At the September meeting of Wyesham WI, President Daphne welcomed everyone back after the summer break and opened the meeting by paying tribute to long-serving and loyal member of Wyesham WI, Sue Browne who died recently. She said that Sue was a valuable and popular member and was always cheerful. There was an empty chair where Sue liked to sit, which was a fitting tribute to a really well loved lady.

Daphne then introduced the speaker for the evening and it was a welcome return to Wyesham for Mr Peter Gill. Peter is an accomplished musician, who has visited Wyesham once before when he spoke about the music and life of soldiers in the trenches of World War I. This time his talk was on the career of Jerry Lee Lewis, known as the “wild man of rock and roll”, as much for his antics off stage as on. The talk centred on his musical career, with a slide show and songs sung by Peter accompanying himself on keyboard. Lewis was born into a very poor but religious American family and from a very early age showed musical ability. Music and the church were his two passions. He loved to go to the bars where the black people played. His father recognised his talent and mortgaged their house to buy him a piano. He had a famous (in the USA) country star as a cousin, Mickey Gilley and another cousin was the rather infamous evangelical leader, Jimmy Swaggart.

In November 1956, Lewis travelled to Memphis to audition for the famous Sun Record label in the Memphis Recording Studio. Sam Phillips, a manager who recorded the greats of rock and roll there – Elvis, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins to name but a few, took him on and he toured with Carl Perkins. He appeared on the Steve Allen televison show and became famous for his antics during the song “Whole Lotta Shakin’ going on”. His career blossomed really quickly and he became another King of Rock and Roll.

In 1958 he came to the UK, riding high on his popularity. He was accompanied by his third wife, a cousin named Myra. When a reporter questioned him, it appeared that he had not divorced his second wife, nor the first and Myra was only 13 years old. When he played Hammersmith, he was met with boos and jeers and on return to the USA he was ignored by everyone and radio stations did not play his records for 4 – 5 years. In the UK however, it was soon forgotten and he was still a star here and in Europe. In fact, in 1964 he recorded a live album in the Star Club in Hamburg and it was a success. It was a more country-based album, “Country Songs for City Folks” and Jerry Lee went down that road after that, back to his roots. In fact, Tom Jones recorded a song from that album – “The green, green grass of home”. His wild days were not over, however, and he was once arrested for being drunk and disorderly, having drunk champagne in his car, gone to throw the bottle out of the window, but the window was closed and the glass cut his nose. He had been on his way to see Elvis, but at Graceland, Elvis’s uncle called the police. That was the last time they met as nine months later, Elvis was dead. While other rock and roll stars also died in various circumstances and one or two of old age, Jerry carried on. He loved music and was never particularly rich, he just loved to perform. His last performance was when he was 83 years old in 2019. Many stars of the 60s, 70s and all the way up to today, thank Jerry Lee Lewis for the impact his music had on them – Billy Joel, Elton John, Chas Hodges and Georgie Fame to name but a few.

Peter was warmly thanked for an entertaining and enjoyable evening.

Daphne went through the newsletter and highlighted important parts. She thanked Roslyn for organising the superb afternoon tea in the Orepool. It was incredible value for money and very tasty.

Some members were involved in the recent 150 year anniversary of St James Church and WI roses have been planted in the grounds.