ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD

THE rattle of musical bones has sounded right across the globe. Just about now, down in deepest Queensland, Frank Edwards will be settling down in his armchair, about to scan my page (he has the Star mailed to him each week) for news of his rival for the title of 'King of the Clappers.'

Regular customers will recall (April 3) that I featured 73-year-old Ernie Henderson of Dunmail Avenue, Carr Mill, whose clapper-playing expertise earned him a part in a recent Southport musical production.

For the benefit of the 'iggerant' among us, clappers are six-inch pairs of cow's rib bone, cured in vinegar and rattled together, castanet-style, between the fingers and thumbs of both hands. Sadly a vanishing instrument, they give off a delightful rat-tat-tat accompaniment to singalong sessions.

After reading about Ernie's exploits, a lady reader from Redgate Drive, Parr, signing herself Mrs Mac, reminds me of an article I wrote five years ago, featuring Frank Edwards and headed 'King of Clappers.'

At that time I'd bumped into Frank, a veteran son of St Helens, while he was entertaining a concert-night audience at the Star Inn, Merton Bank. He was then over on holiday from Australia and put out an appeal for a set of genuine, professionally-manufactured clappers of the type he'd used as a boy jazzer. Mrs Mac was able to oblige and their close friendship developed.

"I have been Down Under twice on holiday," she tells me, "and I send your page to him every week. It then travels to a few more places around Australia and is really appreciated."

Frank made another sentimental visit to his old hometown recently, adds Mrs Mac, and he entertained with his clappers to appreciative customers of the Liverpool Arms, St Helens.

And had they heard in time about the Southport show, Frank and Mrs Mac would have gone along in support of Ernie Henderson's performance of what is a rattling good (though fast-dying) musical art.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.