Kettle Bridge Concertinas

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Written by Sandy (with additional material provided by the webmaster)

All photos courtesy of Gary (except where noted)

Before our performance at Severndroog Castle, which was scheduled for 3 p.m., we arranged to have a much-needed morning practice session at nearby Woodlands Farm, Shooters Hill. The farm trust was established in 1997 to safeguard the land and the valuable environment for the local community. They are strongly committed to encouraging a diversity of wildlife and carry out extensive conservation work.

We set off from all parts of Kent to reach the farm by 11 a.m. The farm trust had kindly offered to let us use one of their rooms for practice in exchange for a performance by Kettle Bridge Concertinas there in October. This offer was gratefully accepted and greatly appreciated.

The practice session went very well and we were pleased to be joined by two of our new beginners who managed to keep smiling through all our mistakes. We took the opportunity to hold our AGM after the practice and, with the formalities out of the way, there was just time for lunch before we packed up and proceeded up the hill to Severndroog Castle.

The castle features a tower with far-reaching views and was built in 1784 as a memorial to Commodore Sir William James, a local celebrity, who, in April 1755, attacked and destroyed the island fortress of Suvarnadurg (anglicised to Severndroog) of the Maratha Empire on the western coast of India, between Mumbai and Goa. The castle gradually fell into disrepair but was saved in 2003 when a trust was established. Following restoration, it was opened to the public in 2014. The trust hold open days to raise funds and invited us to perform at their Autumn Festival.

Along with a folk band and morris groups, we entertained a large crowd, ably assisted for one tune by an impromptu percussion section on tin trays! We played a variety of music, not only as a whole band but also as a duet and quintet. You can click here to see a video of the day.

With the performance complete, we left the venue and Liz very kindly hosted a tea and cake session to round off a truly delightful day!