Thanks for the information, folks. I've experienced themed sessions before (now I know what they're called) and they're good fun. I hope the organisers at Ashwell will insist on a link, however tenuous it may be, with penalties for anyone failing to provide one. I remember joining in one session where most of us made the effort to fit in with the theme, but some members would say things like "Well I don't know any songs about Scottish one-legged urban shepherds so I'll just sing this one I wrote last week about my recent business trip to Japan" or something else totally unconnected.

[ I wholeheartedly endorse The Unicorn Man's sentiments re sparklers - IMO they should be banned. For those who don't know, the sparklers in question are nowt to do with November 5th, but they are fiendish attachments to the beer outlet on a handpump, which forces the ale through a myriad of tiny holes, giving the ale a ghastly artificial head, in appearance not unlike that on nitrokeg beer. Real ale connoisseurs (and I include myself in their number!) claim that the ale's flavour is adversely affected by this unnatural act - not to mention that the breweries can get away with selling an apparently full glass of ale with a fair proportion of air in it, thus increasing their profits at the punter's expense. Given the choice I always prefer ale straight from the cask, as that way it tastes as nature intended ;-) ]