Farmer Copley’s Gig. Pontefract

by Philip Barr. Photo’s Phil, Richard, Jane Barr Videos Jenny Sidebottom, Jane

On a raw, dreich (Bill Giles favourite weather word) November morning, coinciding with Remembrance Day, the band gathered under a gazebo in the grounds of Farmer Copley’s where an icy breeze did its best to creep into the nether regions throughout the two hours we were present. The setting was otherwise near perfect, ‘under the spreading chestnut tree,’ * with glorious autumn colours, and accompanying fairy lights to help dispel the gloom and in a place where there was plenty of foot traffic, adjacent to a seasonal craft tent for people to stop and appreciate the music, and hopefully to donate to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Proceedings started by respectively observing a two-minute silence before David got things under way with the ‘Wakeylele Medley’ and straight onto a repeat song list of the one played by those who attended last month’s premier appearance at XScape; Sunday’s farm venue being the second gig in a matter of days, following the rip – roaring success of the Crofton Darby and Joan extravaganza. The main difference between Then and Now – (that phrase sounds topical) was about 20°C and indeed surveying the bulky outfits worn at Farmer Copley’s we could have renamed ourselves the Michelin Men and Women for the day.

Of the ‘older old’ numbers played in the first half ‘Ain’t Misbehaving’ seemed to show an increasingly confident level of performance considering the tricky chords but David will be the best judge of that and the rest of the set progressed fairly smoothly too or so I thought, (see below).

The interval brought the desperately needed opportunity to grab a hot drink from the nearby mobile snack bar or/and to encircle the fire pit, although I thought it was a bit of a harsh judgement on our performance when David started talking about making a sacrifice! Meanwhile Mike S made for the nearby farmhouse reception where Christmas gifts were on display and was seen to be knocking back several cream liqueur and whisky samplers without having to fork out sixty quid in the case of the whisky.

Suitably refreshed though still tormented by the slight but nevertheless cruel and invisible icy breeze, the band got down to business of warming the cockles -with coconuts also featuring – and then, I suspect, the main thing uppermost in most minds was getting through the playlist to the end as quickly as possible. Fortunately to help things along there was a good turnout of family supporters to give us their usual encouragement and, to make things feel even more positive, a small but enthusiastic crowd of onlookers built up during the last three or four numbers as we bludgeoned our way, tunefully, to the end. 

As well as the usual thanks to David for leading the group – by the way he will be pleased to know that my better half together with other spouses of the band had apparently been saying how much we have improved, so that’s another feather in his cap/ trilby and the start of what we hope will become a modest headdress for the rest of us. 

Mike H also put in the spadework for this gig proving that the odd Bolton Wanderers fan means well at least.

 Next up is a return to a much more familiar and slightly less chilly, we hope, venue – the Ridings in Wakefield – at, arguably, the start of the Festive Season on Friday, 1st December, (10:30 for an 11a.m start.) Ho ho ho!

* Thanks also to David for the idea of using this reference; I had to google it!