Blues & Booze In The Bury, Odiham, Hampshire, Sat 14 June 2008

The second annual Blues & Booze In The Bury in Odiham, Hampshire on Sat 14 June, was a blues festival with a difference. The emphasis was on acoustic blues; a refreshing departure from the big bands. This daytime event has found a winning formula: free entry, good music, real ales from local brewers and family fun which this year, included teddybears parachuting from the church tower. No wonder it draws a good crowd! It also raises money for national and local charities, notably The Neurofibromatosis Association.

The show started at noon with solo Hampshire bluesman, Bob Long, singing and playing acoustic guitars and rack harmonica. He specialises in blues and jugband music from the 1920s and 1930s and oscillates between the deep south of England and the deep south of The USA where he is a frequent visitor, having recently played in the Clarksdale, Mississippi Juke Joint Festival for the fourth time. His set included some well known classics such as Travelin’ Riverside and Milkcow’s Calf and some material which took us off the beaten track such as Tommy Johnson’s Slidin’ Delta and Lonesome Home. I particularly liked his arrangements of R L Burnside’s Miss Maybelle and Washboard Sam’s Diggin’ My Potatoes.

Pete Harris (vocals, guitar, mandolin), also from Hampshire, was joined by Hugh Budden from Dorset (vocals, harmonica) for a very polished performance. Their material was mostly post WW2 and included some classics, notably Jimmy Reed’s Honest I Do which was superb. Hugh Budden contributed soulful lead vocals on Cross Your Heart and Learn To Treat Me Right, combined with some sizzling harmonica. Every one of their songs was a joy. I especially enjoyed their arrangement of Kim Wilson’s Looking For Trouble.

Next was Jim Crawford, originally from Manchester and now resident in Appledore, North Devon. Jim’s guitar finger picking and vocals were both brilliant. His material was varied; it ranged from a beautifully executed Sam Hopkins shuffle to the delightfully gentle and melodic Sugar Cane. His arrangement of It’s All Over Now featured some spectacularly fast and precise finger picking. My favourite was his arrangement of Come On In My Kitchen, played on slide guitar with a haunting, chilling intensity. If Robert Johnson had lived a few more years and got an electric guitar, his performance might have sounded like this…

Ernies Rhythm Section, a band of energetic young men from Manchester, was, unusually for them, a trio having temporarily lost their drummer and keyboard player but pressing on undeterred. It worked well with Rik Warren on harmonica, sounding very much like Rice Miller, Ellis Davis on guitar and Sam Buckley on bass. All three took turns on lead vocals. They produced a lively, unsophisticated set which is their trademark and certainly pleased the crowd at Odiham. It was a particular pleasure to talented young musicians playing this timeless music. I loved their version of Jimmy Reed’s Ain’t That Lovin’ You Baby, sung powerfully by Ellis Davis.

Top-of-the-bill, came the Spikedrivers. Their performance was sparkling; full of life and good humour, combined with highly impressive musicianship and a wide range of material which juxtaposed traditional songs with their own writing. The trio comprises Ben Tyzack (guitars), Maurice McElroy (percussion) and Constance Redgrave (bass). All three sing, with the lead vocals shared. Having three singers in the band works well; they produce excellent harmonies. Their set was rich in variety, lively and entertaining. Ghost Train was highly energetic and very bluesy. On Blue Trash, Constance put down her bass guitar and played washboard whilst Maurice played ceramic drum. Candyman featured Maurice on guiro. Shake That Thing was a jaunty number with the band literally dancing as they played. Midnight Mademoiselle and Soul Searching Blues were moody, thought-provoking songs. The festival ended with The Spikedrivers doing an encore with a hard-driving Dust My Broom featuring some creative, bassy slide guitar from Ben. Roll on Blues & Booze In The Bury 2009!

Dottie Pride

The OTMG (Odiham Town Manager Group (CiC) aims to “To provide a vibrant and sustainable retail and commercial community for the benefit of the residents and businesses of Odiham alike. This is to be carried out through events and the promotion of the village of Odiham. The group is recognised by both Hart District Council and Hampshire County Council, and the OTMG, with the help of the local community, retailers and business's puts a lot of work, and funding, into organising events such as last weekends, Blues and Booze In The Bury and The Odiham Christmas Extravaganza and many more.

As already mentioned, The OTMG meets these objectives through the organisation of local events such as the weekly street markets, the Christmas Extravaganza, periodic farmers’ markets and food festivals. It also provides support for activities run by others.

Apart from generous support from the Odiham Parish Council to part fund the Annual Extravaganza, it has little external funding. To prosper it must raise its own money.

Everyone can help the OTMG help Odiham by joining the Great Weather Lottery. Application Forms are available from the George Hotel or you can join online and get more information here .

It's fun to play, and you could win up to £10,000!

