{"id":4003,"date":"2016-09-20T22:25:13","date_gmt":"2016-09-20T22:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/?p=4003"},"modified":"2016-09-23T15:40:28","modified_gmt":"2016-09-23T15:40:28","slug":"battle-of-britain-anniversary-art-jazz-farnborough-jazz-club-16th-september-2016-celebrating-biggin-hills-part-in-the-battle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/?p=4003","title":{"rendered":"‘BATTLE OF BRITAIN\u2019 ANNIVERSARY- Art & Jazz FARNBOROUGH JAZZ CLUB 16th September 2016.\u00a0 CELEBRATING BIGGIN HILL\u2019S PART IN THE BATTLE."},"content":{"rendered":"

BATTLE<\/span> OF<\/span> BRITAIN<\/span> ANNIVERSARY<\/span> Art<\/span>&Jazz<\/span> FARNBOROUGH<\/span> JAZZ CLUB<\/span> 16<\/span>September <\/span>2016\u00a0 CELEBRATED BIGGIN<\/span> HILL\u2019S PART IN THE<\/span> BATTLE.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cNever, In The Field Of Human Conflict Was So Much Owed By So Many To So Few\u201d<\/span><\/h4>\n

Sir Winston Churchill on the RAF after the \u2018Battle of Britain\u2019<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n
\"Winston<\/a>

Winston Churchill, Prime Minister – wears a helmet during an air raid warning in the ‘Battle of Britain’, September1940. (photo obtained from Wikipedia)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

\"Air<\/a>

Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding was the head of RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain and the main architect of its success.\u00a0 <\/span>Hugh Dowding (right) with King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at Bentley Priory, the Headquarters of Fighter command, in September 1940. (Details and photo obtained from BBC’s website)<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

We celebrated this year\u2019s \u2018BATTLE<\/span> OF<\/span> BRITAIN\u2019<\/span> 76th ANNIVERSARY<\/span> <\/strong>with an art exhibition to show Keith\u2019s Grant’s <\/span>\u00a0Spitfire<\/span> and jazz watercolour paintings<\/span>, <\/strong>plus\u00a0a special fun jazz band called\u00a0\u2018THE FENNY<\/span> STOMPERS<\/span> JAZZ<\/span> BAND<\/span>.\u00a0 <\/strong>This all happened here at our\u00a0FARNBOROUGH<\/span> JAZZ<\/span> CLUB\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>in Kent.\u00a0 Unfortunately we had missed that very special marker – the 75th\u00a0–\u00a0last year due to my family circumstances, but we certainly\u00a0celebrated in style this year.\u00a0\u00a0It was a fancy dress party (although was optional of course) and some great photos will follow to show off\u00a0the brilliant effort by some.\u00a0 The band intended giving\u00a0us plenty of entertainment with a\u00a01940’s flavour and that they certainly did. DENNIS VICK (leader)<\/strong> <\/span>was playing clarinet, DAVE MARCHANT<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>played trumpet & harmonica, JOHN LEE\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>played trombone, BRIAN VICK <\/span><\/strong>(Dennis’ brother)\u00a0played\u00a0banjo, DAVE ARNOLD <\/span><\/strong>played both\u00a0double bass & Sousaphone and KEN JOINER<\/span><\/strong> played drums.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The Fenny Stompers play at Farnborough Jazz Club’s ‘Battle of Britain’ Anniversary fancy dress party ,16th September 2016. (LtoR) Dave Arnold (Sousaphone), Dennis Vick (clarinet), Ken Joiner (drums), Dave Marchant (trumpet), Brian Vick (banjo) and John Lee (trombone). Photo by Mike Witt.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

\"'Battle<\/a>

‘Battle of Britain’ Pilots 15th September 1940.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

The celebrations were in honour of those\u00a0RAF boys (and they were boys, most of them) from 15th September 1940 (not just\u00a015th either)\u00a0\u00a0and the band did them proud.\u00a0 We are just\u00a0over three\u00a0miles away from Biggin Hill (on the flight path too) and Keith remembers, as a little boy,\u00a0standing on his front doorstep,\u00a0seeing all the Spitfires and Hurricanes,\u00a0during the fighting off of\u00a0the\u00a0enemy bombers,\u00a0making them fail their\u00a0mission to annihilate London.\u00a0 Although there\u00a0are many pubs close by, that\u00a0these lads frequented,\u00a0we are also literally\u00a0just\u00a0seven miles away from perhaps the most famous one, The White Hart, in\u00a0Brasted, Kent.\u00a0 This was\u00a0where footprints\u00a0were\u00a0found on the ceiling,\u00a0left by\u00a0the WRAFS being held up by\u00a0pilots (who were letting off steam)\u00a0to ‘walk the ceiling’.\u00a0 So you see, they were fun seeking and would have loved\u00a0this band and the antics\u00a0they got up to (sadly, I’m told the pub\u00a0no longer\u00a0holds any original memorabilia – I wonder if the footsteps have been removed).
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

