By Graham Parslow
A five piece band, an excellent buffet of food and good company collectively made this a memorable evening. The Diamond Creek Community Hall was ideal for nostalgic recollections of occasions in church halls and the like when the participants were much younger. The ninety guests, plus five band members, mixed easily together as people renewed associations and made new acquaintances. The schedule was firmly managed by Bill Naim as MC to ensure that everything went to plan. The orchestra took us down memory lane with “I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts” and many more tunes that took us through to the 1960s. We could have danced all night to “Moon River” and swayed to the “Girl from Ipanema“. Every number was a familiar tune. It was BYO and most guests brought their own favourite wine. It was a bonus knowing that Tony Lee, who led the band while playing saxophone or clarinet, is also a key contributor to U3A courses. Bill the MC also revealed his singing talent with a performance of “Granada” in a rendition that (as the song in English proclaims) was both romantic and gay. It was a great night for participation, setting up the tables, taking them down and having a great deal of fun in between.
