Dear Members

I have once again written to you myself, since Peter, our chairman, though improving is not yet fully fit after his medical ordeal.

I thought it most important to get this letter out in good time as this is the month we change over to the first Tuesdays in the month for our meetings.

Our Last Meeting was the August one and while we have never given up on this holiday month and cancelled meetings, this was the lightest attendance I have ever seen at our club.

We still managed to have some interesting and useful discussion and playing, but of course group playing was out of the question because of our extremely low numbers.

We were even without such long-established regular club stalwarts as Geoff Wright, Ray Burgon and John Bartnik on this one, but the bright spot was that Peter Hinchliffe our chairman made a welcome and unexpected appearance after his recent medical problems, looking good if a little shaky.

I have spoken to him since on the telephone, and he tells me that he was back in hospital the following day as it happened, and still has several medical appointments, though his major problem picked up during his original operation was fortunately tested for and found clear.

He also had one or two interesting bits of news to pass on – that the format of the recording we were waiting to hear of the BBC programme about the club when obtained from Doug`s family was unplayable, but that someone was working on it.

As this was about the club and actually featured our own dear friend Douglas Fellowes being interviewed this is of great interest to us all. (I know that John Kenyon has also been working on getting a copy of this recording back to us, and with all this activity we may be able to hear it soon, I hope).

Actually Doug`s passing has hit the club for six and Peter told me that he met someone in town the other day who said he did not see any point in coming to meetings any more now he has gone.

I am sure we all know how he feels about this, it has knocked the club for six without him (we have onlyl had one concert since we lost him and we are still trying to organize our club`s 10^th anniversary celebrations which could be delayed now until January) but Doug Fellowes put an enormous amount of work in for Barnsley Accordion Club, as well as the Musicians Union, and I think the best we can do for him is to fully support the club in his memory and not waste his former efforts.

The Next Meeting is on the NEW DAY SYSTEM  and is on this coming Tuesday 7th October. This effectively delays the meeting by a week, which is fortunate since it gives you a breathing space to get used to the idea!

This will just be a normal meeting, but I am sure you will be refreshed with new tunes and enthusiasm to join us after the summer break.

See you there on Tuesday October 7^th.

Alex