I remember! Reminiscences of a Cobbler's Son

urn:iso:std:iso:639:ed-3:eng

77-78

text excerpt

[Arthur Gill met Ellen Calvert at a social event at Woodhouse Carr Wesleyan Chapel-- the "Carr". They married in March 1914. The Listening Experience Database includes items from her memoir, ‘The Diary of Ellen Gill’]

I would like to go back for a few years to our courting days. Round about the year 1908, Concerts were held at Belgrave Central Hall on Saturday evenings during the Autumn and Winter months.

The minister in charge of Belgrave Congregational Church at that time was the Rev. J.G. Sutherland, a very popular and well loved minister. He was always the Chairman of these Concerts, which were known as "Belgrave Popular Concerts" – and these Concerts certainly were popular […] Every now and again a “Celebrity” Concert was arranged, when well-known Artistes were engaged, such as Peter Dawson, Frank Mullings, David Clegg (the Blackpool Tower Organist before Reginald Dixon’s time) and others. These concerts were always well attended, and often the large hall was filled. Ellen and I went to these Concerts when there was nothing special on at the “Carr”. 

[…] many of the artistes [gave] their services free, for Belgrave was looked upon as a stepping stone up the ladder, and quite a few who began at Belgrave, later became very popular. There was always a very friendly and homely atmosphere at these Concerts, and the audiences were a nice class of folk who enjoyed musical items and good fun in a background of christian fellowship and good company.

excerpt from 'I remember! Reminiscences of a Cobbler's Son' pp. 77-78 (244 words)

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