Ukulele band to play biggest ever show at Wolverhampton charity gig

Severnside Ukulele Strummers Association (SUSA) will perform at Wolverhampton's Dementia Friendly Carol Concert next month.

The club, which has 75 members, will entertain crowds at St John's in the Square Church in Wolverhampton.

Gaynor Butler, SUSA club secretary, said: "We are going to play as lovely a set as possible that will be a specific carol concert set featuring some classics and some Christmas songs.

"There's a good chance we will be older than the people we are playing to.

"We think it's important that people with dementia have events and social activities that they can attend. The main thing is that the people with dementia get something out of the concert."

SUSA was formed in 2004 by Ray Shakeshaft, a keen multi-instrumentalist, and has grown ever since.

Mr Shakeshaft suffered a stroke in 2011 and passed away in 2015, with Gaynor Butler taking over leading the SUSA choir.

The 73-year-old said: "It will be quite different playing in such a big venue: we normally play smaller ones.

"This will be one of the biggest we have ever played in and it's notable how popular the ukulele is these days."

The concert will be 'dementia-friendly', with stewards on hand who have completed Dementia Friends information sessions and clear signs in the venue to help people find their way around.

St Peters Collegiate Choir, a traditional children's choir, will also be performing.

Emma Dowler, community fundraiser for Alzheimer's Society in Wolverhampton, said: "We're in for a real treat this year in the historic and beautiful setting of St John's Church.

"We want people to bring the whole family along and join us for a magical evening."

The concert gets under way at 7pm on December 3. Tickets start from £5. Visit alzheimers.org.uk/carolconcerts