Let's Have A Do.

Can we get some crates out?

Many years before we had the likes of 'Strictly' and 'X' Factor to entertain us on a Saturday Night we made our own entertainment. With the pubs closing early, the shout for 'last orders' was before the 10 o'clock close, and families would take crates of bottled beer back to the house for an impromptu gathering or a pre arranged party. The singing would begin in the street on the way home, something that was not unusual to hear in those days, like the sound of a milkman 'whistling a tune'.

It's 'Jars Out' and back to ours!

Seating would be pushed back against the walls, with odd chairs being brought in from other rooms, leaving a space for dancing. Nearly every house had a piano and several members of the family would be able to play. How these relatives who had no previous musical lessons were able to play songs of the day was beyond comprehension? The women would be drinking shandy or Mackeson milk stout, with some having a Babycham, and the men having bottles of brown ale or Guiness. Gran on the other hand had settled for a cup of Golden Stream tea with two sugars. Milk stout was popular and believed to be nutritious as it was recommended to nursing mothers as far back as 1875. The advert said, " Mackeson looks good, tastes good and, by golly, it does you good." 

With some pig's feet having been brought back and with pan of winkles on the boil on the stove in the back kitchen, sandwiches were also being made using Echo margerine, as the singing would begin with everyone 'doing a turn'. First up would be Uncle Jimmy with '(The Gang That Sang) Heart Of My Heart' . This he would sing into an empty pint glass which provided an 'echo chamber'. Next would be a couple of Aunties, Minnie and Alice, singing the WW11 song ' Oh, Salome, Salome, that's my girl Salome'. This would see Uncle Alex produce a set of spoons from his inside pocket to provide a percussion rhythm accompaniment. Uncle Charlie would then provide his version of the Vic Damone hit, 'On the Street Where You Live.', with Uncle Alex now on his harmonica. The room was now in a slight haze of smoke with packets Woodbines being handed around, although Uncle Tommy preferred his own, Capstan Medium Strength.

A shout of, "Order please!" announced the entrance of Dad with his ukelele as he commenced to play his signature song, "I Want a Girl (Just Like the Girl That Married Dear Old Dad)" to clapping and foot tapping for the chorus. Cousin Irene, who sang at the weekend in the corner pub, then entertained us with the Johnny Otis hit, ' Ma (He's Making Eyes at Me) .' If one of the younger children, still awake and maybe sitting on the stairs, was brave enough, or had the confidence, to perform, they would receive a bounty of sixpences, shillings or even a Florin from admiring Aunties and Uncles. Cilla Black has said that it was performing like this that gave her the appreciation of people applauding her singing for the first time. The night wouldn't end before a group rendition of 'Danny Boy', 'When Irish Eyes are Smiling', or something similar.

Happy Days, ( and Nights ).