u3a

Redditch

Music in Our Time

Status:Active, open to new members
Leader:
When: Monthly on Monday afternoons
2nd Monday 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Venue: Webheath Village Hall
Cost: £1.00 (incl. refreshments)
Anniversary cake

Steve Prosser & John Cartmell

The Melancholy Brothers

Music holds the key to many of our memories. Join us listening to the music that accompanied our lives as we grew up; the music on the wireless, on the television, at the cinema or the records that you chose to buy and play. Knowledge of music isn’t needed to enjoy these sessions; just sit back and enjoy listening to the music which is accompanied by visuals of the artists projected onto a large screen. After listening to the music, we often share interesting facts or memories of seeing the artists live.

Each monthly meeting is devoted to a particular theme, artist, composer, genre or instruments. We include jazz, pop, musicals, classical, folk and rock and typically span the 1950’s through to the mid 1980’s.

Recent meetings have included: covers of songs by The Beatles, songs with a story, rivers and mountains in the song title, music with a space exploration theme, songs with acoustic guitar introductions and the history of Christmas songs.

Meetings last around 2 hours including a 20 minute break for refreshments. We meet at the Webheath Village Hall, Heathfield Road, Webheath, B97 5SQ (just down the road opposite Biddles convenience store). There is a small charge of £1.00 to cover room hire and refreshments.

Attendance is open to all u3a members.

Suggestions for future presentations are encouraged from members (ideas for themes, songs or artists - you do not have to present unless you wish to - and help is always on hand to prepare the presentations).

New members are always welcome.

Forthcoming events

8th June 2026
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Meeting
Music in Our Time "Remember the Song? Well, Here's the Original"
Bill Haynes will be presenting "Remember the Song? Well, Here's the Original". Bill will share a personal choice of songs from the 50's, and 60's by playing a cover of […]
Cost: £1.00 and includes light refreshments
13th July 2026
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Meeting
Music in Our Time "Monochrome Music"
Val Trim will be presenting "Monochrome Music" - more details to follow soon.
Cost: £1.00 and includes light refreshments
10th August 2026
Meeting
Music in Our Time - No Meeting in August
As usual, Music in Our Time will be taking a break in August as Webheath Village Hall undergoes its annual repairs and maintenance.

Brief Reports of Recent Meetings

The most recent three meetings will be displayed below. Earlier reports can be found by clicking here.

May 2026
Norman Wheatley donned the jester's hat and delivered a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining series of "silly" songs. The afternoon included three of his own compositions and two songs delivered live to great applause. Where else, but Music in Our Time, would you hear a song called "Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis"! The song "Sister Josephine" by Jake Thackray was impressively supported by black and white cartoons specifically drawn for the meeting by his friend Rob Hooper. Other artists included songs from the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, Spike Jones, Flanders and Swann, Bill Bailey, Tom Lehrer, Marty Feldman and Weird Al Yankovic. He concluded the session with The Ballad of Barry & Freda (otherwise known as "Let's Do it") by the brilliant Victoria Wood. A great ending to an overall great afternoon.

April 2026
At our April meeting, Steve Prosser presented “A Musical Sea Adventure: The Search for Treasure”.  The meeting was invited to join him on a slightly whimsical sea adventure which included many songs from the 60's, 70's and 80's each with some link to the sea, sailing, pirates and treasure!  We heard ‘Dock of the Bay’ by Otis Redding, ‘Sailing’ by Rod Stewart, ‘Storm in a Teacup’ by The Fortunes and ‘Beyond the Sea' by Bobby Darin to name a few and, with it being a treasure hunt, it ended with ‘Gold’ by Spandau Ballet.

March 2026
At our March meeting, Rob Rowberry presented the story of Jeff Lynne from his early days in Birmingham with the Andicaps to his international success with The Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).  A thoroughly enjoyable series of songs showing the evolution of the “Jeff Lynne signature sound” using strings (violin and cellos) to support guitars, keyboards and drums.  It was great to hear the Beatles track “Free As A Bird” that was produced by Jeff Lynne and “End of the Line” when he was a member of the Traveling Wilburys.  Creeping out of the hall during the final song supposedly to meet his “special guest”, Rob reappeared wearing Jeff Lynne facemask, Birmingham City football scarf and electric guitar – a great finale to the presentation!

Playlists of Previous Meetings - click on a link below to open the pdf file

Meetings Archive - click on the link below to open the pdf file