Back stage at the De La Warr!

Between Shows!

Hello every-one and what a rip roaring weekend it’s been. Paul and I have just returned home from performing in Bexhill at the De La Warr for the Roaring 20s Event. I travelled down on the Friday night after first performing for a lovely Wedding at The Warren Lodge in Shepperton. I confess Friday was the first night of the Summer Holidays and the traffic on the M25 was very heavy. However all was well and I made it down in plenty of time for the show and what a beautiful wedding it was too. The weather was perfect. I had been engaged to perform music from the 1930s -1960s but saying that when it comes to a wedding you can’t go wrong with a bit of Abba and “Dancing Queen”.  Every-one was beautifully dressed and the bride was especially radiant. I would have liked to have stayed for longer but it was important for me to say my goodbyes and continue my journey down to Bexhill.

On this occasion Paul and I had decided to stay in Gladdis our tour bus so Paul met me down in Bexhill. As you might imagine Saturday was a very full day. I had been engaged to sing at various intervals

Backstage with Paul in his new 1920s Cap!

through-out the day on both the main and terrace stages. In all the years I’ve been working down in Bexhill I’ve never seen the De La Warr so busy. It’s my favourite theatre and a little like coming home. I’ve sung on the De La Warr stage many times before but this time the event was being stage outside on the sea front.

For my 3pm slot I sung on the terrace stage and finished my show with Nessun Norma. Nessun Norma was a little bit of a wild card  and I almost didn’t do it at all but as the aria was writain in 1923 I thought why not

Shopping for Vintage Between Sets!

After the Show is Over!

and the audience gave me a standing ovation. I love Bexhill! Saturday’s event must have attracted over 20.000 visiters. There was so much going on. I partially enjoyed the dancing from Debonnaire and the 18 Piece Swing Shift Big Band not to mention the Prohibition stuntmen.

On Sunday Paul and I made it down to the old town of Hastings although sadly we didn’t have too long. I didn’t get back until 6pm last night as I needed to do some shopping in St Leonards and I’m now working hard to get everything ship-shape for this weekend. I’m afraid I will only have time to write one blog this week as I’m all set to play Chipperfield Cricket Club, WD4 9BS  this Friday with a 1940s WAAF show. If you would like tickets call Trudy Leach on 07979 221682. It’s in aid of the Peace Hospice, Watford and tickets are priced at £18 which includes a wartime super. It will be lovely to see you.

Straight afterwards Paul and I will be heading over to Wales and the Blaenau Ffestiniog 1940s Vintage festival. On Saturday night Paul and I will be singing at The Bridge Cafe,

Wearing My New 1920s Hat From Flywheel!

Church street in a show called “Viva Vintage” music from the 1920s – 50s. On Sunday I’m booked to sing two 1940s sets one ATS at 11.45pm and one American glamour at 3pm so I’m busy this week working out my show plans. We come back straight afterwards on Sunday night and then we are down to Portmouth on Monday 1st August. I have some shows to do in Portsmouth before heading over to the Isle of Wight on the 4th August for the Victorian Festival at Havenstreet Railway and I wont be back until the 11th. I’ve been looking forward to playing the Isle of Wight’s Victorian Weekend very much as Paul and I have decided to take a small holiday while we are there and see a little of the island. I’ve played the Ise of Wight many times although this will be my first chance to play the tourist. So far we have both had a very busy summer season and we are looking forward to a bit of a rest.

The Dancing Girls Debonnaire!

Paul with Gladdis the Tour Bus!

Monday Morning in St Leonards!

I shall see how things go but this may be my last blog before the 11th August. I have a lot to squeeze in in the next few weeks which includes show plans and prepping costumes. I shall do my best to keep you up to date with my photos through facebook, but one good thing I will have lots of new photos and news to tell you when I get back.

David has been working hard on my show reels so I hope it wont be too long before I have some new videos to show you come mid August. I’m also itching to record a new album next year and I have lots of ideas spinning around in my head which I would love to put into production. At the moment I’m concentrating on my filming and showreels. The next section will be the 1940s as I go very Hollywood and glamorous. I have some new songs in production with Richard at the moment and I’ve been thinking alot about fabrics and dress colours. Since making these last two showreels I’ve become much more awear about colour on camera and I seem to be having a problem with pink. It fights with my spray tan and I need to avoid wearing black gloves. As for the album we will have to see I’ve so much to do first. I need to make a start on issue two of Vintage Fair magazine as next year I will be celebrating 25 years in show business.

I must dash now as I have a show in Edgeware and I need to get ready. Keep Watching and enjoy my facebook pictures from the Roaring 20s weekend. Toodle Pip and Bye for now!

Off to Bexhill!

