Friday January 16th 2026
Firstly, a big “thank you” to Adam who was already setting tables out when we arrived at 6.30.Fred has a contract (signed 20 years ago) to model for Head and Shoulders adverts, so he’s away with Lesley filming. Alan Manouch was threatened with a Chinese Burn, so he agreed to MC for the night, selflessly putting himself on first.
If you’re a “Stone Hugger”, you would really have enjoyed Barry’s first poem. His song seemed to be lacking something, possibly his tambourine basher.
After a protracted discussion about Lord Franklin seeking the back passage, Brian (who had obviously been plundering the Mike Hawkins song book) got on with the song. I thought lead poisoning took several months or years to kill you; how much tinned food did they have?
If the Flanders and Swann weather song, courtesy of Dafydd wasn’t depressing enough (but uncannily accurate), the poem about the soldier with PTSD would push you over the edge. Later our other poetry reader, Terence, was in a slightly more cheerful mood, so we were able to put the razor blades away. I suppose there was nothing about working in the cotton mills that wasn’t depressing, except the hooter at the end of the day.
There was a short delay while we played “Hunt the Finger picks” with Alun. Worth the wait for “Language of the Heart”. “Slip slidin’ Away”? – too many notes and too much reverb.
Poor Mike had to hurriedly rearrange his set, which had earier been plundered. “All things are quite silent” got off to a bad start, with an “oh, shit” and a glance at his scrap of paper. Otherewise a lovely set, as you’d expect.
This left Lesley and myself to finish round 1; mainly Scots stuff.
In the news this week – Robert Jenrick, MP for Newark, became the only MP whose constituency is an anagram of his description. Donald Trump ran the N Y marathon in record time says, “No big deal, I aced it”. Next week we have a singers’ night, enhanced(?!) by an extended spot from “Cecryn”, a selection of elderly gentlemen seeking stardom in their twilight years. Should be fun, don’t miss it, still only three quid.
Rhyl Folk Club 
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