Rotary Club of Littleport Update and Special

Update

Since the last edition of Littleport Life we have held our regular quiz at the Village Hall on 24th September. We were delighted that around 100 people turned up and helped us raise almost £600 for various local charities. A big thank you to all those who helped and in particular Jo Webber who, as ever, pulled out all the stops in ensuring a good turnout.
We have been able to support the new Littleport Squirrels Scout group for the very young with a donation of £300. This initiative will see a new group of children established within the village who will hopefully gain from the long term benefits of joining the scouting movement.
Our usual dinner meetings have been held at The Anchor Little Downham with much discussion taking place about our plans for the future. Organisations of our nature have sadly seen a falling away of membership due to some significant changes in modern society and business practices. We have recognised that we have to make changes and we are becoming far more inclusive in our search for new members.
We plan to have a presence at the forthcoming Christmas Fayre to be held in the village on Friday 10th December from 3.00 p.m. until 9.00 p.m. – why not visit our stand and find out more about what we have to offer you as a member of our Rotary Club if you can’t wait call Naeem Khokhar, our membership secretary, on 07799 886688


If you want to have a chat about becoming involved in Rotary, call:
President Ian Burrows on: 07803 088352
If you want to find out more about our Rotary Club.
Take a look at our website: www.littleportrotary.org.uk
Paul Cox – Design Studio


Special

From Paul Cox—Something completely different. In the 1950s the music scene for the young was dire, but change was coming —in 1957 A Rock and Roll Band arrived from the USA called Bill Haley and the Comets.
It caused a sensation. I attended a performance in London together with a bus load of likeminded individuals from Littleport, it was amazing. Notwithstanding the arrival of Bill Hayley locally there was a growing interest in traditional Jazz.
I was an apprentice at PYE a TV Manufacturer in Cambridge and district. PYE had 250 apprentices who had formed an association and held annual Dance/ Musical Events in Cambridge—top billing was Chris Barbers’ Jazz Band together with Ottilie Patterson renowned Jazz Singer and Lonnie Donegan who triggered the Skiffle craze, we formed The CLEM SIX Skiffle group.
Skiffle is a type of folk music, with jazz and blues influences, using home made or improvised instruments, In the UK there were 22,000 Skiffle groups formed in 1958. The picture below left the box like object is a Tea Chest Base played and made by Roger Misson, Below.
(1958) At age eighteen I’m effectively a Boy Band Leader. Trending at the time were “Teddy Boys” wearing fancy suits with long jackets, Boot Lace Ties and Suede Shoes (Elvis) not to mention special Hair Styling—I had the lot. See last page. Rotary—Roger is a member of Redhill Redstone, I—Littleport. Both Members of the CLEM SIX (Cox, Law, Eastwood & Misson) Only Three Octogenarians left. Below Me & my 64 year old Guitar.
September 1958, In the Town Hall Downham Market a Beauty Contest and Talent Contest were held to commemorate The Battle of Britain a poster in the background shows RAF Spitfire. Above, David Law is extreme right and as Octogenarian Right. Below The Group’s Chalet at Butlins note the attention we received by young Ladies.

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