Today, we had our Summer Celebration, with more than 60 in attendance. There was lots of food, so important at any gig. For children there was pendant colouring; 3 inch discs of wood coloured how you like, and then strung with a thread and worn round the neck. Under the buddleia, a woman was doing mendi patterns on hands. She had a queue as each one took some time.
The weather was warm, but windy, with music sheets blowing. The ukulele band was the first group on. This was led by Misty with around 20 of her students from the Sunday morning sessions. They played and sang folk and pop, mostly well known. Misty did some solos to give her group a break, and to vary the session. Among her solos were Moon River, Jolene and Dream a Little Dream of Me, whose best known rendition is by the Mommas and Poppas in 1968 with lead vocals by Momma Cass. I came into the garden when the whole group was playing Leaving on a Freight Train. It was good to see their first gig.
There was a short break to wander the garden, chat or take some food and drink, and then we had Harry Demmon, who introduces himself as Harry, a singer-songwriter from Silvertown. He had a laid back presence, sat on a stool, and played and sang to his electric guitar some of his own songs and covers, finishing with Stand by Me and Valerie. He had a good relationship with the audience, humorous, and easy going. It’s the way to be, as audience feel uncomfortable with nervous performers.
The last group to play was Tropical Peru. They played in the garden last year and describe their offerings as ‘Amazonian and Peruvian rhythms.’ Their line-up of four had two electric guitars and two on percussion. They got us clapping, children dancing, with a few easy lines to join in. La Bamba had us all shaking.
The garden had a meeting of its volunteers in the week, called the Steering Group, which sounds a little like a crew on the high seas, but mostly the meetings are not stormy, the occasional raised voice, but not often. An important decision made was to stop hiring the garden for children’s parties. We find them somewhat unruly, and we are not there to supervise. We are happy for the WI, Scouts and Woodcraft, ECo7 etc to use the garden for their sessions. They are well regarded community groups, care about the garden and fit with our philosophy.
And talking about philosophy, a strapline was agreed at the meeting: Plants, People, Planet. That’s a lot to live up to, especially the planet bit, but the planet is being badly treated, with too many unruly activities which we would love to halt, but the world is a lot bigger than Forest Gate.
Our new undercover space is being well used. It was excellent for the play Much Ado about Nothing, and for today’s bands. The next step is to fit roll down sides with windows for the walls. There will be solar panels on the container roof to give energy for lights and to power a small kitchen for events.