Me in My Favorite 1920s Red Hat!

Stepping Out!

It’s just a quick blog tonight as I’m in something of a transitional period. I’m still working every day and I just have a couple of days left to do all my Christmas shopping, cards and get ready for a very busy Christmas indeed. I’ve sold fifty shows for December so far and although I expect to loose the odd one along the way due to unforeseen circumstances and maybe the odd possible Covid lock down I still need to be ready for what ever the season throws at me.

Life is busy and now we’ve come out of the Remembrance season I’m filling the November gap with “The Magic of the Musicals” and songs from the 1950s, 60s & 70s. I can’t believe I start Christmas next week and on the 3rd & 4th December I’m in Birmingham singing at The Black Country Living Museum for their Victorian Christmas Nights. I’m looking forward to it immensely as I’m booked to perform 3 shows nightly, although I expect it to be a cold one.

I’ve had a new Victorian coat made for the occasion with leg – o’-mutton sleeves which will keep me toasty warm. I’ve learn’t from experience it’s important to have my clothes lined in silk which makes all the difference when I’m working

Matching Red Hat and Gloves!

in freezing temperatures and I can’t wait to wear it. I also have a wonderful show planned which will be a fabulous start to the Christmas and the festive season.

Last Friday I was at Ashridge Golf Club singing for the members which was a lovely evening. I had a show before hand which is often the case with me working two shows back to back. I had been booked to perform a selection of songs from the 1940s, 50s, 60s & 70s and the evening couldn’t have gone better. Sadly I didn’t take any photos which is so unlike me but I guess I’ve been

Lets Go For a Drive!

too busy and concentrating on my shows to think about it.

Last week I launched my new Peaky Blinders inspired show-reel “That Man” and thank-you to every-one for your great feed back. It’s lovely to hear how much you have all been enjoying it and I’m looking forward to editing some of my other videos in the new year.

I also forgot to mention in my blog last week I was featured in Equity, my unions magazine in an article about “Taking Care of Show Business” all about the art of care home performance. I’ve

Merry Christmas!

just had the PDFs through from Equity and when Karen my web-designer comes back from holiday I will have it added to my web-site so you can click on and read it.

As I’m short on photos this week I shall leave you with a few stills of me in my little red hat from my latest “That Man” show-reel.

Keep Following Toodle Pip and Bye for Now!

Paul & I All Set to Go On Stage at The Lion!

Once again I’m in something of a dash tonight as I burn the midnight oil to get my blog out to you this week. I’m currently working two shows daily with little to no time in the office to catch up with my paper work and social media.

Firstly I’d like to begin by thanking every-one who came and supported us at The Lion in Waddesdon on Remembrance Saturday. It was a wonderful night as Paul Marsden and I sang the very best music from the 1940s. Many people came in costume and it was great to see so many of our audience up and dancing, entering into the spirit

Back on Stage for My Glamour Set!

of the evening whilst singing along with all our favourite wartime songs . It was also an opportunity for me to try out a couple of my new arrangements including “Babies of the Blitz” which has been going down extremely well this season.

It’s hard to believe I first began my professional singing career back in 1992 and I’ve now been singing the 1940s for 25 years of it. As you would imagine my forties acts ( all 11 of them) are well polished. To keep my shows fresh I’m constantly adding new arrangements and it’s important to think a little bit out of the box from time to time

We’ll Meet Again!

which maintains the magic and keeps me sharp.

Music just gets better and better and I’m so fortunate to have Richard Whenell as my musical arranger. “The Wizard of Oz”, “Be Like the Kettle and Sing” along with “Babies of the Blitz” have been great additions and really sparkle along with all my usual war time sing-along favourites.

This year is rapidly drawing to it’s close and due to a reschedule I was able to grab some valuable time with Peter yesterday to finish the edits on my latest video “That Man”. If you know your

Paul on Sound!

music then you will know this song was originally recorded by Caro Emerald in 2010 and was featured in Marvel’s season one of “Agent Carter”. As soon as I heard the number I knew I wanted to sing it.

