Oakley Village Hall, Buckinghamshire

29th October 2011

The Opera Dudes returned to Buckinghamshire and what a return. We arrived at the beautiful village of Oakley only to discover that we weren’t the first dodgy characters escaping notoriety in this picturesque place. 



  

Great train robbers hide out! Leatherslade Farm.

A mere 48 years previously – a couple of years before Neil retired from the building trade(!) – the Great Train Robbers 
hide out in Leatherslade Farm in the village before their capture. Not only that but there had even been a reunion of the members of the gang and the police officers involved on the very stage on which we were about to perform. It seems Oakley is a real stop on the road to infamy

When we arrived the hall had already been laid out with 130 chairs by the chair man Andy, who also turned out to be the Chairman. In fact it could well have been the first time in 400 gigs that we had ever seen a Chairman living up to his name. They often turn up five mins before the start of the show and take all the credit, so well done Andy!! In fact we almost had a surplus of helpful Chairmen on Saturday as Roy, the Chairman of the Parish Council arrived and proceeded to help as well

We had a great night - another complete sell out; 130 happy !! For us, there was an added bonus, thanks to the halogen stage lights three feet from our faces we ended up with a gorgeous Mediterranean suntan, looking more Neapolitan than when we arrived and Neil lost about two stone in vapour, so quids in all round! 

      Watch out for Cyril!!




Everyone thought it was a "Great night" & have not stopped talking about it. There was a really buzz in the pub afterwards with those who attended telling those who did not what a "Brilliant" show they had missed would love to have you back again you have made a name for yourselves in Oakley (Not sure what it is & if it is printable)  Andrew Finn.