Between Sets at Rushmere!

Let me start this evening by thanking every-one who came along to see Paul and I perform at The Tree Tops Cafe at Rushmere Country Park on Friday. It was lovely to see you all and to perform all those popular well loved tunes from the 1940s. Now it’s time for me to put my uniforms away in favor of the Christmas season which I start officially on Thursday. This year I’m planning to bring in much more Rock and Roll into my Christmas set and include a little Abba too which never fails with party audiences. Interestingly I’ve been finding of late that at the start of December Christmas songs go down really well but as we move closer to the big day I’ve been getting more requests to perform a mixture of music rather than just all Christmas tunes. It seems we can all get a little Christmas-ed out by the New Year!

Speaking of New Year this time Paul and I will be in Bournmouth for a few days and at The Pavilion New Years Eve

Shopping at Wendover Antiques Center!

Out Shopping with Paul!

Ball on the 31st. Between now and then I have 38 shows to fit in so it’s going to be a busy time. On the 11th December I’ve been engaged to perform a Victorian Christmas with a Nutcracker theme for Aylesbury Council. So if you are about in Aylesbury on the 11th you can catch me in Friars Sqaure at 11.15am, 12.45pm, 2.15pm and at 3.30pm but I shall tell you more about that closer to the day.

If you caught my photos on facebook you will know Paul and I were in Wendover on Saturday trying to do a bit of Christmas shopping between shows at the Antiques Center. I’m pleased to say I’ve made a good start although I’m dreading the post office. It’s so boring having to stand in the Que for hours and I hate those self serve tills which always seem to go wrong when ever I try to use them. Bring back the quick till with staff and that wonderful old post office as seen in “Larkrise to Candleford”.  That’s what I say!

On that note I shall leave it here tonight as I have quite a few contracts to finish off which I must do before I turn in.

Keep Watching and Toodle Pip! 😉

Hush! Don’t Mention the D – Day Invasion!

Hello every-one I’m sorry I’m a little late with my blog this week and in truth I will only have time to write one this week as I have so much dashing around to do. I have to confess everything has been a little topsy tervy these last couple of weeks where nothing has quite gone to plan. If you caught my last blog you will know I was all set to perform a Music Hall show on Friday to commemorate the Battle of the Somme down on Hayling Island but the booking fell through at the last minute. However as this left me with a free weekend Paul and I decided to head down to Winchester to do a little Christmas Shopping

Poppy Out for Her Walk with Paul!

at the German market, (Don’t Mention the war!) only to find the weather turned nasty so we changed our plans and decided to stay in Portsmouth. Despite the rain we were still able to take Poppy for her walk along the sea front between storms!

Another change to plan was a show I had in for last Thursday which changed to Monday evening. I was able to re-arrange things and fitted it in on the way back from Portsmouth as I swung over to the village of Much Hadnam in Hertfordshire.

I didn’t get back until gone 10.30 pm so once home I thought I would have an easy day on Tuesday to sort myself out. However I revived a morning call to perform that afternoon in Harlow which meant me setting off promptly on Tuesday. Tomorrow I’m in Peterborough and don’t forget this Friday you can catch me on stage

Enjoying the D-Day Museum!

performing at The Tree Tops Cafe at Rushmere Country Park but I shall tell you more about that later in my blog.

Today I’ve been out and about working with film maker David Pustansky on editing my videos. Apart from my 1940s and 50s showreel I currently have in production, today we were able to finish a complete take of the Music Hall number Burlington Burtie and my Evette the Spivette showreel which I look forward to sharing with you all very soon. So keep watching this space and I shall keep you all posted. As soon as they get up loaded to You Tube I will let you know.

Part of the Overlord Embroidery!

With all the bad weather this weekend Paul and I decided to go to the Portsmouth D-Day Museum. Museums are the perfect places to visit when the weather is bad and I had been wanting to visit for a long time but never quite got the chance to do so before Saturday. The D-Day Museum houses a wonderful collection of D- Day related items including the iconic landing craft and the magnificent Overlord Embroidery. Inspired by the Bayeux tapestry the Portsmouth embroidery tells the story of D- Day from those who took part not only on the front line but on the home front too. I was very interested to see the embroidery which

Women’s Uniforms from the 1940s!

combines cordage work with applique. It’s beautifully put together and captures some wonderful images. If you follow me on facebook you may have seen some of my photos of the embroidery although it’s not easy to photograph as it’s very detailed and a modern camera finds it difficult to focus. Never the less I was able to get one good shot of the burning Normandy houses and the para-shoot drop. That evening as the rain persisted we went to the cinema and saw “Fantastic Beasts”. A very enjoyable film although it was a little like watching Harry Potter all over again with new characters set in early 1930s New

A 1940s Wedding Dress and a School Blazer of Wartime Badges!