Tonight I’m just tieing up a few loose ends before I head off tomorrow to Bexhill and the Roaring 20s event which is taking place out-side the De La Warr Pavillion on Saturday. I have a wedding in Shepperton on the way down where I’ve been engaged to sing from the 1930 – through to the 1960s. I shall then be continuing my journey down to Bexhill after my performance on Friday night so it’s going to be a very full day.

I think I have everything in place for the weekend. My cases are packed and all my show plans are ready so if you are around on Saturday it will be lovely to see you in Bexhill. I’m just keeping my fingers crossed for lovely weather and I’m keen to try out one of my new 1920s hats I bought at Flywheel.

It’s been so very hot this week and some of you may have caught my post on Facebook when I made it along to The Hell Fire Caves at West Wycombe. I had been performing in Stokenchurch

Out-side The Hell Fire Caves!

and afterwards with it being so hot I thought why not. I’d always wanted to go but I’d never had the chance to so it was a bit of a spear of the moment thing. There is a charming little cafe just at the foot of the caves where I treated myself to a delightful vanilla ice cream and then I went for a wonder, which was just what the Dr orded on such a hot day.

Don’t forget you can see me performing at Chipperfield Cricket club on the 29th July. Ring Trudy Leach on 07939 033426 if you would like tickets the evening is in aid of the Peace Hospice, Watford. Paul and I shall be heading straight off to Blaenau Ffestiniog 1940s vintage festival straight afterwards for Saturday and Sunday. More on that in my next blog.

Keep Watching and Toodle Pip! 😉

It will be Delightful to See You!

It’s been good to spend a weekend at home for a change as it’s allowed me to sort out a few things in the office. In all honesty I’ve not been too well these last couple of weeks and it’s been good to take things a little easier. Some of you may already know I’m a diabetic and on Wednesday I discovered one of my insulin bottles had a bubble in it. For a while my sugar levels haven’t been as good as they should have been and if my balance isn’t right it can affect my moods. If a bottle has a bubble it upsets my dose and although I’d been injecting normally I’d not been getting enough insulin these last couple of weeks. It wasn’t until Wednesday I discovered the bubble and then able to sort out the problem.

I’ve been feeling so much better these last couple of days. I’ve been out running and I was working out in the gym today too. I try to run most days as it makes such a difference

Off to Bexhill & The Roaring 20s Event!

and it helps to keep my weight down and sugar levels at bay. I also had an appointment with the diabetic nurse today who thought that perhaps my blood testing machine wasn’t up to date. Rather annoyingly the new machine she gave me doesn’t fit in the provided pouch which makes it hard to use and impossible to transport. Another one of life’s niggles – as I will have to ring up for another one – What a pain!

On a brighter note it’s going to be full steam ahead this Friday as I head down to Bexhill for the Roaring 20s event. I will be performing on Saturday, 3 shows daily although I’m not quite sure of the times yet. As soon as I know I will let you know. I have a Wedding on the way down in Shepperton and I’ve been engaged to perform music from the 1930s – 60s. On Sunday Paul and I will be enjoying a day off in Hastings by the sea so lets keep our fingers crossed for lovely weather.

Coffee at Ollie Vees!

Don’t forget you can catch me at Chipperfield Cricket Club WD4 9B5 on Friday 29th July with my “We’ll Meet Again” 1940s WAAF show. Tickets are £18 and include a supper. It’s in aid of the Peace Hospice, Watford. This year during the interval a gentleman from RAF Uxbridge will be speaking about the Battle of Britain. If you would like tickets call Trude on 07979 221682 and it would be lovely to see you.

I shall leave you with a photo of me having coffee at Ollie Vees. It was so hot today I made sure I wore my hat!

Keep Watching and Toodle Pip! 😉

Back in the Office!

Hello every-one and welcome to my blog. I can’t spend too long tonight only because I have decided to devote  this weekend to catching up with paper work and boy do I have a lot of catching up to do. This is my first free weekend since February and I have so much sorting out to do. So it’s time to put on my glasses and become my alter ego the ever efficient secretary Prudie Jones.

I have lots of ideas buzzing around in my head about how I would like to up date my web-site which up until now I haven’t been able to put down onto paper. My 1950s and 60s page is long over due for a re fresh and I’ve lots of new photos I want to add in. Many of these will be in the form of cut-outs but it takes a lot of sorting out finding the perfect shot to go with the theme. It’s likely I wont be able to see Rachel my web-designer before August and as I’m now fully booked from the 19th through to 12th August it’s important I get everything ship-shape and ready for when we do. By then I hope to have a finished 1920s and 30s showreel to show you plus a finished take on “Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend” and “Mr Sandman”. Mr Sandman is already finished and in the can although these films wont be up loaded to you tube until August so do keep watching and I shall keep you posted.

