Come and learn some of the old fishermen’s folk songs from the North End of Kings Lynn.

No experience needed to join a singing workshop and celebration of the rich heritage of folk song!

The workshop and celebration are all part of an initiative by BBC Radio Norfolk to highlight the story of the North End. This includes live broadcasts, a documentary and the Saturday evening celebration.

King's Lynn has a fascinating history of folk songs and singing. In 1905, the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams was travelling the English countryside in search of folk songs to provide inspiration for his own symphonies. In the North End of King's Lynn he found a treasure trove of songs, sung to him by fishermen and labourers.

In the 1950s and 60s, similar songs, many with a seafaring content, were still being sung by the older members of the fishing community in the town, such as Trunky Bunting and Charlie Fysh: and were noted down by local historians and broadcast on BBC national radio.

We invite you to come and learn some of these songs, under the expert leadership of Chris Coe, who is well known nationally on the folk music scene as a singer and workshop leader. She has worked with the East Anglian Traditional Music Trust on a number of occasions, and has a particular interest and skill in bringing songs alive from manuscripts. Chris teaches by ear, so no sight-reading skills are needed to join in the singing!

The day will conclude with a rousing finale of songs in St. Nicholas' Chapel, as part of a community performance alongside students from local high schools, and local folk singers and musicians. Films featuring local children singing, and some from the East Anglian Film Archive will also be shown. We hope that your friends and families will join us in this celebration of the old North End community: tickets from True’s Yard Museum 01553 770479.

The workshop and celebration are all part of an initiative by BBC Radio Norfolk to highlight the story of the North End. This includes live broadcasts, a documentary and the Saturday evening celebration. An exhibition about the folk songs of the area is at True’s Yard - 22nd May to 9th June.

The day runs from 10.30 to 6.00 and is followed by an evening performance as part of a celebratory community event in St Nicholas’ Chapel. Refreshments will be available all day. The venue is fully accessible to wheelchairs users.

All-day workshop tickets £12 (£10 concessionary rate for unwaged).

Click here for printable booking form.