While I’m keen not to make this Swindon in 50 Drinks blog series too beer heavy, I couldn’t not cover this Volya Ukrainian inspired beer. For obvious enough reasons.
Swindon Welcomes Ukraine formed to support Ukrainians, displaced by the war and arriving in Swindon. Their partnership with Hop Kettle aimed to produce a new, Ukrainian-inspired beer to raise funds for their projects and for the Ukrainian aid charities they support.
The first brew launched at a first pour event at the Tap & Brew in Old Town. The event raised £1045 with more to come as the beer continues to sell.
Called Volya, meaning freedom, and whose letters appear on Ukraine’s flag, trident symbol, the beer has a serious purpose. That being to keep Swindon Welcomes Ukraine uppermost in people’s minds for the bigger picture. The current goal of SWU is to help find more hosts for Ukrainians as there’s now a national shortage.
Volya Tasting notes
The Volya Pale Ale takes its inspiration from Ukrainian agriculture and cuisine. It’s brewed with a combination of cereal grains that includes malted barely, wheat and rye. The brewers then conditioned the beer on sunflower seeds and infused it with honey.
A complex malt character provides the beer’s foundation. Then there’s bready sweetness and rye spice alongside a toasty nuttiness enhanced by sunflower seeds. A light dry hop adds hints of lemony citrus and pine, along with a light bitterness. All to balance out the sweet and floral honey flavours.
Andrew Fisher from the Hop Kettle said, ‘we wanted to do our bit to help Swindon’s growing Ukrainian community feel welcome. And our small microbrewery at the back of the Tap & Brew in Old Town was perfect for this first small batch brew.
That batch went down so well – literally – that Hop Kettle Brew are now transferring production to their main brewery in Cheney Manor.
Priceless – almost
What you see below is surely a contender for the most expensive can of beer ever in the history of beer production. The reason? Rod Hebden was at the launch event for the beer and he won, some cans (and glass!) in the auction for an eye-watering sum. Or should that be be mouth watering?!
The can in the picture below is one of only eight that left the building via auction prices. And that makes it more valuable than the Brinks-Matt gold!
Given all that I’m not sure I should be drinking it? But I am. And jolly pleasant it is too. While I mostly drink wine I do like a beer from time to time. And this is delicious and refreshing.
At 4.8% vol it’s not too strong. So depending on your capacity for beer, you can enjoy a couple or so before being one over the eight.
So all that’s left for me to say is: Slava Ukraini!
For another charity beer collaboration see this post about the Phoenix Rising Pale Ale:
Well listeners. I cried. Just as I’ve cried on each occasion that I’ve seen this show – the first time being decades ago when I saw it with the legendary Barbara Dickson as Mrs Johnstone.
Written by the legend that isWilly Russell, the legend that is Blood Brothers tells a tragic tale of twins separated at birth who grow up on opposite sides of the tracks. But fate brings them together with fateful consequences for them both.
Wyvern Theatre Blood Brothers
And that’s as much about the plot as I’m prepared to say in case you’ve NOT seen it and you’re intending to. And if you weren’t intending to, I urge you to, in Fagin’s words, review the situation.
The performances are stunning and powerful and its ending will bring you to your feet. DO GO! And take tissues!
Themes and structure
If I’m not talking about the plot what I can talk about is the themes of this play/musical. Timeless themes as it turns out.
Blood Brothers follows the conventions of a tragedy. The first part, with many laughs, builds up to the turning point – but no spoilers. The second half, devoid of laughter, deals with the consequences of that action/that turning point, and builds up to the dramatic denouement of the story.
Its main themes cover social class and inequality, and fate and superstition.
What’s even more tragic than the story, written in the early 80s and set in the 1960s, is that we’re not much further on. Inequality in our country is greater than it’s ever been. The gap between the haves and the have-nots is of Grand Canyon proportions and we have far too many Mickeys and Eddies in society.
