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| Bert cutting his birthday cake with our hostess Barbara while Jim our host looks on. |
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| Bert opening one of his birthday cards. |
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| Bert with a birthday gift of a new car. |
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| The delicious cakes Barbara had baked. |
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| Jim being followed by Bert. |
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| John, Ken, Lionel, Bob and Colin. |
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| Ken, Bert and Lionel. |
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| Jim, Jean, Mary and Ellen. |
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| Lionel, Dave C, Ken, Keith, Angela and Bob. |
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| Tom, Mariane, Heather, Marie, Christine, Carole, Frances and Vera. |
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| Tom, Marianne, Heather, Marie, Christine, Carole, Barbara and Vera. |
The Wonderyears celebrated one of their singers 90th birthday on Friday afternoon. Barbara and Jim Marsh, a fellow singer and his wife, wanted to make this very special birthday of their friend Bert Ely by giving him a surprise birthday party.
Bert joined us soon after seeing us perform at The Riverside Club in Staines, we were there to perform at the Annual Burma Star Reunion. Bert had served with the RAF as an Engineer Mechanic during the war. He slotted into our group with ease and soon became a firm favourite, he has great character full of warmth and his joy for singing shines through, he really knows how to please our audiences. Dave Thomas, our MD, likes to give him songs he knows Bert will put his own stamp on. We are a senior chorus and band based in Virginia Water, who have in our repertoire rock, punk and contemporary pop.
We all really enjoy being together, either performing or socially. Barbara and Jim invited us into their home to mark this special occasion and what a wonderful time we all had. How we'd kept quiet while waiting at the end of their pretty garden for him to come through the house to find us I do not know. The Pimms and sparkling wine were enjoyed in the warm afternoon sunshine and the cakes Barbara had made were absolutely divine, I'm afraid I showed myself up by not being able to resist piling my plate up.
Our Chairperson Ken Smith presented Bert with vouchers to be spent at a garden centre and a photo of The Wonderyears as a keepsake of the day.
www.wonderyearsrock.com