“That Man” has a wonderful vintage sound and where Agent Carter is set in the 40s I wanted to set my accompanying video a little earlier in the 1920s. It’s taken me 10 months to realize my vision and where I’m so often associated with having a Mary Poppins voice and persona I wanted to go slightly dark and dangerous and give my video a gangster/moll feel. For this video I though it would be fun to play both the male and female rolls having taken much of my fashion inspiration from the popular TV series Peaky Blinders and the movie Chicago.

As yet I wont be officially launching my video until this weekend but here on my blog you get to see my video first as I become “That Man”. My still shots were shot on location at Milton Keynes Museum and Stoke Bruerne thanks to top photographer Angela Addams. Enjoy Watching!

I shall also leave you with a few photos from Saturdays show at the Lion.

Land of Hope and Glory!

Must dash – Keep Following Toodle Pip and Bye for Now! 😉

See You At The Lion!

It probably wont come as any surprise to learn I’m writing this blog tonight between performances as I have a full week of Remembrance shows which is taking me from Northampton to Buckinghamshire and everywhere in-between.

Thank-you to every-one who came and supported us last week in Birmingham with the launch of the poppy appeal it was a fabulous day and great to see you all. It’s a busy time and tomorrow for the 11th November I have two shows back to back which begin in Royston in Hertfordshire and finish in Elstow in Bedfordshire.

Last Saturday I was performing in Cheddington for the Bowls club which was a lovely evening especially as many people came in vintage costume. For my second set I sang popular tunes

Wear your Poppy with Pride! – Birmingham New Street!

from the 1950s, 60s & 70s  which went down extremely well with the Bowls Club audience as members danced the night away. This week it’s all about the 1940s and on Friday I’m in Oxfordshire. For Remembrance Saturday I shall be performing at The Lion in  Waddesdon, HP18 OJD which is promising to be a great night.

It’s an event I’ve been looking forward to very much as Paul Marsden will be joining me on stage and our show begins from 9pm and will consist of two sets, 1 x 45 and 1 x 60 minutes. Originally we had been booked for this time last year but due to the pandemic everything was put on hold and now it’s full steam ahead for Remembrance 2021.

The wonderful thing about Saturdays show, is, it’s a fee event put on by the pub for the village and every-one is welcome. So if you happen to be in

Dressed in Full ATS Uniform!

the area please do pop along and join us. The Lion are encouraging as many people as possible to dress up in 1940s costume and during the day out side the pub, I believe there will be a display of military vehicles to see before it gets dark.

Paul and I have a fantastic show planed and I will be opening in ATS uniform and changing later into 1940s glamour for the finale. Paul will be singing all those wonderful Sinatra classics and I’m looking forward to performing a few of my new arrangements which will be including “Babies of the Blitz” and the Vera Lynn number “Be like the Kettle and Sing” .

Next week I’m just as busy with more remembrance shows and once again I must dash as I have heaps of contracts and e-mails to get through before I head out on the road tomorrow morning.

Keep Following Toodle Pip and Bye for Now! 😉

Dressed for The Poppy Appeal!

All Together at New Street Station!

Once again I’m between shows and everything is ramping up at an increasing rate as we get closer to Christmas. These last few weeks have been non stop and I only have a few days off between now and the end of the year to tie up all my loose ends.

Last week was all about Halloween and it’s been great to have a run of shows where normally I’m mixing play lists to accommodate clients choices. With the turn of the month I’m now performing “Blaze Away” shows to tie in with the 5th November & Guy Fawkes and then it’s straight into ATS uniform with Remembrance. My “We’ll Meet Again” army show will be taking me through the rest of the month and then it’s Christmas – gosh where does the time go!

