Legends of Soul Weekender.

It all started with Linda taking over from Kev way back in October of last year.

Emails abound and subsequently bookings arranged and some thirty places taken up.

Friday 31^st January finally arrived but the weather was awful with rain and flooded roads all the way over to Minehead. A quick call to Linda and there she was in the car park complete with trolley ready to load up and direct me towards our accommodation. There was Kev standing outside ready to greet and direct me to the correct room where I was sharing with some old friends in the form of Sid, June and Boots. Upon entering there was a pile of crates filled with beers supplied by Bandit in his usual very generous way. The rooms were comfortable and soon the kit was stowed and the party was under way.

This night was “Loud Shirts Night” and everybody met up for a photo shoot prior to going up to the Main Stage.

   

That evening the entertainment was Jimmy James and the Vagabonds followed by Heatwave, music was Soul and stuff like Boogie Nights and Always and Forever. A great start to the weekend. Someone got rather wet on the way back having been dragged into a rather large puddle!

Saturday started with a large cooked breakfast at The Sun and Moon to dilute the alcohol from the previous night and a look around to see what was on later. Many had an afternoon siesta before getting ready for “The Blues Brothers” theme.

Also a very large buffet had been provided with the ladies spending time preparing a feast. We went up to the Main Stage again as a group and made quite an impact as we entered. Other costumes that caught the eye were The Maplins Girls including Peggy. A group of surgeons with “The Liver is Evil. It Must Be Destroyed” on their backs. A group of girls with “Find Wally” as their theme.

 The music was provided by The Temptations review featuring Dennis Edwards then Candi Staton with her special brand of Southern Soul. The final act was Sheila Ferguson who was the lead singer with The Three Degrees who included “When Will I see Her Again” in a great set. Once again a certain couple of ladies got soaked finding puddles on the way back and made rather a lot of noise at about 3 o’clock directly above my room! Good on you girl!

Sunday had to be another cooked breakfast and a quick walk to take a look at the sea as the promenade had been closed due to the storms the previous evening.  The afternoon there was Tameka Jackson and The Miracles plus a Gladys Knight tribute act so quite a few of us went and watched. The evening dress up was “Onsies” and dive in to the remaining buffet. What a laugh!

 

One gent had on a skeleton outfit complete with a pump up bone where there is not a bone in the human body! Well it was his birthday! Take a careful look at the pictures!

   

The evening started early as we were determined to get seats. It was well worth it! The first act was Bob Bailey and The Jailers as a tribute to Bob Marley and The Wailers. Some superb stuff on stage with a real Reggae feel to it. Then came “The Team” featuring Angelo Starr. There were nine artists on stage and there was room directly in front of us to dance and enjoy. Yet another great evening.

Monday loomed and the weather looked very threatening so a relatively early start and back to the real world!

A very big thank you to both Linda and Kev for all the hard work they put in to organize it all. Also a round of appreciation to Bandit for all the beers he provided. It was yet another very successful Butlins Weekender.

Magic