WESTBURY u3a members were recently entertained by Peter Gill who presented the group with his favourite songs from the 20th century, including songs from the WWI era such as Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag.
The group reports, “Peter told us how troops modified songs in a risqué manner, such as changing ‘It’s a Long Way to Tiperary’ to ‘That’s the Way to Tickle Mary’!
“Noël Coward and Cole Porter were leading artists of the 1930s; they brought just the right amount of sarcasm and irony with songs such as ‘Mad Dogs and Englishmen’ and ‘Mrs. Worthington’.
“In the 1950s, ‘A Drop of a Hat’ with Flanders and Swann opened; the song ‘The Gas Man Cometh’ from that review is still relevant, based on the notion that a tradesperson will leave you with more work to do!
“Peter performed several songs, including Cole Porter’s ‘Miss Otis Regrets’ and ‘When I’m Cleaning Windows’, and Lonnie Donegan’s ‘My Old Man’s a Dustman’, ending with Billy Connolly’s ‘D.I.V.O.R.C.E’., Victoria Wood’s ‘Let’s Do It’, and Monty Python’s ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’.
“Next Meeting: Christine Mason talks about British artist Rex Whistler. We meet on the second Tuesday every month at 2pm, Westbury URC Hall, Warminster Road, Westbury BA13 3PJ. Park at rear, off The Butts, via Hospital Road. £2 payable on entry. Do please bring a friend who might like to join us!”
