Steve needs no introduction. As one half of Show of Hands he has toured the country, filling city halls, village halls and Albert Halls (okay, only one of those) for more than two decades. If you want to know more about him, go to the Show of Hands website - check out his website for solo tours, follow him on Facebook and find him on YouTube. Click here for the story of the Sailing Club as told at Abbotsbury in July 2015. You have to scroll in 1 hour, 1 minute and 40 seconds if you don't have time for the full gig.
But the most important thing to know about Steve is that if it wasn't for him, you wouldn't be on this website right now - it was Steve who suggested The Cafe on the Green as a venue for live music and Steve who insisted on coastal venues for the 2016 tour. Which means he's ultimately responsible for all the bad nautical puns we can't stop making.
It was for all of the above reasons that we decided to offer him the post of Rear Admiral to the Widecombe Sailing Club, which he has graciously accepted. I don't know if he's expecting any perks, but as we can't think of any, he might be disappointed. Somebody has pointed out to me that sailing clubs don't usually have rear admirals. I pointed out back that as sailing clubs usually have boats, and ours doesn't, having a rear admiral is quite in order.
Our first official visit of the Rear Admiral was on Thursday 17th March 2016.
Click here to see the first song from the gig, generously filmed for us by Jenir123. Please then continue through the whole gig, culminating in the presentation of the Rowlock and encore, Cousin Jack.
We took a collection for Teignmouth Lifeboat during the intermission, as it seemed an appropriate cause and as a thank you for lending us a bucketful of sand for the table decorations. We raised between us just over £100, for which a big thank you.
Here are some comments from attending sailors:
"Another major triumph! Hope you enjoyed your birthday. Look forward to next event and can we book for next Cafe on the Green?"
- Nina
"What a very wonderful evening! Well done you and the team at The Café on the Green: you really have started something (and will never be allowed to stop, I hope you realise…!)" - Sue
"What a fantastic night!! Brilliant atmosphere with so much enthusiasm and excitement. Everyone was buzzing and spontaneously joining in even if they didn't know the songs! A night to remember. Loved it so big thanks. Will be in touch re summer regatta soon."
- Judy
"Thanks again - another cracking evening at the Café. You've certainly hit on a winning formula with these evenings. A lovely venue and the buffet before the music is such a great idea as sharing tables rather than sitting in orderly rows results in a really buzzy atmosphere even before the main event kicks off. Steve was great as usual but then I've never seen him do a duff performance. Loved the presentation of the golden rowlock." - Front Row Frances
"Thank you so much for a great evening last week - one of the best! We have seen Steve so many times but the atmosphere was excellent and welcoming and the music and banter fantastic - I do appreciate what goes on in running such an event as we put on a Grow your Own Gig last year - so well done and thank you. Please put us down for music and food for both Miranda and Rex as well as Jim Causley - seen them both this year already but will be ready for more by then!" - Mandy
"Thanks for arranging a brilliant event last night. Steve and the atmosphere I thought were fantastic." - Richard
But the most important thing to know about Steve is that if it wasn't for him, you wouldn't be on this website right now - it was Steve who suggested The Cafe on the Green as a venue for live music and Steve who insisted on coastal venues for the 2016 tour. Which means he's ultimately responsible for all the bad nautical puns we can't stop making.
It was for all of the above reasons that we decided to offer him the post of Rear Admiral to the Widecombe Sailing Club, which he has graciously accepted. I don't know if he's expecting any perks, but as we can't think of any, he might be disappointed. Somebody has pointed out to me that sailing clubs don't usually have rear admirals. I pointed out back that as sailing clubs usually have boats, and ours doesn't, having a rear admiral is quite in order.
Our first official visit of the Rear Admiral was on Thursday 17th March 2016.
Click here to see the first song from the gig, generously filmed for us by Jenir123. Please then continue through the whole gig, culminating in the presentation of the Rowlock and encore, Cousin Jack.
We took a collection for Teignmouth Lifeboat during the intermission, as it seemed an appropriate cause and as a thank you for lending us a bucketful of sand for the table decorations. We raised between us just over £100, for which a big thank you.
Here are some comments from attending sailors:
"Another major triumph! Hope you enjoyed your birthday. Look forward to next event and can we book for next Cafe on the Green?"
- Nina
"What a very wonderful evening! Well done you and the team at The Café on the Green: you really have started something (and will never be allowed to stop, I hope you realise…!)" - Sue
"What a fantastic night!! Brilliant atmosphere with so much enthusiasm and excitement. Everyone was buzzing and spontaneously joining in even if they didn't know the songs! A night to remember. Loved it so big thanks. Will be in touch re summer regatta soon."
- Judy
"Thanks again - another cracking evening at the Café. You've certainly hit on a winning formula with these evenings. A lovely venue and the buffet before the music is such a great idea as sharing tables rather than sitting in orderly rows results in a really buzzy atmosphere even before the main event kicks off. Steve was great as usual but then I've never seen him do a duff performance. Loved the presentation of the golden rowlock." - Front Row Frances
"Thank you so much for a great evening last week - one of the best! We have seen Steve so many times but the atmosphere was excellent and welcoming and the music and banter fantastic - I do appreciate what goes on in running such an event as we put on a Grow your Own Gig last year - so well done and thank you. Please put us down for music and food for both Miranda and Rex as well as Jim Causley - seen them both this year already but will be ready for more by then!" - Mandy
"Thanks for arranging a brilliant event last night. Steve and the atmosphere I thought were fantastic." - Richard