York. As with any period film I automatically make a mental note of the costumes as there were one or two I really liked!

Speaking of costumes I’ve been designing a fair bit this last month. I hope I’m not barking up the wrong tree with my next filming project as it’s to capture the Music Hall era from the 1880s – 1920s. I’m just a little worried that this music might have had it’s time with audiences and bookers of today so I’m going to be including some Opera in the showreel too. I’ve felt for a long time I’ve needed a few new out-fits for this period so I’m going all out with “The Flower Duet from Lakme'”. This aria will require two new costumes as I will be singing both parts Lakme’ and Mallika and it’s going to be filmed split screen. I’m also having a new out-fit made for “Hands Knees and Boomps a Daisy” which will be very coquettish and will give me a bright new out-fit to wear for Victorian events. The big

Out for Dinner before “Fantastic Beasts!”

question when it comes to fitting is corset or no corset? Much as I like the look a corset gives me it does make breathing difficult when it comes to singing. Perhaps a firm boned under garment is the way forward!

This Friday I will be performing the music of the 1940s for The Greensand Trust at The Tree Tops Cafe, Rushmere Country Park, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 0EB. Tickets are £20 and include a fish and chip supper and are available by calling Hayleigh on 01525 234260. All profits go to The Greensand Trust and Paul Marsden will be joining me on stage too as my special guest so I hope you can all make it along.

Oh before I forget you might be interested to know Rachel has just up loaded my interview with Rosie Mac Leod of Radio Verulam onto my Media Page so please do click through to have a listen. We have also been working on my banner for my You Tube channel which ties in with my branding.

I shall leave it here tonight as I still have show plans to finish off for this weekend and then next week I start on my Christmas Season.

Keep Watching and Toodle Pip!

Driving Down to Winchester!

I have to confess there has been something of a change of plan this weekend. I was all set to step out on stage this Friday with my friend Lynda Styan and perform a WW1 Music Hall only to find our booking at Hayling Island Royal British Legion was cancelled on Wednesday at very short notice. Fortunately both Lynda and I are members of Equity and in a case such as this the client is obliged to pay in full. Although it’s not the money so much as the enjoyment of doing the job. Both Lynda and I had been looking forward to working with each other again and we had a fantastic show planed for the evening which was to commemorate The Battle of the Somme. Sometimes these things happen in show business so hopefully we will get the chance to play the show on a different date at another time. I shall keep you posted!

In the meantime it’s left me with a free weekend which is very unusual as I’m always working. So I’ve decided to head down to the south coast as originally planned this Friday, meet up with Paul and then we will be going into Winchester to do a bit of Christmas Shopping at the German market. I’d also like to visit the D-Day museum in Portsmouth. It’s one of those places I’ve always wanted to visit but never quite got there to. So perhaps this weekend will give me the opportunity.

Don’t forget you can catch me on the 25^th November performing songs from the 1940s at The Tree Tops Cafe, Rushmere Country Park, Leighton Buzzard LU7 0EB. Tickets are £20 and include a Fish and Chip Supper. Telephone Hayleigh Smith on 01525 234260 for tickets and all the profits go to the Greensands Trust.

That’s all my news for now Keep Watching and Toodle Pip!

On Stage at Stokenchurch!

Singing for The Friday Club!

Foulridge Social Club!

All Dressed Up at Foulridge!

On Stage with Paul!

These last ten days have been all about Remembrance and this last weekend Paul and I were performing up in Lancashire. On Friday I had two shows back to back. The first was an 11am show to tie in with the two minutes silence for the Leighton Buzzard Friday Club and then for my second show I was booked to perform in Stokenchurch. So often when I’m engaged to perform for remembrance I’m booked to perform my ATS “We’ll Meet Again” Show although this year has been a little different. The trend has been for RAF WAAF shows which has ment I have been able to bring in a few new numbers and give my military shows something of an airanaughtical flavour.