Last Tuesday I was in Birmingham singing for the launch of the Poppy Appeal at New Street Station. It’s one of those jobs which really sorts out the Women from the girls as I had been booked to perform from 8am in the morning through to 5.30pm in the evening. It’s a long day but very enjoyable as the time quickly passes. This year I was joined on stage by vintage vocalist and ukulele player Lynda Styan, male crooner Steve Forward, The Royal Air Force Regimental

The Royal Air Force Regimental Band!

Band and Stan Streather as “Winstan” Churchill.

New Street Station is a large space to fill but equally it’s not easy getting the sound right as the hall space reverberates naturally and often carries further than expected. My day started before the crack of dawn at 3am as I had to be on the road by 4.30am and in Birmingham by 6.15am. I know from experience just how difficult it is getting into the center of Birmingham with it’s one way system, but fortunately this year I had some help from RBL helper Malcolm who had the local knowledge I needed to get me to where I

On Stage with Steve Forward!

needed to be on time.

It’s not easy and Malcolm’s help proved to be invaluable especially as the long stay NCP station car park was out of action and the lift had broken in the short stay car park. Fortunately every-one rallied around and a couple of guys from Network rail very kindly carried my equipment down. Once in situate it doesn’t take me long to rig as I know the space well. This was my 3rd year at New Street and for 2021 I had put together a fantastic program of songs covering music from WW1 to the 1970s.

Churchill & I with The Poppy Sellers!

It’s important to go with the flow and interestingly the music which went down best of all with the passing commuters were my Disney medleys and Rock and Roll. I was also able to try out a few of my newer numbers and musical arrangements which included “Babies of the Blitz” “That Man”, “Aladdin”, “By Myself” and “The Wizard of Oz”. Lynda Styan delighted audiences with her quirky mix  of songs from the 1920s, 50s & 60s while Steve Forward crooned his way through the best numbers from the 1940s, 50s & 60s synonymous with stars such as Nat King Cole, Sinatra, Tony Bennett and more.

Yanto and “Winstan” Stan Streather!

It was great to see so many faces from passed years and to meet up with the service personal who were also working hard to sell Poppies around the station thanks to  Yanto’s wonderful organizing skills and all the dedicated staff from the RBL. Afterwards Lynda, Steve and I went out for a meal before we started on our journeys home. I don’t mind admitting the drive back was a killer and as soon as I got home I was straight to bed.

I purposely took Wednesday off to recharge my batteries and now it’s full steam ahead with Guy Fawkes and Remembrance. This Saturday I’m on

Lynda Styan and I with Yanto!

stage performing for Cheddington Bowles Club and the following Saturday for remembrance weekend, Paul Marsden will be joining me on stage at The Lion in Waddesdon. More news on that in my next blog.

I would like to say a very big thank-you to every-one who came to support us at New Street Station and to all the staff and volunteers who helped to make this year such a success as we slowly get back to some sort of normality after lock-down. I shall leave you with a few photos from Birmingham. Keep Following Toodle Pip and Bye for Now! 😉

Collecting at New Street Station!

Fly Me to the Moon!

It’s just a quick blog tonight as I’m between shows and busy with the Halloween season. In fact with the exception of a few days, and I do only mean a few, I’m fully booked for the year and dates are rapidly selling fast for 2022 especially with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

I always enjoy Halloween and my show “Fly me to the Moon” has sold especially well for 2021. This year I’ve had a new dress made and if you caught last weeks blog you will know I had some shots taken between filming my show-reels for instagram. It’s great when a plan comes together and sometimes it can take a while for a show to sit right.

I’m especially pleased with my Halloween show and it’s content. It’s taken me a number of years

Dressed and Ready for Halloween!

to commission the right arrangements and Richard’s Aladdin medley is a real bobby dazzler. Musically I’m now able to combine American & European witchcraft with the far East and magic carpet rides. I love performing “Fly Me to the Moon”, it makes a change from uniform, and sit’s beautifully between the RAF’s Battle of Britain and the Navy’s Trafalgar Days before moving seamlessly through into November and Remembrance season.