If Willy Russell wrote Blood Brothers as a mirror on Thatcher’s Britain it performs the same function today. Conservative Britain in the 21st century is at best no better and at worst – worse – than Britain then. And doesn’t make for a great reflection …
FORMER WESTMINSTER ABBEY CHORISTER NEIL MEDLAND SHARES LIFE-LONG PASSION FOR CHORAL MUSIC
NEIL Medland will be sharing his Westminister Abbey chorister experiences as a chorister and his lifelong passion for choral music at an event in Malmesbury on Friday March 17.
His love of choral music began as a boy when, aged eight, he became a pupil at the Westminster Abbey Choir School. During his five years at this preparatory school, he sang at two major royal events – the weddings of Princess Margaret (1960) and Princess Alexandra (1963). And other state occasions too.
‘It’s my feeling that part of Christian worship is the celebration of and enjoyment of music. I enjoyed being part of this when I was a boy. And it’s my belief that my experience of working with professionals from such a young age helped me in my life.
Former Chorister Shares Choral Music Passion – Neil Medland
The content of the talk
My talk is not only about those five years. It’s about what happened beyond that and how my love of choral music has been an integral part of my life for more than sixty years.’
As a teenager, Neil left Westminster Abbey School aged thirteen. He later began a career as an operations engineer in the nuclear industry which led him to move around the country with his family. He spent many years living in Gloucestershire and has now made a permanent move to Wiltshire.
Alongside his engineering career, Neil’s love of choral music never left him. Thus he’s been a member of a choir in every community he’s had a home. He’s sung in many cathedrals across the country too and he advocates for the importance of choral music in many ways.
Now aged seventy-three, Neil lives in Charlton with his wife Margaret. He remains as active in the world of choral music as he’s ever been – if not more so. He’s the current chairman of the Purcell Club, comprised of former Westminster Abbey choristers and named after composer Henry Purcell. He was the Abbey organist between the years of 1679 to 1695.
The Purcell Club
This club undertakes historical and musical tours of the Abbey to raise money for charity. These tours are private and take place when the Abbey is closed to the public. Monies raised get donated to the Abbey itself and to other charities chosen by members.
The 500th musical tour took place earlier this month and on average the tour raises about £30,000 a year for good causes. Neil estimates the tours have raised almost £500k to date.
Neil is also well known within Malmesbury itself as he also sings with Malmesbury Singers and the Abbey choir. He also supports the musical director John Hughes by conducting the choir from time to time.
Susan Mockler, a member of the Athelstan Museum’s management team, said: ‘We’re so pleased Neil is bringing such an interesting story about his choral career to another Athelstan Museum evening talk.’
We endeavour to provide a variety of topics and this one is most apt for this year. We’re pleased to be able to share proceeds with Malmesbury Abbey at Neil’s request. The tickets are going fast!’
Neil’s talk ‘Five Years In The Choir At Westminster Abbey & Beyond’ will also include a virtual musical tour of Westminster Abbey. The event takes place from 7pm on Friday March 17 and tickets cost £10.
Colin Bailey issued from Swindon’s loins on 9 July 1934, going on to became a US citizen. He enjoyed an astonishing career working with a whole range of jazz greats. All About Jazz tells us that Colin began playing drums at the tender age of four. Not content with beating out that rhythm on a drum he also studied piano and theory as a youngster. He went on to work with English name bands from the age of eighteen.
In the late 1950s he lived in Australia where he worked as staff drummer at TV channel 9 in Sydney. There he accompanied distinguished visiting jazz artists such as Dizzy Gillespie and Sarah Vaughan.
Colin Bailey Swindon Jazz Drummer on an album cover
In 1960, Colin met the biggest influence in his life as a drummer. Joe Morello came to Australia on a tour with the Dave Brubeck Quartet.
Some Royal Variety
In the 1950s, he toured with Winifred Attwell, A Trinidadian pianist who was hugely popular in the 1950s playing ragtime and boogie-woogie, selling 20 millions records and becoming the first black woman to to the UK singles charts. He also appeared at the London Palladium for Queen Elizabeth II.
From Down Under to Stateside
As we’ve seen above, Colin made his way to the land of Oz in the 1950s. In 1961 he emigrated to the USA joining the Vince Guaraldi Trio, where he worked on a number of Charlie Brown and Peanuts TV specials.
