but there would also be many performers, at a phenomenally economic entrance fee (thanks to the 'vision' of the late Bob Chappell). A whole week here costs less than a day at Wembley!! Apart from the musical attractions (my main reason for going) there were many other attractions like:- Country Music quizzes ( I reached the FINAL!) Talent competitions (My good friend put on some astounding performances) Country Dancing (Really 'got into' this for the FIRST time) Fast-draw competitions Square Dancing (Really 'got into' this for the FIRST time) and much more!!! Performers appearing (apart from BOXIE) were: Burnt Ash Julie Byrne Country Band Little Ginny Carl Gibson Tone Howard (Square Dance caller and instructor)
Cliff Whelan Jed Ford Naden Brothers Buffalo Billy Wild & Susan Duffy Brothers Mustang Colorado Rick Daley The Hillsiders Slim Pickens
MARVIN RAINWATER Rod King Leon Poacher American Express That was sure "one hell of a line-up" - and the start of a decade with my support. It was the start of the best-ever holiday series that I ever attended. SQUARE DANCING I had noticed from the 'advance programme' that there would be a 'course' in Square Dancing. Courses didn't seem to me, then, what Holidays should be about!! Thus I decided on playing table-tennis with my son as our preferred option. Kevin and I played our games very contentedly for a while in this hall which had dividing partitions in a very large hall. After a while, some very cheerful and happy Country Music started on the other side of a screen. That is a kind of music that I just can't resist!! So Kevin guarded 'our table' whilst I went to investigate. I poked my head through a gap in the screen and saw many people equally happy with the environment, - and a few seconds later, a guy, known to me later as that great 'caller' Tone Howard, invited everyone "to stand up" - followed shortly by "hold hands" - then to "walk forward" - all whilst this beautiful music was playing 'in the background'. Then he had his own way of ensuring that everyone had a 'partner' of the opposite sex (essentially by unmatched persons walking to the centre and finding another unmatched person). Persons still unmatched after this process still stood there - and the unoccupied audience was then invited to match up with those persons! The dance didn't get under way until everyone who wanted to 'have a go' had a 'partner'. That didn't take very long with Tone's bubbly personality. That is how I got into "American Squares", an activity that was to be a major part of my life for about a DECADE after that point in time.