Help: Singaround(non-smoking) Olney,Bucks,UK

Subject: Singaround(non-smoking) Olney,Bucks,UK
From: Julie B
Date: 06 Mar 01 - 12:35 PM

A couple of friends and I are planning to start a monthly folk acoustic 'singaround' session in Olney, Buckinghamshire (UK) in the next month or two. After a long and fruitless search for local-ish folk singarounds in non-smoking venues, we've found a pub in Olney that is happy to hire out their upstairs function room, which can be designated as non-smoking for the evening.

It'd be nice to make contact with as as many people as possible who might be looking for the same sort of thing, and would be keen to turn up and support such a session while it found it's feet. I myself only got into folk a couple of years back, and the support of other, more experienced (and less experienced!) folkies would be most welcome!

Drop me a line if you're interested, and I'll keep you informed of developments.

Julie B

Subject: RE: Help: Singaround(non-smoking) Olney,Bucks,UK
From: John J
Date: 06 Mar 01 - 12:42 PM

Gosh, it's a long time since I was in Olney (25yrs+). Is it the 'Bell' or perhaps the 'Bull'? It has been a long time! I'd love to come but it's a long way from Manchester. Good luck, and more power to your elbow. John

Subject: RE: Help: Singaround(non-smoking) Olney,Bucks,UK
From: Julie B
Date: 07 Mar 01 - 03:26 AM

Ta John. The pub in question is the "Two Brewers" on the main road. We thought Olney might prove a good location as we're hoping to attract singers in from Bedford/Northampton/Wellingborough/Milton Keynes areas, & Olney is sort of in the middle!

Subject: RE: Help: Singaround(non-smoking) Olney,Bucks,UK
From: John J at home
Date: 07 Mar 01 - 07:57 AM

Is there a pub in Olney called the Bell, or perhaps the Bell & Bear? I know short term memory loss is a problem for the elderley, but I thought long term memory was enhanced! Cheers, JJ

Subject: RE: Help: Singaround(non-smoking) Olney,Bucks,UK
From: GUEST,Steve Parkes (not at home)
Date: 07 Mar 01 - 10:33 AM

Ask when you're at the Two Brewers, JJ!

Subject: RE: Help: Singaround(non-smoking) Olney,Bucks,UK
From: SueH
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 08:22 AM

Let me know when you have established dates & times for these sessions, Julie; many of the singers from Bedford come to our club & to sessions that we attend and/or run, so I can let them know.
I'm sure people will come if they possibly can, although there are so many sessions locally that what with those & gigs it's hard to find time to attend anything else sometimes.
There is a session at Campton, South Beds; I believe it's weekly on Wednesdays, in a pub called the White Hart. It's probably NOT non-smoking, but it might be worth going to make contact with people; it's been going for a very long time & I undertand it's extremely well-attended.
SueH

Subject: RE: Help: Singaround(non-smoking) Olney,Bucks,UK
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 11:55 AM

Julie, drop me a line when you get sorted and I'll give you several mentions in our parish notices

meanwhile: http://www.derekgibbons.co.uk/ has some local info (well local to me anyway)

Subject: RE: Help: Singaround(non-smoking) Olney,Bucks,UK
From: Julie B
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 10:58 AM

Hi John J, The pub you're thinking of is The Bull, just on the market square. Julie B

Subject: RE: Help: Singaround(non-smoking) Olney,Bucks,UK
From: GUEST,Sue M
Date: 11 May 01 - 07:49 AM

Hi Julie!

Have you made any progress with the smoke-free singaround in Olney? I live in Rushden, Northants and would be pleased to sing in a smoke free environment as the singaround I take my 15 year old son to leaves us reeking of smoke for the next day!

From your other postings I notice that you went to University in Hull - me also 1977 - 1980, I also lived in the Lawns! It's a small world!

Subject: RE: Help: Singaround(non-smoking) Olney,Bucks,UK
From: Julie B
Date: 31 May 01 - 08:38 AM

Hi Sue,

Sorry I haven't updated this thread lately. No, the Olney session is not off the ground yet. I was hoping to come across a few other folk musicians (with more experience than me)who were equally enthusiatic about finding a non-smoking venue. However, I guess we're all busy people, and, when it comes down to it, most would rather go to the session in the local smoke-filled bar rather than have to travel further afield in the evening after work.

I'm still interested in starting a session at some point, but, being a relative 'folk novice' I'd be a bit out of my depth without support from a few others who were equally keen.

Incidentally, my partner and I went to Toronto in April. Wonderful non-smoking legislation and excellent ventilation in all the bars. We actually went to bars (which we don't usually do because of smoke)and didn't stink when we came out! The Toronto Flying Cloud folk club was great too (saw UK artist Harvey Andrews). Completely non-smoking, of course. It was the first folk club my partner had ever visited, as he can't stand the smoke in the pub venues over here!

Julie B

Subject: RE: Help: Singaround(non-smoking) Olney,Bucks,UK
From: Sue M
Date: 31 May 01 - 08:53 AM

Hi Julie,

Sorry to hear that the Olney sessions haven't got off the ground yet. Let us know if you manage to get something going in the future. By then my son and I may be more expert in playing/singing.

If I come across any non-smoking venues in this area I'll let you and other Mudcatters know about them.

Sue M

Subject: RE: Help: Singaround(non-smoking) Olney,Bucks,UK
From: black walnut
Date: 31 May 01 - 09:09 AM

Thanks....you've helped me to appreciate the Flying Cloud even more, Julie! It isn't right to be forced to inhale smoke in order to enjoy good live music. I hope you can eventually manage to find a few more people who can work together to make a smoke-free venue happen for a group of you.

As you know, I belong to the Toronto Song Circle as well. We go to a different home each week....anyone wanting to smoke must take oneself outside to do so, no matter whether it's clear or raining or snowing. We don't even discuss it here...such consideration is taken for granted.

If you continue just as you're doing to increase the awareness of the rights of non-smokers, and of what some people are doing about it, attitudes over there may begin to change....

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Help: Singaround(non-smoking) Olney,Bucks,UK
From: Julie B
Date: 01 Jun 01 - 03:45 AM

..Thanks for the words of encouragement, b.w.!...They're very much appreciated and it's nice to hear from you again. Thanks for giving Nick and I a lift back to our Toronto hotel after a very enjoyable folk evening!

Bye for now, Julie B

Subject: RE: Help: Singaround(non-smoking) Olney,Bucks,UK
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 01 Jun 01 - 07:23 AM

Tut-tut, Julie! Nick and me!

Subject: RE: Help: Singaround(non-smoking) Olney,Bucks,UK
From: Julie B
Date: 01 Jun 01 - 09:02 AM

...I'm shocked Steve! Nick never once mentioned that you two had been to Toronto together!?!*

Julie B

Subject: RE: Help: Singaround(non-smoking) Olney,Bucks,UK
From: Julie B
Date: 04 Jul 01 - 08:01 AM

This one isn't a non-smoking club, but does have a'restricted smoking' policy (i.e. signs are put out on tables asking people only to smoke on one or two tables at one end of the room). It can get smoky if a chain smoker turns up, but for the last two sessions there have been no smokers at all. Arrive early to grab a chair at the 'non-smoking' end.

Acoustic (mostly folk) session
The Cuckoo
Wollaston
(near Wellingborough)
Northamptonshire

First Monday of every month
8.30pm - 11pm

Run by Pat Baldwin