The band played plenty of dance numbers for us\u00a0and I shalll try to ‘draw\u00a0a picture’ of how the evening went.\u00a0 I was so busy and so\u00a0I\u2019m afraid I failed to write my notes down, but can tell you, \u2018Canal Street Blues\u2019<\/em><\/span> was super and we all got up to perform our line-dance \u2013 I wasn\u2019t drunk, but I did go wrong a few times (leaving us laughing) and no, I\u2019m not getting old \u2013 or decrepit either!!! What did you say?<\/p>\n

\"'Battle<\/a>

‘Battle of Britain’ Annivertsary celebrations with The Fenny Stompers at Farnborough Jazz Club, Kent. (LtoR) The ‘engine’ boys, being Dave Arnold on Sousaphone, Ken Joiner on drums and Brian Vick on banjo. Photo by Mike Witt.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

\"Dennis<\/a>

Dennis Vick takes a solo, whilst Dave Marchant looks on. (LtoR) Dave Arnold (Sousaphone), Dennis Vick, Ken Joiner (drums), Dave Marchant and Brian Vick (banjo), plus( not in view) John Lee (trombone), members of The Fenny Stompers at Farnborough Jazz Club’s ‘Battle of Britain’ Anniversary fancy dress party on 16th September 2016. Photo by Mike Witt.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Anyway, John was featured to play the next number, being ‘Honeysuckle Rose\u2019<\/em><\/span>.\u00a0 He is a lovely trombone player and played with such feeling.\u00a0 Then I loved them playing \u2018Chimes Blues\u2019<\/em><\/span>, such a wonderful rendition (especially on the second time, they played so softly and so in tune (the front line that is), playing the ‘bells’ brilliant. \u00a0Next came Brian\u2019s feature.\u00a0 He played \u2018The World is Waiting for the Sunrise\u2019<\/em> <\/span>just spectacularly.\u00a0 It\u2019s a lovely tune and has been played by other bands here, but not too often, well done Brian. \u00a0\u2018Swinging Shepherd Blues\u2019<\/em> <\/span>was a number played next for the brewery (SHEPHERD NEAME<\/strong><\/span>), who supply our club with our bear\u00a0 They played it so well too, especially Dennis.<\/p>\n

\"Dave<\/a>

Dave Marchant (trumpet) Sue & Diane sing ‘I Scream, You Scream’ with The Fenny Stompers at Farnborough Jazz Club, Kent, for ‘Battle of Britain’ Anniversary fancy dress party 16Sept2016. Photo by Mike Witt.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

‘I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream\u2019<\/em> <\/span>came next.\u00a0 Now I had been telling Dennis on the telephone, how I was going to\u00a0be singing in a gig with Keith (for the first time,) on the following Sunday.\u00a0 I told him how shy I was about singing and was very nervous.\u00a0 How I wouldn\u2019t sing at our club as it was a paying audience!\u00a0 Well the little \u2018xzyxz* (if you know what I mean) got me up to sing with the band.\u00a0 Of course he had the placards up for me to follow the (few)\u00a0words.\u00a0 This was with Ken\u2019s wife Sue.\u00a0 Dennis also pulled Trudy from our audience, to hold the words up for everyone to sing along, plus she played the maracas.\u00a0 The audience loved it, because it was such a laugh.<\/p>\n

The previous week , it was requested to have a brolly parade, so the band\u00a0performed \u2018Bourbon Street Parade\u2019<\/em> <\/span>for us.\u00a0 Steve (one of our regulars) brought his collection of\u00a0 handmade umbrellas, complete\u00a0with flashing\u00a0electrics.\u00a0\u00a0It\u00a0certainly added to the whole atmosphere.<\/p>\n

\"Penny<\/a>

Penny and Bob take part in the brolly parade to ‘Bourbon Street Parade’ by The Fenny Stompers Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club’s ‘Battle of Britain’ Anniversary fancy dress party on 16th September 2016. Photo by Mike Witt.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