All you need to do is: complete the membership form, select six single numbers 0—9, and return the completed form to Reception at the George. Each selection of six numbers will cost £1 per week. That is 20p for each daily draw from Monday to Friday in which your selected digits are matched against the last digit of the officially recorded temperature (F) at six locations -

Corfu(3)
Istanbul(4)
Tenerife(0)
Innsbruck(0)
Edinburgh(5)
Stockholm(1)

Using the digits in brackets, as an example, the winning number for that day would be “340051”. Match 3 numbers in sequence and you win £2, match 4 numbers in sequence and you win £20, match 5 numbers in sequence and you win £200 and match 6 numbers in sequence and you win £10,000 and you don't even need to check your numbers as your winnings are sent to you automatically so you can just relax and wait for the cheques to arrive.

Help the OTMG to help Odiham, and remember - It might be you.

From: The Rt. Hon. James Arbuthnot, M.P.

HOUSE OF COMMONS,LONDON SW1A 0AA

Community Praise for Local Heroes

Yesterday in the House of Commons, James Arbuthnot, Member of Parliament for North East Hampshire, spoke about Saturday’s RAF Odiham Heroes Parade and highlighted the outstanding work of the local Chinooks crews that are returning from Afghanistan.

The home coming parade was the result of 9 months collaboration between the RAF, Odiham Parish Council and the Odiham Town Manager Group. Celebrations started with a Chinook flypast along Odiham High Street, followed by the procession which included a tank, armoured vehicles and marching band. There was a parade in The Bury and festivities continued later into the day with the Blues and Booze music event.

James said:

“The people of Odiham showed a huge degree of appreciation for the wonderful work of the local Chinook crews that are coming back from Afghanistan. They were lining the streets three deep to welcome home members of the armed forces, and I know that everyone involved with RAF Odiham appreciates this fantastic level of community support. But thank you also to Peter Fountain and Odiham for giving us all the opportunity to say thank you.

“I spoke to many people during the day and there was unanimous agreement with the remarks of the Chief of the General Staff, Sir Richard Dannatt, who says that we need to have a debate about the priority that we give to our armed forces. The work that those people are doing is second to none and we need events like this to remind us of the outstanding job that they do.”

(end)

17 June 2008

The Rt. Hon. James Arbuthnot, M.P. Speaking at the Houses Of Parliament.

A few memories of the day from Blues And Blues in the Bury 2008 and the RAF Odiham Heroes Parade. You can also find photo's from the day on Bob Longs Website

Or click here to see the Thames Valley News Report on the day.

A few memories from the RAF Odiham Heroes Parade, June 2008.

The Day started with a Chinook flypast along the High Street.

It's not every day you get a tank rolling through the village...

... Or an armoured car!

The Band

On Parade in The Bury.

A BIG EVENT FOR ODIHAM

BLUES & BOOZE IN THE BURY 14 JUNE 2008, 12 MIDDAY – 6pm

This year Blues & Booze in The Bury will be an event not to be missed. Preceded by an RAF Heroes Parade finishing with a short ceremony in The Bury, there will be something for the whole community. The music will attract blues lovers from far and wide whilst the food and drink on offer will satisfy every taste.

The Neurofibromatosis Association, last year’s co-organisers, will be raising funds for their cause
as will All Saints Church and LeapFrogs Pre-school. Between them, the charities will be putting on a balloon race, face painting, lucky dip, tombola, raffle, parachuting teddy bears, teas, coffees and ice cream and more. There will also be a walking entertainer present for the whole afternoon.

This will be a memorable day in the life of Odiham, so make a note of the date and join in the fun! As Peter Fountain said, “We will not have seen so many people in Odiham since July the 15th 1953 when the Queen was driven up the High street to the RAF Base for the Royal Review”.

For enquiries about...

MUSIC: Bob Long, long.boblong@gmail.com,

THE EVENT: Peter Fountain, PtrFount@aol.com

The Neurofibromatosis Association: Tricia Stephens, NfATricia@aol.com

All Saints Church: Tim Paton, tim.paton@tiscali.co.uk

LeapFrogs Pre-School:Nicola Trubridge, nicolatrubridge@hotmail.com

The Extravaganza 2007 was certainly blessed with excellent weather and the largest turnout to date for this event.

Reports from the retail sector have been good and they all deserve praise for putting in a great deal of effort and time. As a community we should be very proud of our friendliness and ability to attract all ages to join our party.

Particular thanks to RAF Odiham, lighting and stewarding led by Mick Smith and Justin Wall (Max), Hampshire Constabulary who volunteered their time, Sgt Paul McGuiness, PC Martin Bowman, PC Nick Sexton and SPC Iain Tunstell, (to assist with extreme traffic control requirements, and rude and arrogant drivers some of which live in Odiham and denied knowing anything about the event) and of course our own very stewards, Gerry Kimber, Phil Turrell, Paul Turrell, Chris Heeps and Andrew Harrison. Also a big thank you to the Odiham Retained Fireman who turn up year after year which is much appreciated, thanks to Mick Paul.

