Branch Contact: Wendy Shepperson Phone: 07866 833746  Email:
Venue
The usual venue is:- Penkridge Methodist Hall, 2 Clay Street, Penkridge, Stafford, ST19 5AF
Playing Meeting Dates
Playing Meetings are usually held on the second Saturday of each month, (exceptions in red) from 2.30pm – 5pm.Â
2026/27 meeting dates:–
August 8th,
September 12th,
October 3rd – Please note the change of date and venue for a whole day of playing with Sandra Foxall. See below for details
November 14th,
December 12th
January 9th
February 13th
South Staffordshire Branch invite you to join them:
Playing Day with Sandra Foxall
Saturday 3rd October 2026
Doors open 9:30am ready for playing sessions
10am to 4:30pm with breaks
The Haling Dene Centre, Cannock Road, Penkridge, ST19 5DT
Tea/coffee etc included.
Please bring your own packed lunch and a music stand.
£15 per person
Please contact Caroline Moore to book your place
and for details of how to pay.
email:
New members and visiting players are always welcome.
South Staffs meetings are for anyone who can read music and enjoys playing the recorder.  The playing of more than one size of recorder is optional. You don’t have to worry about holding a part on your own or playing solos.
We don’t cater for absolute beginners, but can put you in touch with experienced teachers.
The meetings are an ideal way to make contact with other players in the area.
Age is no barrier – we’ve had members from eight to eighty plus!
Visitors can try us out free for the first two visits, after which the charge is £5 per visit.
Just turn up with a recorder and a music stand. All music is provided.
Membership fee includes an amount payable to the SRP, branch costs and a subscription to the quarterly Recorder Magazine. Â
Current fees for September 2026 – August 2027 are:
- Individual Member £47
- Household £69
- Student £10
- Visitor £5 ( free for first two visits) which includes refreshments.
We arrange Workshops and Playing Days from time to time.Â
Past Events
Workshop from ‘All in Good Time’ series with David Moses
Attracted by a reference to the ‘joyous and exuberant rhythms’ in music from Brazil, the Caribbean and Cuba, we hosted the ‘SambaCarRumba’ workshop with David Moses in July 2026. After some excellent coaching to learn the rhythms, the highlight for many people was playing David’s arrangements with the backing tracks of percussion bands that he had created. This experience was uplifting, energising and brought to life everything David had been saying.
Pastoral Visit- Nick Epton
Nick Epton visited to conduct us for an afternoon in March 2026. He presented us with a good variety of pieces which made up a well-considered programme. As usual our members rose to the occasion and I think Nick’s conducting brought out the best in us. It was a very enjoyable afternoon.
Playing Day- Caroline Jones
Caroline Jones was invited to lead a playing day on Saturday 12th October 2024. It took place at the Haling Dene Centre, Cannock Road, Penkridge, ST19 5DT. Caroline presented a challenging and varied programme of music which was also designed to enable the playing of instruments of all sizes. Thank you Caroline for an interesting and enjoyable day’s playing.
Pastoral Visit- Lyndon Hilling
March 2024 saw a Pastoral Visit from Lyndon Hilling. We had a lovely afternoon of music and an interesting insight into the inspiration for his compositions. Lyndon brought out the best in us and we enjoyed his conducting and his company.
Workshop – Unbarred Renaissance Music
This whole day playing with a theme was led by our MD Alyson Lewin on Saturday 24 February 2024.
The venue for the event was the Haling Dene Centre, Cannock Road, Penkridge, ST19 5DT.  We played dances and music from other genres written in the Renaissance period before bar lines were used. We experienced the freedom when playing music not originally constrained by this modern invention. A pleasant and enjoyable day was had by all.
40th Anniversary Celebrations
South Staffs Recorder Players was founded by Alyson Lewin in 1983. Alyson is still MD today.
The event was celebrated by holding a special playing day on March 11th 2023 with Alyson conducting. The event took place at the Haling Dene Centre, Penkridge, Staffordshire, which has the facility to accommodate the extra number of players it attracted. Existing and ex members along with invited guests made up the ensemble.
The programme for the day was varied, fun and testing at times but always enjoyable. Alyson was commissioned to write a piece specially to mark the occasion. This she did and, based upon her local knowledge, aptly called it ‘A Staffordshire Ramble’. The piece brought out the full range of instruments.
Alyson had also been nominated for a long service award from the SRP. This was presented to her on the day.
All in all, the event was most enjoyable; and a fitting way to celebrate the branch’s 40 years and, of course, the 40+ years of Alyson’s dedication to recorder playing.