During February 2023, three ladies got together to form a Tetbury and District u3a ukulele group. Since that time the group has flourished in a variety of ways.

With no one leaving the group since its formation, and several new members joining during those two years, the group now boasts 22 members, which is its maximum number, due mainly to the capacity of the group’s practice venue.  The group continues to meet every Tuesday afternoon in the restaurant at Steepleton Retirement Village.

Back in the day, that initial group quickly found a leader, and took on new members until the beginning of 2024 when it grew to 19 in number. Each growth period necessitated finding a new larger practice area. Three new members have joined this January, bringing the group up to its present maximum number.

During 2023 the T’Ukes, as we are known, very quickly became involved within the local community playing and singing to entertain residents at Tetbury Care Homes, and audiences at other venues. We soon spread our wings, travelling out of county to Malmesbury and Sherston, and in county to Minchinhampton and Cirencester, to perform in various care homes, church halls and at Longfield Hospice. During 2024 we entertained audiences at 9 different venues, on 18 occasions. We already have bookings for this year, including a couple of new venues.

Our repertoire now includes over 100 songs, and it’s our policy to encourage our audiences to sing along with us by providing them with folders containing lyrics sheets for those songs we will be playing. On occasions, when appropriate, we also enable members of our audiences to accompany us on small hand held percussion instruments, which we also provide. Our singalong concerts prove very popular with songs from the 40s to 70s bringing back wonderful memories for those listening to, or singing along with us.

The ukuleles we play range from the smallest size, a soprano, to a concert, then a tenor up to the largest ukulele of all a baritone, but recently one of our members has taken on the responsibility for learning and playing a bass ukulele, so providing that steady beat which keeps us all in time!!

It was suggested by a member of one of our audiences that we might also raise funds for a local charity. We jumped at that idea, quickly sought the permission of Longfield Hospice, and to date we have raised £1000 through donations from our audiences.

So during the short existence, the T’Ukes family has grown in number, rapidly increased its repertoire and ukulele and singing skills (the majority of the group being complete ukulele beginners when they joined),  purchased new and better ukuleles and music stands,  prepared and printed hundreds of song sheets, provided enjoyment and the opportunity to sing, and raised funds for a hospice that provides a wonderful service to families experiencing terminal illness.

Quite rightly, every member of the T’Ukes feels proud of what they have achieved, both individually and as a group, whilst striving to further develop their skills, and continue to entertain ourselves and others, hopefully for many years to come.

Please note the group is currently full and we have a waiting list.