EDWIN WAUGH DIALECT SOCIETY
ROCHDALE
Edwin Waugh
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Maintaining and Increasing Interest
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Dialect Writers Monument in Broadfield park, Rochdale
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Welcome to our website
We trust that you will find it interesting and hopefully you will be able to contact any of us should you wish to do so, via e-mail or by telephone to any of our committee members. Better still, why not come and visit us at one of our meetings? Tha'll find a gradely welcome theer. Then, if you'd like to join us, we'll be more than happy to welcome you as a member...
OR if you would like the invitation in the form of dialect poem... read on... Ceawer Thi Deawn!
Neaw when yo' come to Eawr meetin's
Full of poets of greight renown- One thing we'll allus tell thi: Yo're welcome, ceawer thi deawn! Hutch up an' han a listen To some grand owd Lanky' rhymes; An' yor een 'ull fairly glisten Wi' tales of iowden times. We'll shed a tear fer eawr kinfolk, An praise 'em neaw an' tgen, Ye'll marlock, an' we'll crack a joke- But only if it's clen! We'll han some local history too, Or a gradely tale impart; An' we'll warble songs to poo yo' throo An cheer yor warchin' heart. Whene'er eawr members stond to spout In eawr jannock Lanky' tung; Theer's sayin's, an' words we corn't do bout Like jow, an' pow, an' thrung. Eawr dialect's a language of its own, It brats eawr hearts wi' pride; It's eawr Heritage, it's whoam-grown It's the SOUL of us inside. Theer's noather lad nor lassy 'ere Ut shines in their own leet; Cose we're Lanky folk, an' we revere A thing ut's gradely reet. Of course, we like to swank a bit, We'n yeps o' talent 'ere'; Just tak' a sken ut waht we'n writ We're th' best in Lankysheer! So come along an' enjoy yorsel, Grab a cheer, an' dunno freawn, Yo'll n]mak' a rock o' pals as weel, Yo're ewlcome, ceawer thi deawn! Written by Lowell Dobbs a past member. OR
if that hasn't persuaded you to come along, how about this one from one of our Life Members, Denis Clarke... Edwin Waugh Dialect Society 
Denis Clarke 1991 amended 1996
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Brief history
The Society was formed in 1938 by a group of Lancashire Dialect enthusiasts. It lapsed in 1940 due to the effects of the Second World War but restarted in 1950. It has continued to the present day. Monthly Meetings
Meetings are held on the second TUESDAY of every month from October to June, commencing at 7.30pm Subscriptions
The annual subscription of £12 is due at the October meeting to help pay for our speakers, but you don't need to be member to come along to see if you would enjoy the meetings. Your first meeting is a free taster session. There is a voluntary donation requested at each meeting to help defray the cost of the room hire. Meetings Format
A poetic version by Eric Green follows these paragraphs. The meeting starts with a welcome to all from the evening's Chairman, followed by a rendition of Edwin Waugh's song "A Lift on the Way". We then have a reading of a poem or extract from one of Waugh's works by a pressed volunteer and hear the 'Parish Notices' from the Secretary. Members are then entertained by a speaker, or a performer. You can find full details of each of our monthly meetings on the Events Calendar page. A vote of thanks is given followed by a second Waugh song, "Toddlin' Whoam", being the most appropriate! After this, in the immortal words of our previous President, Jack Lye, "Tha con aw pike off whoam neaw!" The evening ends at around 9.00 pm. Now the 'slightly' longer Poetic version (updated 2021) E' By Gum It's Dialect Neet
Gradely folks are looking forward To the next time they all meet At St. Andrews United Reformed Church In Rochdale Town's Smith Street. From October each year To June the year after You will see smiling faces And hear their laughter. On the second Tuesday each Month they are in for a real treat At the Edwin Waugh Society’s Dialect neet. They start with a bit of singing Written by the master, so mote it be. He wrote all seven verses, But they sing only three. But their melodious voices Blend in harmony And happily give some poor old soul ‘A lift on the way’. The chairman opens the meeting As the members he cheerfully greets, And finishes by telling who Is entertaining that neet. Then the secretary gives the Apologies from those who can't be theer Before the ‘Waugh” is read Or recited by a volunteer. First meeting in October Is ‘President’s Neet wi’ Friends’ Everyone is sorry when at nine It's time to end. There's a night of ‘Red and White Roses’ ‘Rakings up from Saddleworth’, as well With all the members hoping That ‘something they dug up’ didn't smell! With ‘Entwistle's of Foxholes’ And ‘Ramblings of Rossendales’ Folks listened so intently As the speakers tell their tales. it's cheap, just a copper, For a good evening all right With more arresting tales To come on duty with Mr Knight. There's nothing like Lancashire humour As dialect friends you meet Get yourself ‘sommat from Owdham’ If you want a real treat. Cow ‘eel pie with homemade chips Devoured from ‘Lancashire lips’. At Edwin Waugh Presentation Supper The highlight of the year They go ‘in and out of dialect ‘ With a slice of Lancashire. Don't ask for a doggie bag Or you'll be eating potato pie. On the day of the Jarvis Street concert On the 20th of July. A vote of thanks is given With generous applause From each and every member Of Rochdale's Edwin Waugh. Another dialect meeting Has come, and been, and gone. In rain wind or snow off they go All ‘fain to be toddlin’ whoam’. Eric Green |