Next week on the 2nd November I shall be performing for the Poppy Appeal at New Street Station in Birmingham. It’s going to be a long day as I’m booked to start singing from 8am through to 5.30pm, 20 minutes on 20 minutes off all through the day. Joining me will be vintage singer Lynda Styan and male crooner Steven Forward plus I believe we will also be having a special guest appearance from Winston Churchill. It promises to be a great day so if you happen to be in town do pop by and give to this very worthy cause. I need to make sure I get an early night before hand as I’m expected in Birmingham for 6.15am to allow for parking and set up

Straight afterwards I have a run of Guy Fawkes shows with “Blazeaway” taking me up to the 5th November and then it’s full swing into Remembrance and “We’ll Meet Again”.  More on that in my next blog.

Keep Following  Toodle Pip and I shall keep you posted! 😉

Singing for Len Cox!

I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to complete a blog for you all last week. I’ve been rushing around, squeezing as much as I can into 2021. It’s really scary when I stop to analogize how little time there is between now and 2022. I only have four clear days to get all my jobs done before this year comes to it’s close. I start my Halloween shows next week and of course it’s Trafalgar day on Thursday so much to do.

Last weekend I was down in Cornwall performing a special memorial concert for D-Day veteran Len Cox.  I was thrilled to be invited by Len’s daughter Joanne as we all came together to remember this lovely man. The service took place at St Marnarch’s parish church and afterwards I was engaged to perform my ATS D-Day show at the village hall. Len use to love to join me on stage and sing along with my shows in Arromanches. He will be sadly missed and I felt very honored that Len’s family invited me to pay this special tribute to him in

Inside St Marnarch’s Church!

his home town of Lanreath.

Afterwards I drove along the cost and broke my journey with Paul in Portsmouth.  Last Sunday was my birthday so Paul, Poppy and I decided to celebrate by going out for Sunday lunch at The Cormorant in Portchester.  The Cormorant is a dog friendly pub and not far to walk to from Paul’s house. The 10th October was a lovely day and as Paul’s birthday also falls on the 7th so it was a great way for us to celebrate.

I drove back on Monday afternoon and after squeezing in a show on Tuesday I was in the hair

Meeting Up With Len’s Friends from the RBL!

dresses and beauty parlor all day on Wednesday getting ready to record my next set of show-reels on Thursday. This time I wanted to do something a little different so I decided to hire Saracen House photographic studios in Old Stratford. It’s full steam ahead with my Peaky Blinders come Chicago inspired showreel which I plan to launch late November. While I was in the studio we were also able to record the Cole Porter number “Let’s Do it (Let Fall in Love)” and two 60s songs “You’re my World” and “These Boots are Made for Walking”.

On Set Behind the Scenes at Saracen House!

I always try and plan for every eventuality bringing along more accessorizes than I need when working on a shot. On this occasion I was horrified to find that the surface dye off my black gloves had come off on my 1930s evening dress. A wet wipe can only do so much and in the end it was necessary for me to change my gloves to white. I’m keeping my fingers crossed the black marks wont show in the video but one never knows!

As yet I haven’t seen the rushes but I’m praying all is OK and we have some good footage from Thursday’s shoot. I’m now working every day

Going for that 1920s Chicago Look!

and on Friday I was in Brackley and then on Saturday I sang songs from the 1950s, 60s & 70s for the “So You” fashion show which took place at Brooklands Club in Leighton Buzzard. It was lovely to see the modern day fashions which just goes to prove, I really do live in a time-warp when it comes to clothes. Fortunately I choose not to wear a full skirt and went for something slimmer to fit in with the modern theme.

Tomorrow I’m back in the recording studio laying down my harmonies to my new backing track “Babies of the Blitz”. This song was written for the

You’re My World!

