A HAPPY band of ukelele players have strummed their way to a fantastic £2,000 of fundraising for Keech Hospice Care.
The Hightown Strummers, a group of ukelele enthusiasts who meet at the Greenbank Music Centre in High Town, have steadily built up a loyal following over the past two years, and their latest gig raised £800 for Keech.
The show, at Harlington Village Hall, was a complete sell-out and the band entertained the crowd of 150 for three hours with hits from artists including Neil Diamond, The Beatles and The Monkeys.
The band has swelled to 15 members from its founder trio – Gerry Seltzer, Keith Mockridge and Scott Hemsley – who were brought together by music tutor Tony Coaker, who teaches at Greenbank.
Gerry said: “Our first gig was in a pub and there were only two people there – the barman and a drunk guy at the bar, who went home anyway.
“But before long we were playing to packed pubs on Monday nights. To get 150 people at our gig in Harlington was a really big achievement for us.”
With ukeleles currently enjoying a bit of a musical renaissance, the band members’ ages range from 15 to 73.
“Some people see the ukelele as a bit of a toy instrument,” said Gerry. “But when it’s in the hands of experts it makes a fantastic sound.
“We’re actually a bit light on experts, but what we lack in expertise we make up for in enthusiasm.”
>The Hightown Strummers’ next gig is at the Old Sun in Harlington, on August 20.