A song that was inspired by the death of a fisherman and his wife on Berrow beach is to be performed in the village later this month.
‘On Berrow Sand’ was written by the renowned song writer Fred Weatherley, who also wrote songs such as ‘Danny Boy’ and ‘Roses of Picardy’.
Enquiries and research failed to trace a copy of the long-forgotten music but the keenness and diligence of Keith and Jennifer Utteridge of The Travelling Light Magic Lantern Company, who will be performing the song on February 10th in Berrow Village Hall, helped them track down the elusive score in London.
The song tells the story of a local fisherman whose wife every evening during the 1870’s placed a lighted lantern in their cottage window to guide her husband home as he crossed the treacherous Berrow Sands after a busy day fishing.
One foggy night, fearing that her husband would not see the light, the wife took the lantern on to the sands to meet her husband.
The following morning the fisherman’s body was found on the waterline and the body of his wife was found further up the beach – the lantern still in her hand.
The Travelling Light Magic Lantern Company will perform the song at the New Year Party of Burnham-On-Sea Moose Lodge 123 on Saturday 10th February at 7.15pm.
Anyone interested in attending the event should contact Chris Harris, Lodge Governor, on 01278 760486. Following buffet refreshments the evening will conclude with an interesting and amusing talk on Schooldays given by Peter Tinney.
