OUR president Joan Jarvis opened the meeting by thanking Jean Coulton for the table flowers and welcoming two visitors and two new members.

She then explained that our expected speaker was unable to attend however David Hill had kindly stepped into the breach with his talk on the history of music halls.

We were given song sheets with songs sad and comic from that era which are still sung today.

In the 1800s music halls spread far and wide.

The theatres were unlicensed and only men were invited.

David sang a song for us about a Dark Girl Dressed In Blue.

There were songs for us to sing including Stanley Holloway’s Strolling In the Park and Champagne Charlie as recreated by Tommy Trinder.

We were told about Marie Lloyd’s risqué songs and that her real name was Mathilda Alice Victoria Wood.

It was a shock when she suddenly collapsed and died while on stage in 1922 and it was said that more people attended her funeral than that of King Edward VII.

David’s talk was most enjoyable and much appreciated.

Ann Hambleton was wished a happy October birthday and we were given final details for both next week’s theatre trip to see You Are Never Too Old at the Brindley and the outing to Chester Cathedral on November 18.

After tea and biscuits, served by Helen Slattery and Roma Etherington, the raffle was drawn and winners were Lynn Bates, Roma Etherington, Janis Porter, Margaret Fletcher, Margaret Barron and Shirley Bennett.

Our next meeting is on the afternoon of November 17 when our speaker will be Graham Stirrup telling us about animals at war.