\"Steve<\/a>

Steve and Diane take part in the brolly parade to ‘Bourbon Street Parade’ by The Fenny Stompers Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club’s ‘Battle of Britain’ Anniversary fancy dress party on 16th September 2016. Photo by Mike Witt.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\n

Then came the piece-de-resistance!\u00a0 They performed their next number \u2018Me and Jane, In A Plane\u2019<\/em><\/span>.\u00a0 How fantastic they were, with John coming out to – and around the audience, playing his trombone, as if to be the gunfire of a Spitfire or Hurricane, dive bombing. They all had on leather caps with goggles and RAF scarves \u2013\u00a0they were brilliant.\u00a0 I know it isn\u2019t unique, but was so very well done and another feature to add to the atmosphere of the evening.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The Fenny Stompers at Farnborough Jazz Club’s ‘Battle of Britain’ Anniversary fancy dress party on 16th September 2016. The band perform in their pilot gear, to ”Me & Jane in a Plane’. (LtoR) Dave Arnold (Sousaphone), Dennis Vick (clarinet), Ken Joiner (drums), Dave Marchant (trumpet) and Brian Vick (banjo). With John Lee on trombone, goes flying about shooting around the audience. Photo by Mike Witt.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

\"John<\/a>

John Lee on trombone, with Ken Joiner on drums and Brian Vick on banjo, members of The Fenny Stompers at Farnborough Jazz Club’s ‘Battle of Britain’ Anniversary fancy dress party on 16th September 2016. Photo by Mike Witt.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

We managed to fit in another line-dance to \u2018Come on and Stomp, Stomp, Stomp\u2019<\/em>,<\/span> which was a great number to do to, even at a Charleston beat!\u00a0 Then, to round off the evening, they sang the \u2018White Cliffs of Dover\u2019<\/em> <\/span>with obvious audience participation. \u00a0Our lovely\u00a0bar\u00a0staff\u00a0kept us \u2018happy\u2019 with\u00a0\u2018Spitfire\u2019\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>and ‘Master Brew’\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>flowing (among other drinks of course) and for this special occasion, SHEPHERD NEAME<\/span> <\/strong>kindly gave\u00a0some bottles\u00a0of ‘Spitfire’<\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0 \u00a0Although we had possibly some twenty regular supporters missing, due to holidays, we had a wonderful nucleus of fairly regulars and a great time was had by all.\u00a0 Everyone enjoyed Keith\u2019s paintings\u00a0and he sold some too.<\/p>\n

\"Dave<\/a>

Dave Marchant takes a solo on trumpet, plus Dennis Vick of The Fenny Stompers at Farnborough Jazz Club’s ‘Battle of Britain’ Anniversary fancy dress party on 16th September 2016. Photo by Mike Witt.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

\"Dennis<\/a>

Dennis Vick (clarinet), Ken Joiner (drums), Dave Marchant (trumpet) and John Lee (trombone) both playing the maracas, with Brian Vick (banjo) and out of view Dave Arnold (Sousaphone) members of The Fenny Stompers at Farnborough Jazz Club’s ‘Battle of Britain’ Anniversary fancy dress party on 16th September 2016. Photo by Mike Witt.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

\n

Nothing<\/span> like<\/span> jazz<\/span> and<\/span> art<\/span> together,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Your<\/span> hosts<\/span>, Diane<\/span> and<\/span> Keith<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018Canal Street Blues\u2019 – Joe \u2018King\u2019 Oliver (1923)<\/em><\/h6>\n
\u2018Bourbon Street Parade\u2019 \u2013 Paul Barbarin (c. 1953)<\/em><\/h6>\n
\u2018Honeysuckle Rose\u2019 \u2013 (m) Fats Waller, (l) Andy Razaf (1928) <\/em><\/h6>\n
\u2018Chimes Blues\u2019 – Joe \u2018King\u2019 Oliver (1923)<\/em><\/h6>\n
\u2018The World is Waiting for the Sunrise\u2019 \u2013 (m) Ernest Seitz (l) Gene Lockhart (1918) Seitz conceived aged 12yrs1904<\/em><\/h6>\n
\u2018Swinging Shepherd Blues\u2019 \u2013 (m) Morris \u2018Moe\u2019 Koffman, (l) Rhoda Roberts & Kenny Jacobson (1958)<\/em><\/h6>\n
\u2018Me and Jane, In A Plane\u2019 \u2013 Leslie Edgar & Joseph George Gilbert (1927)<\/em><\/h6>\n
\u2018Come on and Stomp, Stomp, Stomp \u2013 Jack Mills (Chris Smith, Irving Mills also credited) (1927)<\/em><\/h6>\n
\u2018I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream\u2019 \u2013 Howard Johnson, Billy Moll & Robert King (1927)<\/em><\/h6>\n
\u2018White Cliffs of Dover\u2019 \u2013 (m) Walter Kent, (l) Nat Burton (1941)<\/em><\/h6>\n

