The legendary Frankie Manning celebrates his 95th birthday this year. And the end of this week marks the start of Frankie Week.

Part of this week is an attempt to film as many people doing a Shim Sham as possible around the world and for us to send to Frankie as a birthday present. So far, the following Shim Shams have been organised:

• Friday 13 March, 6pm: Swing Out for Comic Relief at Hay’s Galleria, Tooley Street, London Bridge
• Saturday 14 March, 8.30am: London Swing Dance Society, South Molton Street.
• Sunday 15 March, 2.30pm: Judy Cook et al., London Eye (judyoflondon@talktalk.net)
• Saturday 21 March: Holiday In Harlem

If you want to get involved, please check out the links. Judy is looking for further support for the filming on Sunday, please get in touch with her for details. For details on Frankie Week, see http://www.frankie95.com/frankieweek.php

It’s nearly Spring, and the Red Noses are almost around (especially if you are prone to hay fever). So SDL are out on the South Bank for some swinging action for Comic Relief.

This Friday the thirteenth, dust off your dancing shoes, put on your red noses and come swing out with us for an evening of free swing music and dancing at the Hays Galleria near London Bridge. And we may even do a Shim-Sham for Frankie Week!

We’ll also be at the Horniman Pub (in Hay’s Galleria) afterwards for Jazz Music from the London Centre of Contemporary Music. The £5 entry donation will help raise money for Guy’s & St. Thomas’ Hospital Charity.

This joint event by the Swing Dancers of London and the London Bridge Festival is part of the Red Nose Day festivities to raise awareness for local charities and help make a difference in the lives of thousands of people. Do something funny for money…

So let’s see you there!

Date	Time	Event	Venue	Map
Fri 13 Mar 2009	6:00pm	Swing Out For Comic Relief	Hays Galleria

A charity event is coming up this week to commemorate 65 years since the WWII D-Day landings. Full details are below, please come and support!

HELP SEND THE LONDON VETERANS TO THE 65TH (AND FINAL) COMMEMORATION OF THE WWII D-DAY LANDINGS IN NORMANDY.

It was the largest amphibious invasion in history and ultimately the beginning of the end of the Second World War: June 6th 2009 will see the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.

D-Day veterans will be assembling on the French coast from all over the world, for this one final commemorative visit in June. This will be the last time they gather in such numbers, as soon they will all be too old to travel. There are 16 veterans in London who are still fit enough to make the trip, but they need our help.

Please join us for a fabulous evening of 1940s swing dancing, with a brilliant live band, show, swing troupe and teachers to show you some moves, and incredible raffle prizes. ALL money raised will go directly to send our local D-Day veterans to Normandy.

These people made unimaginable sacrifices when they were just 18,19, 20 years old, to protect us from living under fascism and give us the freedom we enjoy today. Let’s give them this one last chance to gather proudly with their comrades and remember their friends who fell at their sides. Let’s make sure our local heroes are not left behind…

* V.McKenzie * J.Webb * J.Tilley * R.Forester * G.Kingett * A.Lewis * J.Chandler * S.Doree * J.Russ * E.Marshall * L.Eastwood * C.Hitchcock * K.Watts * C.Jeffries * G.Staff *
NIGHT of Live 1940s SWING for the London D-Day Veterans
Thursday 12 March – 6pm
Paradise, 19 Kilburn Lane, Kensal Green, London W10

Entry £20