On Saturday I was booked to perform in Manchester at Wythenshawe before Paul and I continued our journey on up to Foulridge. I had been engaged to perform three day time sets at Foulridge Social Club for Remembrance Sunday so it was important that Paul and I arrived in town the night before. The club had booked us into a lovely hotel The Craven Heifer Inn which was only 3 minutes away from the club in the town of Kelbrook. We had a beautiful room and dinned in the Hotel that evening  which I would certanly recomend. On Sunday it was nessasery for Paul and I to arrive early at the club so we could set up before every-one had arrived.

When the members did arrive they had all dressed up and entered into the spirit of the 1940s. The club had been decorated and decked out in posters and flags. It was my first time at The Foulridge Social Club which had a wonderful atnospher as everyone joined in with the music. Durring the course of the day the members were able to raise over £1000 for Wings the RAF Benevolent fund and I performed in my RAF WAAF uniform to tie in with the theme. At the end of my third set I changed into a glamorous 1940s suit and finished the show with “Land of Hope and Glory” and God Save the Queen. I’d like to say a big thank-you to Jan and every-one at the club who worked so hard to make this Sunday so special. Thank-you so much for inviting me, Paul and I had a fantastic time and it was a delight to sing for you all.

Today I’ve been performing my ATS show in Aylesbury and tomorrow I’m down in Ruislip singing “We’ll Meet Again”. On Friday you can catch me on stage on Hayling Island at The Royal British Legion performing a WW1 double act with my friend Lynda Styan. This show has been booked to tie in with 2016 and The battle of the Somme aniversary. The client requested a double act rather than a solo artist so I’m looking forward to working with Lynda again.

See You on the 25th Nov!

That’s all my news for now other than my spell check has gone on this program and my blogs don’t seem to be going through to facebook like they ought. Rachel is on the case and I shall keep you posted. Don’t forget you can catch me in Leighton Buzzard on Friday 25th November performing for The Greensand Trust at Rushmere Country Park. Details can be found on the poster.

Toodle pip and Bye for Now

Off to Foulridge Social Club!

Hello every-one I’m in a bit of a dash as I’m between shows, busy sorting out my show plans for the weekend which this week will be taking me up to Lancashire and to the town of Foulridge. I’ve been booked to play Remembrance Sunday at Foulridge Social Club and this time my shows will have a WAAF flavour as the club is raising money for The RAF Benevolent Fund. In fact I have two WAAF shows back to back on Friday 11th and then Paul will be joining me on the 12th as we drive up to Lancashire. I have an ATS show on Saturday just outside of Manchester at Wythenshawe before we head straight onto our hotel in Kelbrook. It’s going to be a full weekend and one I’m looking forward to very much!

Flying High in Uniform!

This week I’ve been busy with remembrance shows but I’ve also been performing a few other types of shows too. On Tuesday I was performing in Edgeware songs from the 1950s and 60s and today I was singing in Milton Keynes for the John Lewis Retired Partners. Back in the early 90s I worked as a window dresser for John Lewis before I decided to go on the stage. I needed a way into the business so I ran away to Blackpool and became a red coat. I stayed for 18 months, learnt everything I needed to know and then I stept out as a full time entertainer – the rest as they say is history. Many of the ladies and the gentlemen in the audince remembered me from my time at John Lewis. Apparantly I stood out rather although I can’t think why (I say rather tongue and cheek). I put together a special show for them today as it was the partners Christmas Party. I sang everything from Opera, Hollywood, Rock and Roll to Christmas favourites. Something for every-one which went down really well.

Next week I will be continueing with Rememberance shows but then on Friday I’m working as a double act with my friend Lynda Styan on Hayling Island. We’ve been booked to perform a WW1 Music Hall show at the Royal British Legion to commerate The Battle of the Somme so more on that in my next blog.

Keep Watching and Toodle Pip!

Joe and I in Pitstone!

Joe Doing His Bit for the Poppy Appeal!

If you caught my last blog you will know this week I have been out and about performing 1940s ATS shows to tie in with the run up to remembrance. On Wednesday I made it along to see my friend Joe Marling “The Poppy Man of Pitstone” to buy my poppy for remembrance. Tomorrow I have two shows back to back, one ATS and the other, something special for the 5th November so I will be opening my evening show rather appropriately with “Blaze Away”. Perfect!

This week I started work with David on the film edits for my latist 1940s 50s showreel. On Thursday we set to work on blocking the showreel, selecting the camera angles and organising which songs go where. I find this process really intresting and we were able to achieve alot in just a few hours setting out the format and working out which shots needed the use of a zoom. When finnished this video will show case 14 musical numbers and it’s a very hard job deciding which shots stay and which ones have to go in the final edit.  We may well still need to cut the showreel down a little more as we are running just under five minutes and it’s not good to go much over four minutes when making showreels.