Just a reminder of last year’s newsletter. I wrote of the Monday after last year’s celebrations (Battle of Britain’s\u00a075th Anniversary at Biggin Hill).\u00a0 It was\u00a0about my wonderful day\u00a0watching a lone ‘Spitfire’<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n

N.B.\u00a0 Today (23rd September 2015) is the first day of the\u00a0Autumn Equinox.\u00a0 The South Pole will see a glimpse of daylight for the first time in six months and the North Pole enters six months of dark \u2013 hmmm.\u00a0 Here in Kent, it is a beautiful morning \u2013 sunny and\u00a0hot, with not a cloud in the wonderful blue sky.\u00a0 I had been swimming early this morning.\u00a0 Stopped off at Holwood Farm, Shire Lane (near Biggin Hill) for some tea and scones.\u00a0 I sat outside\u00a0in the sun and enjoyed a lone Spitfire, with\u00a0its black & white striped D-Day markings on its wings, obviously\u00a0enjoying himself and still around after Monday\u2019s commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain \u00a0 How I wish I had been up there with him.\u00a0 However, I feel lucky to be alive on such a glorious day, one to remember.<\/p>\n

Xtra\u2026. This was all repeated this morning (25th September 2015). The ‘Spitfires’ are from Biggin Hill Heritage Hanger \u2013\u00a0see their website: www.flyaspitfire.co.uk \u00a0\u2013 you can hire a flight with them \u2013\u00a0think of this,\u00a0if you\u00a0need an idea\u00a0to give a very special present to that\u00a0someone who has everything. \u00a0I also found out\u00a0that Wednesday\u2019s pilot was Don Sigourney and today\u2019s was Richard Verral, who both flew on the D-Day Commemorations<\/p>\n

I shall also be back to fill you in on this evening too – including photos.<\/span><\/h3>\n
\"Ye<\/a>

Ye Olde Whyte Lyon Public House, built in 1626.\u00a0\u00a0 Shepherd Neame (photo copyrite 2013).<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

4-IN-A-BAR+1 to play at YE OLDE WHYTE LYON <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunday, 18th September 2016 3:00pm till 6:00pm<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

We also had a special date for you to enjoy and this was\u00a0KEITH GRANT’S QUARTET,<\/span> 4-IN-A-BAR+1 <\/span>playing smooth jazz at YE OLDE WHYTE LYON <\/span>in Locks Bottom (Kent).\u00a0 It was held indoors (Publican Tim had decided not to take a chance with the weatherc, They also have great bar staff, serving tasty\u00a0<\/strong>SHEPHERD NEAME\u2019s<\/strong> \u2018SPITFIRE\u2019 <\/strong><\/span>(among other drinks of course, such as <\/strong>\u2018Master Brew\u2019<\/strong><\/span>).<\/strong><\/p>\n

The quartet\u00a0was\u00a0KEITH GRANT <\/span>on drums, JOHN LEE<\/span> on tenor sax, TIM HUSKISSON <\/span>on piano, TIM PHAROAH<\/span> <\/span>on double bass and the ‘+ 1’ being<\/strong> me<\/span> (Diane),<\/strong> <\/span>and I did manage to\u00a0sing a few songs too, even though I hiccupped a little!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Diane and Keith<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BATTLE OF BRITAIN ANNIVERSARY Art&Jazz FARNBOROUGH JAZZ CLUB 16September 2016\u00a0 CELEBRATED BIGGIN HILL\u2019S PART IN THE BATTLE. \u201cNever, In The Field Of Human Conflict Was So Much Owed By So Many To So Few\u201d Sir Winston Churchill on the RAF after the \u2018Battle of Britain\u2019 We celebrated this year\u2019s \u2018BATTLE OF BRITAIN\u2019 76th ANNIVERSARY with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4003","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fenny-stompers-jazz-band"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4003","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4003"}],"version-history":[{"count":39,"href":"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4003\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4114,"href":"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4003\/revisions\/4114"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4003"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4003"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}