Colin’s move to the USA happened as a member of the Australian Jazz Quartet. Six weeks later he joined the Vince Guaraldi Trio, playing clubs in San Francisco. That included several months at Trident in Sausalito, and other well known clubs such as The Blackhawk and Jazz Workshop.
During this period, the trio played with jazz greats including Ben Webster, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Gene Ammons. In February of 1962, the record Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus was made, featuring the tune “Cast Your Fate to the Wind” which was Vince’s composition. It became a huge No.1 best seller. This record played a big part in Colin’s life.
In 1963, the Miles Davis Quintet were playing in Los Angeles and the club wouldn’t let his then drummer Tony Williams into the club as he was too young. Colin got to fill in for a couple of nights. An experience he described as the thrill of a lifetime.
TV shows and jingles
In the 1960s and 70s Colin worked in Los Angeles doing TV shows, film soundtracks and jingles. He played for people as diverse as Julie Andrews, Tony Bennett and Duke Ellington as well as working on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show.
Off to Dallas
Having become a US Citzen in 1970, Colin moved to Dallas, Texas, in 1979 where he spent some time teaching at a local university. Over the years, he worked with Joe Pass, the great guitarist, recording fourteen albums. He returned to California in 1985 and continued recording and touring until1998.
Over his long career, he worked with a veritable who’s who of jazz, not bad for a boy from Swindon. Colin died in San Francisco in 2021, aged 87.
‘Colin Bailey died at his Port Hueneme home on September 20 at the age of 87. He first appeared in the Adver after getting the chance as a 12-year-old to play in England’s champion dance band The Squadronairesat Butlin’s with a rendition of Little Drummer Boy that brought the house down. …
….He wrote books and gave masterclasses to pass on his expertise, releasing his last album in 2013. Colin died at home in California on September 20 at the age of 87 after recovering from Covid-19 and then catching pneumonia.
Colin met his first wife Jan in Swindon and was happily married to her until she died, then later fell in love with Michele Munro.’
Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre and producers Imagine Theatre are delighted to announce that panto favourites Paul Burling and David Ashley will return for this year’s panto season. They’ll be back in the fairest pantomime of them all Snow White From 02 – 31 December 2023. Tickets are on sale now!
The duo who performed together in last year’s successful pantomime Beauty and the Beast, had audiences rolling in the aisles will return this year for all the usual panto fun and frolics.
This pair are standouts. They work so well together as a comedy double act’.
Swindon Advertiser
David Ashley is mesmerizingly fantastic. Paul Burling is hysterical, wowing the audiences with his impressions and humour.’
Total Guide to Swindon
Hilarious impressionist Paul Burling made it to our screens as a finalist in 2010 in Britain’s Got Talent. He’s been amazing and thrilling audiences since on TV and stage across the UK. The panto regular said of his return:
‘I had such an amazing time at The Wyvern last year. I’m delighted to be coming back in Snow White with David! We’re looking forward to another spectacular season of silliness and can’t wait to see you there!’
Paul Burling – 2023 Panto Cast Announced
Not only but also
Joining Paul is Swindon’s favourite dame David Ashley. His 30-year career has seen him perform across the West End in shows such as Cats, Les Misérables, Blood Brothers, Starlight Expressand Me and My Girl. This year will mark his 10th Pantomime at the Wyvern Theatre.
David says: ‘I love doing panto at The Wyvern, it’s one of the highlights of my year, so I’m so excited to be coming back again. I’m already picking out my most extravagant frock!’
2023 Panto Cast Announced – panto dame david ashley
Laura James the Theatre Director at the Wyvern Theatre says: ‘We are so thrilled that Paul and David will be returning to Swindon this year. They completely stole the show in last year’s Beauty and the Beast and provided some of the best comedy moments we’ve had in years. Our wonderful panto audiences clearly adored them both, and we cannot wait to welcome them back to our stage. Oh no we can’t!’
After the Magic Mirror declares Snow White to be the fairest in all the land Morgiana, the Wicked Queen, flies into a jealous rage. Will Snow White’s friends be able to save her from the Queen’s fury letting them all live happily ever after?
Mirror, mirror on the wall – which is the best pantomime of them all? Snow White of course!
