Adderbury Ukes

In the early 2010s, a small group of ukulele players met weekly at The Sun Inn in Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, taking turns choosing songs to strum and sing. By 2015, numbers had fallen, and the remaining players moved to The Bell Inn in Adderbury. Known for supporting local music, the pub welcomed them, and the Adderbury Ukulele Group was formed. Around a dozen players met each week simply to enjoy making music together.

As requests for performances grew, the group organised a manageable setlist to rehearse and improve their playing. They produced a 20 song music book, created the Adderbury Ukes logo, and prepared a word book for audiences, establishing themselves as a friendly “sing along” group.

A few talented teenagers and a bass player soon joined, enriching the sound. Beginner courses were introduced, attracting many new players—so many that the back room of The Bell became crowded. In 2019, the group moved to the larger, well lit lounge at the nearby Adderbury Bowls Club.

Their repertoire expanded each year, with new songbooks published on the website. Gigs increased too, especially in local care homes, though they also performed at village events outside the Coach and Horses and at the annual Ball Colgrave open gardens.

The 2020 pandemic halted in person meetings, but the group stayed connected through twice weekly Zoom sessions. By summer 2021, they were able to rehearse and perform again. Although some members had left during the shutdown, attendance soon returned to over twenty players. Beginner classes resumed, and by spring 2022 membership had grown to around forty, spanning a wide range of ages and abilities. After losing their original bass player to illness, one member learned ukulele bass, giving the group a fuller sound once more.

As an acoustic group, they are appreciated for their gentle volume and are well known in care homes across Bicester, Banbury, Brackley and Chipping Norton. They also perform at wider community events, including the Fairport Fringe at the Bell Inn in Cropredy, Banbury People’s Park Centenary, and Banbury Canal Day.

More than ten years on, the group has grown from a handful of players to around fifty members. They value the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, enjoy playing together each week, and appreciate the facilities at the Adderbury Bowls Club. With strong community ties and a love of making music, they hope to continue for many years to come.