Lewes’ very own lockdown ukulele album

Bill Elms, head at Oakwood Primary School from 1990 until he retired in 2008, has been running a ukulele session in Lewes every Monday evening called Lewkulele.

“During lockdown, we’ve been unable to meet but, in isolation in our own homes, have recorded tracks that have been mixed together to form a CD which we’ve called Lewkulele Lockdown. We are using it to raise funds for the St Peter and St James’ Hospice at Chailey.”

When Bill said goodbye to the members of Lewkulele at their final session before lockdown on March 16, they all hoped it wouldn’t be long before they could gather again for their weekly session at The Con Club. Alas, that’s not the way things have turned out.

“Now in its seventh year, Lewkulele has met weekly to sing, strum ukuleles and enjoy the camaraderie of communal music-making.

“Most of the strummers first came as absolute beginners, many having long ago abandoned any notion of playing an instrument. But, from those early stumblings has emerged a group of up to 30 who, as well as enjoying the Monday sessions, have performed in care homes, in pubs and at festivals, often raising funds for local charities.

“Sadly, lockdown appeared to put an end to all that until Jim Healey, one of the strummers, came up with the idea of replicating the joyful Monday sessions by encouraging the others to record themselves, in isolation, on their phones or any other devices.

“As well as initiative, Jim also surprised everyone with his skill at mixing the disparate recordings into something which really did sound as if it could have been a session at The Con Club. At first, it was just a bit of fun but then, with the help of John Downie who came up with a cover design and Andy at Spiel Design and Print who agreed to do the layout, the group realised they could produce an album.

“The result is Lewkulele Lockdown – a dozen of the group’s favourite songs presented, with notes in a very professional package. It’s available, initially only to Lewkulele members, free of charge but with a request that they make donations to St Peter and St James Hospice, where the group has performed in the past. The songs can also be heard on their website http://lewkulele.org.”