Next week I have eight shows to do and I will be performing at Foulridge Social Club, Lancashire for Remberance Sunday, but more on that in my next blog.

Keep Watching and Toodle Pip!

All Dressed Up for Halloween!

It’s just a quick blog tonight as I’ve been very busy these last few days with Halloween shows. It’s been great fun putting on my lucky black cat frock and singing “Fly me to the Moon” amongst other suitable tunes for Halloween. I’ve been performing at all sorts of Halloween parties and including lots of songs with moon and flying in the title.

Now October has come to its close, its full steam a head with remembrance. I shall be out a fair bit this November with my “We’ll Meet Again” show performing the music of the 1940s. Tomorrow I perform the first of these in

See You on the 25th Nov!

Berkhampsted before I pop along to see my friend Joe “The Poppy Man of Pitstone”. It’s that time of year again where we must all wear our poppies with pride!

Just to keep you all up to date I have a forth coming event on Friday 25th November where you can see me on stage at The Tree Tops Cafe, Rushmere Country Park, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 0EB. Tickets are £20 each and this includes a fish and chip dinner. Doors open at 7pm with dinner served at 7.30pm. Paul Marsden will be joining me on stage as we’ve been booked to perform the music of the 1940s in two 45 minute sets. For tickets call Hayleigh on 01525 234260. All proceeds from the evening will be reinvested into Rushmere Country Park and if you have not yet visited the park makes for a lovely venue.

On Thursday I will be working with David on the rough cuts

On Set With David!

from September’s filming. If you’ve been following me you will know my last shoot was all about the music of the 1940s and 50s so I hope it wont be too long before I have another colourful showreel to share with you all. In the new year I will be filming the Music Hall and Opera sections with plans to finish the uniform shows by the end of Spring. It’s all very exciting, once we have all the decades covered I hope to make one finished show reel which will cover the whole spectrum of my shows and music from Opera to Rock and Roll. So keep watching this space.

That’s all my news for now – So Keep Watching and Toodle Pip!

On Stage at The Oliver Hare!

Firstly I’d like to start my blog tonight by thanking everyone who came along to hear me sing at The Oliver Hare on Thursday for Leighton Buzzard’s Heritage week. It was a lovely afternoon and those high teas looked wonderful! So thank-you every-one for supporting the event as this week has been all about the “Changing Face of Our Pubs” staged by the Leighton Buzzard town council. There have been all sorts of historical events taking place in Leighton Buzzard’s pubs this week. I was engaged to perform an hours show on Thursday songs from the 1940s due to the fact I was booked that morning to perform a “We’ll Meet Again” show and as I had very little turn around time it was nessasry for me to go straight on in costume.

The Oliver and Hare is now a restaurant although back in the 18th century it was known as Ye Roe Buck changing to The Roebuck during the 19th century. It has an interesting history and during this time the publicans at the Roebuck

Me Trying on My Halloween Frock back in August!

diversified. Auctions were regularly held at the pub and in its yard a bone setter held a clinic there every week as did a vet. Adverts for servants – “strong girl wanted” – invited applicants to apply to Mrs Gartside at the Roebuck. A bath chair was advertised “to Let, without attendant 9d per hour, with attendant 1s 3d per hour”. But perhaps the most curious was an advert in the Leighton Buzzard Observer for 9th July 1889 entitled “Bathing”. Mr W H Hopkins of the Roebuck Inn “begs to announce that for bathing purposes the Bed of the Ousel has been Thoroughly Cleansed near the Black Bridge and a building erected for Bathers on the bank thereof. Tickets for

The Black Cat Dress Selfie!

the season to be obtained at the above address. I’m not quite sure where the black bridge was in Leighton Buzzard but I can honestly say I wouldn’t fancy bathing in the Ousel today!

This weekend I’m out and about performing my “Fly me to the Moon” show for Halloween. I performed the first of this block on Friday and I have three shows back to back on Halloween its self so it’s going to be a busy day. It can be a little difficult finding just the right thing to wear for Halloween. However back in August I found the perfect lucky black cat gown at Flamingo Frocks in Brackley thanks to a tip off from my friend Kim.

Next week I start on the run up to remembrance Sunday with “We’ll Meet Again” shows and I’m also booked in with David to see the first rough cuts from last months filming which is all very exciting. More on that next week.

Keep Watching and Toodle Pip!