Meet our friendly Ukulele Buddies team
Everyones got a role
Within Ukulele Buddies we all have a role to play to help the group to run effectively. There is no leader, its a collaboration between group members.
The best way to get to know us is to watch our documentary.
James (web / social media)
James helps producing videos for TikTok, Threads, Instagram and Facebook.
James is also our lead contact with the amazing charity The Ukulele Project, which helps combat loneliness through ukuleles being available in libraries, including Southport and Formby.
James enjoys playing unconventional songs on his ukulele, particularly from the post punk to brit pop era.
James has a fondness for unusual ukuleles which include an electric uke (Flight Pathfinder), a regular tenor electro (the faithful Snail M2) and a love of soundwave uke's (owning a Flight Victoria photographed left).
Bob (Facilitator)
Bob is very much the heart and soul of Ukulele Buddies. He brings joy and entertainment to us with his quirky songs on our open mic nights, and quirkier banjoleles.
Bob facilitates our group sessions to ensure everyone is involved and engaged in decision making.
He also acts as liaison with the big ukulele festivals.
Jonathan (Southport Offshore Rescue Trust liaison)
Jonathan is our co-ordinator for Ukulele Buddies nominated charity for April 2024 to March 2025 Southport Offshore Rescue Trust.
The rescue trust are independant of RNLI and provide vital support along the Southport coastline and beyond.
Jonathan is a key advocate of the service and members of his family help man the lifeboat equipment at times of crisis.
Jonathan plays 4 string ukulele and banjolele (usually at great speed)!
‘I never thought at 65 I would start playing the ukulele, we played right through lockdown on zoom which was amazing’.
Maria
George (musical mentor)
George has many years’ experience in bands playing across Southport and acts as the musical glue to hold us together. His deep love of early rock ‘n roll features in many of the songs played in our set.
George mainly baratone ukulele.
In 2022 George mentored a Duke of Edinburgh award student who learnt sound engineering and music mixing as well as video editing, social media and web design.
‘This is not just playing the ukulele, this is marriage therapy. It’s how we’ve coped during lockdown’.
Tina
Ian (Finance lead and Southport Kidney Fund liaison)
Ian effortlessly manages the finances for us, facilitating with Edda room bookings, managing our insurance, and ensuring George doesn’t buy too much new equipment! Ian is supported by Eleanor on finance activities.
Ian plays 4 string ukulele and brings his fun and unique vocal talents to the group. Come and see us play and you'll know what that means!
Ian is also passionate about raising the profile of the Southport Kidney Fund were are our nominated charity for April 2023 to March 2024.
Jeanette (Videos and local bookings)
Jeanette manages our local bookings with care homes and supports James in producing live videos for the group.
She is a very positive encourager to the rest of the group and sports the largest and most colourful collection of ukuleles including her treasured Enya soundwave feather (photo right).
Find out more about Jeanette's collection on the YouTube programme 'Show us your ukes' from Ukulele Wales.
Dave (Technology Guru)
Dave it our 'go to' guy for technology, he takes a lead on all our camera work for videos, edits YouTube clips and ensures the sound mix is always good on the PA system.
Dave plays 4 and 8 string ukulele, baratone ukulele and bass (not all at the same time).
Dave was nominated as our Ukulele Buddy of the year for all his selfless hard work supporting the group.
Tim (Resident poet)
You will often see Tim opening our festival performances with a self penned poem.
Tims confidence to perform his poems has grown greatly in recent months, and in addition to playing 4 and 8 string ukulele with Ukulele Buddies he regularly performs and poetry open mic nights across the region and recently had one of his poems published.
Tina (Health liaison)
Having Tina in our group has been such a blessing. As a trained health specialist she helped us stay safe during the pandemic, and has been such a support to our group.
No matter what the songs is, you'll hear Tina singing along, with a big smile on her face, her positivity provides encouragement to all of us.
The players
These wonderful people do the most important job, they make the music. We play a wide range of instruments including soprano, concert, tenor, baritone, bass and electric uke, kazoo, harmonica and a number of keen vocalists.
In photo are (back row left to right) James, Tim, Bob, Ian, Liz and Dave (front row left to right) Rosemary, Mick, Gill, Joan, Tina, Lee, Maria, Mo and George.
We have other groups members like Anne, Eleanor, Imogen, Joan P, Mo L, Sue, Tony and Richard not in this photo but equally treasured by us.