Rather exciting I’ve just had conformation through today to perform out in Milan. I love Italy and although I’ve been to Rome a couple of times this will be my first trip to Milan so it’s time for Paul and I to brush up on our Italian. I’ve been asked to perform two shows and sing in English, French and Italian. At first we did look at driving down through France although the client has agreed to fly us out which is all very exciting and I’m looking forward to including some Italian Opera in my show plans.

I shall leave it here tonight only I thought it might be lovely to add to my facebook page video of the week. You Tube is full of wonderful clips from the musicals and it might be wonderful to start sharing more of them with you through my pages. I’ve already up loaded a couple, Fred and Eleanor tap dancing to “Begin the Beginne” and “Good Morning” from “Singing in the Rain”. So here’s to making it a regular thing.

Toodle Pip and Bye for Now! 😉

Outside the Maritime Museum in Ramsgate!

All the Fun of the Fair!

Paul with the Mayor!

Hello every-one and what a week it’s been. Last Friday I had a “Stars and Stripes” show in Aylesbury before driving down to Ramsgate in preparation for the Battles to Victory show. I had a really good drive down and I’m pleased to say my gizmo beeped as it was supposed to as I made the Dartford crossing. Phew – I always worry when it comes to tecknoligee! Sadly Paul’s journey wasn’t quite as good so I guess I was just lucky with the traffic. That M25 can be a real devil if you don’t catch it right.

Saturday was quite the perfect of days. The weather was fabulous and we both had a lovely time watching the bands and enjoying the event. One gentleman even brought his ferret to the show while Paul caught up with the Mayor at Lola’s mobile canteen and I enjoyed the stalls. My best buy of the day was a pair of vintage American tan stockings. They are really hard to get hold of now as I’m a size 9 in a stockings and it’s usually only the very large sizes which are left. So it was lovely to come across a pair.

Later that after noon Paul and I were invited down to the marina for drinks on the P22 Velo2. P22 had just come back from being featured in the new Dunkerque movie as one of the little ships. Although not built until 1952 she had all the right attributes for the film. In real life she was used by the Americans to patrol the River Rhine so it was lovely to be invited on board and visit a piece of maritime history. While we were waiting we had a lovely chat with Michael of the Ramsgate Maritime Museum. Sadly we didn’t get the chance to visit the Museum but I hope one day we shall when we are next in Ramsgate.

Making Friends with a ferret

Come Sunday Paul and I were looking forward to performing at the Battles for Victory show but due to an unexpected turn of events we return home. I’m sorry for all those of you who missed my performances but don’t worry you will be able to catch me on stage in Bexhill on 23rd July for the Roaring 20s event. I shall also be performing on Friday 29th July with a We’ll Meet Again WAAF show at Chipperfield Cricket Club, WD4 9B5. Tickets are £18 and include a ration supper and can be obtained by calling Trude on 07979 221682. Straight afterwards Paul and I will be heading to Wales and the Blaenau Ffestiniog’s Vintage Festival for the 30th & 31st July and then it’s over to the Isle of Wight and the Victorian festival taking place on the 6th and 7th August. I shall have more details about the above events in due course so keep following my blogs.

The P22 Velo2

In the meantime I still have a mountain of paperwork to finnish off and I need to spend some time going through some of my showreels and make a few notes. As yet I haven’t started on my 50s and 60s page up dates which I really must get on with in the next few weeks. So with that in mind I will leave my blog here tonight and press on.

Thank-you for following and Toodle Pip!

Off to The Battles for Victory Show!

Sadly I can’t spend too long tonight blogging as I’m busy preparing my show plans and costumes for Kent and The Battles for Victory show which is taking place this weekend at Ellington Park in Ramsgate. I have a “Stars and Stripes” show first thing tomorrow morning in Aylesbury and then I shall be driving down straight afterwards and staying over this weekend before returning home on the Monday morning. I’m nearly there with it all but I still want to give my shoes and brasses a polish plus iron a few bits and pieces. It’s important to look ones best I think!

We’ll Meet Again!

Paul is meeting me down at the show tomorrow night and rather thrilling we have the whole Saturday to explore and enjoy the event which is a rare treat for me. I’m not singing until Sunday and you will be able to catch me on stage and Paul too at 11.30am with my ATS “We’ll Meet Again” show, 1.30pm “Hooray for Hollywood” and at 3.30pm as I’ve been engaged to close the event with my “GI Jive” US WAC Show just before the last post – so I hope you can all make it along. It’s promising to be a fabulous event!

Today I fixed my Dart Charge gizmo to my window so when I go over the Queen Elizabeth bridge or through the tunnel the toll comes out of my account automatically. It can be such a fag having to ring up and pay every time one goes down that way so I thought it might save time. I only hope the thing works. I sent for it last October so I shall be listening out for its beep when I go through.

