News
BMG Federation Prize Draw Winners
Continuing our annual tradition, members who renewed
their BMG Federation membership for 2014 on or before
December 31st 2013 were entered into our Prize Draw.
A
drian Hirons from Coventry won 1st prize: “I was
pleasantly surprised to
receive news from Sandra that
I had won a £20 voucher in the
Membership Renewal Prize Draw
– a really good start to 2104!
I have been a member of the
Federation for a number of years
and always enjoy the educational
and inspirational content of the
Newsletter. My particular interest
is that of the five string banjo and
has been since I was given an old
Windsor No 46 zither banjo by
my grandfather in the 1960s. It
was only in the mid 1980s however that I decided to make
a concerted effort to play the instrument and since that time
have enjoyed and appreciated the versatility of the banjo, in
particular classic finger style which I first became aware of
during Tony Sullivan’s banjo festival in autumn 1997. Early
in 2002 I met the late Bernard Overton, well known in folk
circles as maker of the Overton whistle. He was then already
in retirement but in his younger days had been a member
of the Dud Clews jazz band and at various times had been
both their pianist and banjo player. He wondered if I might
be interested in playing plectrum banjo in a small rehearsal
group at his house just for the fun of it. I learnt much from
Bernard and am sure he would be pleased to know our
quartet ‘The Accidentals’, as he called us, is still meeting and
playing regularly. May I take this opportunity to give thanks
all those members for their help, support and encouragement
over the years in making my banjo journey possible. Best
wishes to you all in 2014.”
Stella Wallace from Croydon won 2nd prize: “Sandra
Woodruff telephoned with exciting news that I had won
second prize in the Federation Draw – two sets of Clifford
Essex strings. What a surprise! Sandra asked how I came
to play mandolin and if I would write about it. I had a very
musically inclined mother who played piano, harmonium
and many stringed instruments including mandolin. She
noted I was interested in the sweet tone of the mandolin
and offered to teach me on her instrument. As
I was progressing well a trip to London to buy a
mandolin for me was duly arr [