2005 film “Mrs Henderson presents” which tells the story of the Windmill theater in London. It’s a fabulous song and I can’t wait to sing it. I shall leave you with a few photos from this past week.

Keep Following Toodle Pip and Bye for Now! 😉

On Stage for the “So You” Fashion Show!

These Boots are Made for Walking!

Singing with Len Cox in Arromanches 2016!

It was good to be back at work today after spending all of last week at home. My ten days of self isolating came to an end on Monday and I’m feeling so much better and raring to go. I still have a slight cough but now it’s down to mind over matter the same way you can make hiccups go away if you control your breathing. I do this naturally when I’m singing and during the course of my show today I was able to make it go away. It required some concentration and a few times I had to turn it into a cheeky giggle. It’s all down to technique which makes me think it wont be long before I’m completely back to normal.

On Stage with Len 2016!

Last week I had to do quite a bit of rescheduling and tomorrow after my show I’m straight back into the recording studio. I’m filming my show-reel next week and I need to get my vocals down before I go in front of the camera on Thursday. It’s exciting to see a plan coming together and I expect many of you have already seen a few of my Peaky Blinder inspired shots which will be making up a mayor part of my video. It’s good to do something different and this video will be taking on a Peaky Blinders come Chicago look as I play both the male and female roles. I’ve sorted out most of my costumes and if we have time I also hope to film a couple of 60s numbers too.

This Friday I’m straight down to Cornwall. I feel very proud to be performing for Len Cox’s  memorial. Some of you may remember D-Day Veteran Len Cox from my performances in Normandy as he would always come up and sing with me on stage in Arromanches. Len’s daughter Joanne has booked me to sing for

Remembering Len Cox!

his memorial which is taking place at the church and later at the village hall in Lanreath, Looe. I’ve been asked to perform my D-Day show in remembrance to Len which I’m honored to do. It will be a very special occasion and I shall leave my blog tonight with a few photos and videos of Len and I together in Arromanches. Happy memories of past years. So many of our lovely veterans are no longer with us but I’m so lucky to have these moments captured on film.

Keep Following Toodle Pip and Bye for Now!

On Stage At St Mary’s Church!

It’s been an extraordinary week where nothing has quite gone to plan. Last Friday I had the privilege of singing “The Magic of the Musicals” at St Mary’s Church at Porchester Castle. It was a lovely evening and it was wonderful to perform some of my favourite songs from the musicals. I also rediscovered a few numbers I’d not sung in a while which included “I Know Him so Well” from “Chess “And this is My Beloved” from “Kismet”. The show was well attended and Paul and Poppy came along too to see my performance.

My show had been booked as part of a South coast tour which was taking me along the coast to

Back stage with Poppy!

Brighton and back, but on the Saturday morning when I did my routine lateral flow test I discovered I was positive which came as a real shock. On finding out this information I had to cancel my tour and return home immediately. Fortunately I managed to book myself in for a PCR test that night and I’ve been self isolating all this week.

My ten days are through on the 3rd October and sometimes these things can be a blessing in disguise. I have been working extremely hard and it has done me good to be at home and get some well deserved rest. However the wheels keep turning and there is always work to be done which has enabled me to catch up with my e-mails. I do a bit and then I go for a lay down afterwards. It’s quite a treat to have a lay down in the afternoon but necessary for the moment until I get back on my feet.

Singing – And this is My Beloved!

Fortunately I’ve been doubled jabbed and it’s a little like having a cold. To begin with that’s what I thought I had until my lateral flow test told another story. My tests are now showing clear so I know I am on the mend and I’m looking forward to getting back to normal. I should have been in the recording studio this coming Saturday but I’ve re-booked to later next week and I have a very busy three month ahead of me. For the moment I’m concentrating on getting well and I will be back to my normal self in no time.

With that in mind I’m going to leave my blog here tonight. Keep Following. Toodle Pip and bye for now!