This week I’ve been out and about performing “Stars and Stripes” shows plus I had a “Swinging 50s and 60s” show and a Birthday to do today. Next week I must try to set some time aside between shows in the office. I want to make a few changes to my web-site and re-write some of the information as my 50s and 60s page is long over due for a re vamp. On the 23rd July I will be back down in Bexhill for the Roaring 20s event at the De La Warr Pavillion. While I was as Flywheel I treated myself to a couple of 1920s cloch hats and I’m looking forward to wearing them.

I shall leave it here tonight. Keep Watching and Toodle Pip!

Out and About at Flywheel!

Tea with Lesley!

Early Transport from 1900 as I get set to sing!

Paul with Miss Pick Up the 1940s Sea Plane!

Such Fun – Me in a 1909 Side Car!

Paul doing Drill with the Home Guard!

Well what a busy weekend it’s been! On Sunday evening I returned home after performing all weekend at Bicester Heritage for the Flywheel event and what a great weekend we all had too. Although we had a few spots of rain on the Saturday you couldn’t have hoped for a finer day come Sunday and everything went perfectly to plan. It’s a privilege to be involved in Flywheel as it’s one of the few festivals designed to celebrate historic motoring, aviation and military endeavour. When Historic Promotions put on an event they do things really well with the added bonus of having the old RAF Bicester site as a base. The site was built-in 1923 as the principal arm of Sir Hugh Trenchard’s expansion of the RAF and is now the best preserved bomber airfields in the country based on the philosophy of offensive deterrence.

I partially enjoy doing this show as I’m engaged to perform a variety of different musical periods from WW1 to the 1940s which I sing in appropriate costume. It makes a change to do a verity rather than just sing the 1940s and on this occasion I was able to mix in a little opera into my WW1 set. Last year Flywheel attracted over 5000 visitors although I’m sure we must have had double that on the Sunday alone which is quite remarkable when you think this is only Flywheels second year.

Of course the 2nd & 3rd July was also a very important weekend as we commemorated the centenary of the Battle of the Somme. On Saturday night Paul and I dashed over to Longhope Royal British Legion in Glos for a special commemoration performance. I had  been engaged to perform my WW1 show “Pack up Your Troubles”. This show has proved to be very popular and is one of the reasons I’m engaged to perform at Flywheel.

This year Sir Stirling Moss lead the track parade and signed autographs. We also saw the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire fly past, the Tiger 9 Aeronautical display team, the P-51D Mustang and my favourite of all the Great War Display Team. Paul and I also took up the opportunity to enjoy everything the show had to offer, from cream teas, looking for vintage bargains at the Trade Fair where I was able to pick up a couple of 1920s style hats and my favourite of all a ride in a 1909 side car as I visited the Oxfordshire Home Guard – such fun!

On Monday I was straight back to work with a 4th July “Stars and Stripes” show and I have another one to do this Friday before heading off to Kent and the “Battles for Victory” Show which will be taking place at Ellington Park in Ramsgate. I also have a couple of other shows to do this week not to mention lots of paper work to catch up on so I shall leave it here tonight. I will catch up with you all again on Thursday when I shall tell you more about The Battles for Victory show.

Keep Watching and Toodle Pip! 😉

On Stage as Burlington Bertie at Longhope RBL!

Paul and I Off to Flywheel!

Come Fly with Me!

Tonight I’m just putting together the last finishing touches for the weekend. If you caught my last blog you will know I’m at Flywheel this weekend. A wonderful festival which is all about historic motoring, aviation and military endeavour. It’s taking place at Bicester Heritage and you can find out more about the event by clicking onto Flywheel’s web-site at http://www.flywheelfestival.com. This is Flywheel’s second year and I’m thrilled to be invited back. I’m just keeping my fingers crossed for lovely weather which sadly might be rather wishful thinking after seeing the weather forcast for this weekend.

If it is wet don’t forget there will be lots going on in the Live Music marquee. I shall be on stage at 11am with my WW1 show “Pack Up Your Troubles”, 1pm Songs from the 1920s and 30s “Putting on the Ritz” and at 3pm Music from the 1940s with “We’ll Meet Again” with a change of costume from ATS to WAAF depending on which day you attend. So I look forward to seeing you!

This weekend is very special as it’s the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. As soon as I complete my last performance at Flywheel on Saturday Paul and I will be making a quick dash over to the village of Longhope in Glouster. I’ve been invited to perform for the Royal British Legion my WW1 show to tie in with the anniversary which I’m looking forward to doing very much. Then it’s a case of making the dash back to Bicester and Flywheel so I’m ready to go on stage first thing Sunday morning. Phew!

Come Monday its full steam ahead with my “Stars and Stripes” show to try in with the 4th July before heading off down to Kent for “The Battles for Victory” show. I shall have more on that in my next blog but must crack on now with my packing!

Keep Watching and Toodle Pip! 😉