THE CORN EXCHANGE ON SATURDAY NIGHTS
It was passing the Town Hall on a recent Saturday evening, that I was struck by the sight of the gates being closed, and not much of a glimmer of light coming from the foyer within. Nothing on here tonight then! It was but moments later I was recalling the days when you did not ask your peers, “Is there anything on in the Corn exchange on Saturday” but, “What is on in the Corn Exchange”.During all of the 1950’s it was mostly Dances, this could be Modern, Olde Tyme( very popular, with several local clubs in existence) the occasional Barn Dance and sometimes a “Social”. A Social packed a lot in to an evening, say, “Prize Whist” 6.30. ‘till 8pm. Then refreshments and a few musical games interspersed with dancing, then, at about 9.30, it was modern dancing until the last waltz at 11.45pm (no dancing on a Sunday!).
Of course, there was only live music at the dances, and the local bands were always heavily booked, and they travelled quite a wide area. I recall many, but will mention just the following; “The Hawaiian Serenaders” lead by Gordon Huntley, “Gerry Etwells’ Dance Band”, “Blue Circle Orchestra” led by Geoff Wigmore, and the very popular “The Dennis Kemp Orchestra”. I can still chat about this, with my friend Tony Gibbs, who played trumpet with some of them. He was also the principal cornet with Hungerford Silver Band (Town Band today) at the time. Oh yes! he also had a day job, as did all of the other musicians.
Gordon “Whiffles” Huntley, was a pedal steel guitarist. He lived in Hungerford, and it was his mother who promoted many different events in the Corn Exchange, Whist Drives, Jumble Sales etc.She was also “Brown Owl” of the local group of Brownies. There were some Saturdays when the H.S.B. gave concerts, with various themes, such as “Marches and Waltzes”, “Overtures from Musicals”, or “Items from Gilbert and Sullivan”. Many of these concerts were interspersed with songs or a piano item.
Then a different type of event, one can recall the Stable Lads boxing, where it seemed to me that the arms of the participants flailed like bees wings. Also, inter Public House Dart Tournaments, which were very well supported. Variety Concerts were still a popular entertainment. Most of the items were musical, individual acts, (who can remember Professor Frisco?) short sketches or monologues.
I am pleased to say that in Ramsbury the idiom still survives.
In half a century life in general has changed, entertainment is more widely available, as are the local venues, so therefore Saturday nights at the Corn Exchange, are not always booked.
Artie