A special mention for Jo Kelsey for suppling extra Christmas lights for Odiham and to YOU the public for making the scenery come to life and Hart District Council for clearing up the rubbish.

To the little oinks that vandalised the gentlemens' loo, why ?

It's that time of year again when the community of Odiham and North Warnborough get together to show the world how to enjoy themselves.

There will be something for everyone including the fair, two hogroasts, pipe and drum band, our own retained fire engine and of course Father Christmas.

You will find stalls selling anything from cider to Italian cheeses, preserves to Christmas gifts, candy floss to hot Chilli sauces. The event kicks off at 6.30 on Thursday the 29th of November with a procession up the High street through the centre of the many stalls that attend the evening.

There will be a variety of animals (no not the Hook Eagle Morrismen) from Millers Ark also in attendance.

We cannot promise the weather but we can guarantee a very warm welcome from our shops, hostelries and restaurants....and yes the famous Hook Eagle Morrismen will be strutting their stuff for us.
The event runs until 9.30.

The High street will be closed at 4 p.m. until 10.30 p.m. from High Street, London Road junction (London road from Broad Oak roundabout will be accessible) to High Street Church Street junction and King Street from High Street to the junction of The Bury by Three Ways and Myrtle Cottage. Palace Gate residents and the Health Centre will be able to gain access.

All residents heading home to the East end of Odiham please enter via Broad Oak roundabout and residents bound for the West end, King Street, Long Lane etc. please enter via Western Cross.

Wine Rack would like to invite you to our Winter Wine Fair on Friday 26th October from 6pm-10pm at the Hook Community Centre*

Wine, Spirits, Champagnes and Ales. With Olives, Chocolates, Cheese and much more.

In aid of The Duchenne Family Support Group, helping those who have Muscular Dystrophy.

For more details contact Karen on 01256 703504.

See you there :)

Next weekend, 25/26 August, is the last chance to enjoy top quality jazz in the spectacular setting of the privately owned Odiham Chalk Pit.

Celebrating 25 years of the Neurofibromatosis Association, this will be the charity’s last jazz weekend in this shape and form and in these beautiful surroundings.

On Saturday listen to the country's reigning jazz stars plus two phenomenal female vocalists, two living legends and a rising star. World class Trio Dave Newton (Piano) Simon Woolf (Bass) and Allan Ganley (Drums) featuring emerging young saxist Richard Shepherd, with special guest instrumentalists Alan Barnes (Sax), Mark Nightingale (Tromobone),Steve Waterman (Trumpet) and guest star vocalists Miss Lee Gibson, Miss Jacqui Dankworth and Mr Frank Holder (vocals and percussion). What a line up!

This wonderful evening, with some fabulous raffle prizes, surprises and a mini auction, will conclude with a spectacular firework display and a special finale. Ticket Price £20.00 (under 5s free). Terrific value for money!

Sunday 26th August will see the last Lunchtime Jazz ’n’ Barbecue. The Phil brown Swingtet, formerly The Basin Street Six, who have been with us since the NfA charity shop opening in 1998 are back by popular demand, together with The Peter Clancy Band. The two course barbecue provided by RAF Odiham will be as wonderful as ever AND it’s included in the ticket price! £17.50 (under 11s free). What a bargain! There will be another raffle on Sunday and a surprise item to be auctioned!

On both days, chairs and tables are available, bookable in advance or guests many bring their own or rugs if they prefer. (Sorry but the gazebos are all booked!) Guests may bring their own picnic on Saturday or take the easy option and pre-order. A very reasonably priced bar (don’t miss the real ale!) and tea & coffee will also be available.

Odiham Town Manager, Peter Fountain, said “The Odiham Town Manager Group has been delighted to be part of the 'Team' and particularly this year the 25th anniversary and the last in the series. The OTMG bit is but a small part of a much bigger operation and it is a pleasure to work with the same dedicated volunteers who, year on year, have produced a quality event. It is sad that this is the last but I’m sure that the team will be back with something of equal quality”.

The NfA local team is looking forward to putting on this special event, also celebrating ten years of fundraising in the area, and hopes that none of its supporters will miss out on this last chance to enjoy the best.

A few tickets are still available for both days from Katharine Jane and Richard Ward Opticians, Odiham; The Village Gallery; Hook, Pet Kingdom, Hartley Wintney; The Village Shop, South Warnborough or by phoning Margaret Green on 01256 704448.

For more information, please contact

Tricia Stephens
01256 704701
NfATricia@aol.com