SHOPPERS visiting Dawsons Music on Saturday will be in for a surprise when a ukulele group will be in store to strum out the hits.

The fundraiser with a difference for the Warrington Afghanistan Challenge will see Warrington's U3A ukulele group 'Rock-a-Hulas' performing all day concerts at the Sankey Street shop from 10am.

They will be playing the likes of Status Quo's Rockin' All Over the World, Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline, Lonnie Donegan's Puttin’ On The Style and Tom Jones's Delilah as well as their signature tune, Elvis’s Rock-A-Hula Baby from Blue Hawaii, which they always finish their shows with.

Jenny Ruffley , group leader of the Rock-a-hulas, said: "We’re all pensioners and we love all the 60s stuff and the rock and roll and all that so we’ve put a bit of that in but we’ve tried to be little more up to date."

The group, which has members in their 50s, 60s and 70s, formed in March 2013 and they now have 170 tunes in their songbook.

"To be honest, most of us aren’t musical," added Jenny, aged 69.

"People come along who have never played an instrument in their lives. We have all fancied ourselves as a guitarist. Years ago we used to 'play' our tennis rackets.

"So members don’t have to learn the ukulele before they join. They strum to the beat of the music and sing the songs and as they go along they are learning the chords.

"It’s a fantastic thing especially for older people."

Jenny, from Great Sankey, started learning the ukulele about two years ago and the first song she learnt was Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band's I'm The Urban Spaceman.

She said: "My husband Tom has always played the ukulele and we went along to the Junction pub in Rainford one Thursday night.

"He took a ukulele and I just went along to support him and when everybody started to play their ukuleles and sing I thought: 'This is fantastic'.

"So I quickly got myself a ukulele and next Thursday there I was and I was just strumming away and singing all the songs."

That inspired Jenny to set up the U3A ukulele group which started with 20 members and now has 79 led by John Lawton, who was in a country band called Indiana.

They meet every fortnight at Fairfield and Howley Community Centre in Fairfield Street.

Jenny added: "It’s like an orchestra at rehearsals now with three or four rows of people in a half moon shape with John at the front keeping us going.

"It’s electric. When we’re all together the sound fills the room."

Warrington U3A provides opportunities, learning experiences and social activities for retired people.

The Warrington Afghanistan Challenge, headed by Warrington Hospital employee Phil Winstanley, aims to raise a minimum of £500,000 for charities including Help for Heroes, the Royal British Legion and the Army Benevolent Fund.

Phil served in the Royal Army Medical Corps from 1982 to 1995.

To attend Rock-a-Hulas' Saturday concerts or make a donation, visit Dawsons Music between:

- 10am and 10.30am

- 11.15am to noon

- 1pm to 1.30pm

- 2.15pm to 3pm

DAVID MORGAN