Singing and dancing for Christmas

CROWDS of people sang and jived to music during the first week of this year’s Henley Living Advent Calendar.

The Christmas celebration has returned for the first time since 2019 following the coronavirus pandemic with 24 evenings of pop-up entertainment at different venues in aid of charity.

It began on Thursday last week when Nick Heyward, who lives in the town, and his band appeared outside the the town hall.

A large crowd gathered on a chilly night to watch the former Haircut 100 singer perform with guitarist Adam Phillips and keyboard player Anthony Clark.

The vibrant set finished with an encore of Fantastic Day.

The event, who was supported by Kench & Co, was in aid of the Royal British Legion with refreshments supplied by the Mobile Bike Café.

On Friday, Pure Fluke, a five-piece band entertained a 40-strong crowd at Thames Lodge in Reading Road.

Following mince pies and refreshments, supplied by Fairmile Vineyard, the band performed songs, including Paint it Black by the Rolling Stones, Save a Prayer by Duran Duran, Englishman in New York by Sting and In Good Company by Dead South.

The jolly atmosphere had the audience bouncing from side to side of the masonic hall.

The band finished with the festive classic Fairtytale of New York, which had the crowd singing along. Band member Sam Brown said: “It was amazing to be here. We’ve performed every year but this was our first time at Thames Lodge. We loved it.” The night was in aid of Sue Ryder.

On Saturday night, singer-bass guitarist Jonny Bidgood performed in the garden of the Anchor in Friday Street.

His set included The Beatles’ I Saw Her Standing There and Brenda Lee’s Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.

Mr Bidgood matched his audience’s flair for festive headwear with a green and red felt crown, brocaded red waistcoat and plaid blazer, complementing his glossy red bass guitar with a leopard print strap.

Calendar organiser Richard Rodway was playfully ushered in by Mr Bidgood before the pair engaged in a “completely unrehearsed” skit. The musician than played Lou Monte’s Dominick the Donkey, supported by a chorus of enthusiastic “hee-haws” from the audience.

The crowd clapped, sang along and waved flashlights to accompany his renditions of We Wish You a Merry Christmas, The Crickets’ That’ll Be the Day and John & Yoko/The Plastic Ono Band’s Happy Xmas (War is Over).

Mr Bidgood said: “The amount of people down here is really encouraging considering how cold it is. I didn’t know if people would turn up or not, but they have, which is really good.”

“Hats off to Richard Rodway for getting it  back on track this year. He’s a star for doing that skit with the donkey.”

Mayor Michelle Thomas and Deputy Mayor Donna Crook closed the event by announcing the names of the raffle winners. The night was in aid of Henley YMCA. On Sunday spectators brought out their moves to a 12-bar blues set at Phyllis Court Club. Jazz septet WotJam, from Whitchurch, opened with the traditional New Orleans parade song Second Line (Joe Avery’s Blues).

A waltzing duo, Trevor Howell and Sue Fitzsimons, had emerged from the audience by the start of Duke Ellington’s It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing), then adapted their steps to Felix Bernard’s Winter Wonderland, Richard Rogers’s Have You Met Miss Jones?, Miriam Makeba’s Soweto Blues, and J Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie’s Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town.

Mr Howell’s wife, Anna Del Nevo, was playing violin in the band.

WotJam concluded with Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters’ Hippology, rousing the crowd and prompting several audience members to join in the dancing. WotJam tenor saxophonist Leslie Maynerd said: “This is the first time I’ve played without music. It was scary but very enjoyable.”

The evening was supported by financial advisers Orchard House.

It was in aid of the Rivertime Boat Trust whose head skipper Lucy Herbert said: “Throughout the summer, we take 200-odd groups of disabled and disadvantaged children and adults on trips.

“The money we raise tonight is going towards inviting young carers and their families on a boat next spring. They’ll be joined by other families and they’ll get to have a nice relaxing time on the river in Henley and hopefully meet new friends.”

The raffle was drawn by Mr Rodway Helen Fraser of Orchard House and prizes included Three Oaks Orchard apple juice, Oaken Grove red wine, a 12-person boating experience offered by Rivertime, an Experience Henley giftcard and Nicola Baker Bakes’ mince pies.

On Monday night, one-man tribute act Marc Hockley — aka Robbing Williams and Mike All Bublé — performed in the courtyard at Hotel du Vin in New Street.

Such was the excitement that hotel guests joined the crowd to see what the fuss was about.

Mr Hockley admitted that he hadn’t rehearsed his set, which featured Go Gentle and Somethin’ Stupid by Robbie Williams, Walking in a Winter Wonderland and Michael Bublé’s rendition of Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

Feel by Robbie Williams was renamed “Feel Cold”. The performance finished with Rock DJ, Angel and Holly Jolly Christmas.

Mr Hockley said he had performed at the calendar a few times and it was always a pleasure. The evening was in aid of the the Henley Talking Newspaper.

Mulled wine and mince pies, were supplied by the hotel.

On Tuesday night, Pig Foot Band brought soul-filled cheer to the Angel on the Bridge pub.

Usually known as Ma Bessie and her Pig Foot Band, the blues group were without their frontwoman and instead were a percussionist Andy Wilkins, saxophonist Michael Wilkins and guitarist Matt Foster.

The 60-strong crowd was warmed with turkey rolls and mulled wine supplied by the pub as the band started with Bring it on Home to Me by Sam Cooke and finished with a blues version of Bob Marley’s Redemption Song.

In between, the band played Let the Good Times Roll by Louis Jordan and Call it Stormy Monday by T-Bone Walker.

Mr Foster said: “This always a nice thing to do. It was very chilly, making it difficult to play some chords, but we got through it. I’m looking forward to a warm burger on the way home.”

The evening was in aid of Riverside Counselling.

Tonight’s performance (Friday) will be held in Market Place.

The remaining list of date and venues are as follows: 10 Henley Rugby Club; 11 Trinity Hall;
12 Relais Henley; 13 d:two centre; 14 The Henley College;
15 Town hall; 16 Eyot Centre;
17 Henley Cricket Club; 18 Market Place; 19 Christ Church;
20 Kenton Theatre; 21 Leander Club; 22 Simmons & Sons;
23 Town hall; 24 St Mary’s Church.

For more information, visit www.livingadventcalendar.co.uk