Tuesday Group News

Following our August break, we were treated in September to an entertaining evening with the lovely Miranda Pender, who presented her 'Late Flowering Lyricist' story!

Miranda began by explaining that she only came to singing and composing about 10 years ago, in her mid-fifties! Generally she sings in the contemporary/folk genre, gathering inspiration from everyday life and the environment (think Richard Digeance/Victoria Wood!!). Picking up her guitar she sang her first song called "Beans Field Blues!", hilariously funny.

Miranda's musical journey began when at 14 she fancied the guitar tutor of a local youth group, so bought a guitar just to have lessons! She didn't pursue this for long and sold the guitar on starting university, and thought no more about it. However, in 2008 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and having sung with friends in Canada following her treatment, she determined to rekindle her earlier interest and bought a guitar. Taking lessons, she was encouraged to write her own songs, and she found ideas coming from anywhere and everywhere, for example the Chelsea Flower Show show gardens! This produced "Chelsea Golden Medal Winning Cutting Edge Garden Designer", another hilarious song! Intending only to play for herself, family and friends, her tutor encouraged her to perform in public. A fan of Richard Digeance she sent him recordings of her songs for his opinion. He was extremely critical but constructive, and invited her to record a CD at his home recording studio, copies of which Miranda had for sale.

With added narrative, other songs Miranda sang during the evening were "See You Say Goodbye", a true tale of her Great Uncle, very poignant, a 'cheeky' song about "Montmorencie's Pants!", and "You're Aye the Man for Me" about her first love – the man on the box of Scots Porridge Oats!!

This was a great evening and I am sure we will invite her back one day to sample one of her other presentations!

The Tuesday Group is a ladies social group drawing from Drayton, Curry Rivel, Muchelney, Fivehead, Langport and beyond, and meets on the third Tuesday each month at 7.30 pm in the Drayton Village Hall. Annual membership is only £10, or come and try for a guest fee of just £2.50 per meeting. For further information please contact either Barbara Lancey on 01458 252657, email barbaralancey@hotmail.com, or Jean Padfield on 01458 253948, email jeanpadfield2002@yahoo.co.uk.