Malcolm back in action after his recent knee op. I believe he is even hoping to apply for the vacant manager’s job at Barnsley, maybe dreaming even of making a cameo appearance on the pitch as he has heard that they need a wise old head to bring back a bit of order.

  Back on the real stage, Chris got things seamlessly underway and in this second half, the band really came alive with  Sunny Afternoon matching the weather outside and a perfect rendition of Mike Carr’s inspired pearl of a song, Glass of Champagne, together with a bouncy version of Come On Over To My Place, setting the standard, before a trio of band classics rounded off another successful session. Dave F has already indicated how much people appreciated our efforts, and indeed, others who either sat or stood and watched said the same thing, enjoyment being the constant word heard.  These sentiments were exactly in accord with what Pop was saying to me in a conversation in the men’s toilets (held at a respectable distance from each other I hasten to add).

    Fulsome praise to our leader Chris, who, as well as his friendly banter with the audience, kept us in time with his increasing range of facial prompts together with the essential counting in.

  Next up is a return to the White Rose on May 27th at 10:30 for 11 a.m. followed very soon after by another gig in The Ridings two days later, with Mike Carr leading on both occasions.