VISITORS to Ilkley’s Christchurch café were treated to half an hour of songs accompanied by “the happiest instrument in the world” as The Grove Ukulele Players performed in public for the first time since their inception last year.

The 16-strong ensemble sang to a packed room, running through a repertoire including The Beatles, Johnny Cash and the rousing singalong finale of ‘Oom Pah Pah’ from ‘Oliver!’. Despite the lack of experience, the group’s enthusiasm and hours of practice earned them applause and calls for an encore and an invitation to perform in the café again. A collection was made at the end of the performance, for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. The group (nicknamed The Guppies, from the initials of their name) has already lined up its next performance, as part of the Ilkley Live garden music festival on July 9. See www.ilkleylive.com for details.

The Guppies was founded by Jeannie Caunce last September as a U3A beginners’ ukulele class, and most members had never even touched the instrument before signing up. The Guppies is the fourth ukulele group formed in the Ilkley & District U3A, but demand is so high that Jeannie is launching another class for beginners. This will run weekly in Addingham at noon from Monday, June 6. Contact Jeannie by email (jeanniecaunce@gmail.com) for more information. If you’d like to play the ukulele through the U3A, it is easy to join at www.ilkleyu3a.org. But for non-members there are several other groups in the area, including the Ukulele Jammers in Burley-in-Wharfedale (www.valleymusic.com/groups) and the Otley Ukulele Orchestra (www.woolpackstudios.co.uk).