EVERY Monday evening, the Fishermen’s Rest in Aveton Gifford is filled with song and the gentle strumming of ukuleles.

People travel from across the South Hams to play each week, including many people who have never played a musical instrument before.

The Modbury Uke’n’Sing Group was setup by Reverend Neil Barker in October 2012, beginning with two evening classes at St George’s church, Modbury, before they began meeting fortnightly at the Modbury Inn.

They played their first gig in 2013 at the Modbury May Fair and won first prize for ‘adult pedestrians’.

Since then the group hasn’t looked back, having been nurtured by Paul Woodcock’s tuition from his Modbury Melodies shop. Paul runs a ukulele tuition group on Wednesday mornings at the White Hart Inn, Modbury and an evening group at the shop.

In July, the Modbury Uke’n’Sing Group began meeting at the Fisherman’s Rest, Aveton Gifford and the group has taken off, with more than 20 people turning up each week to unwind, catch-up with friends and have a good sing-along.

Ron Taylor from Kingsbridge joined the group two years ago. He had never played music before, but had always loved music from when he was a teenager.

‘When I retired and sold my business, I was looking for something new to do,’ Ron told me.

‘So I tried the ukulele group and thoroughly enjoyed it - it’s a great social event. It’s great getting together and having a good sing-song,’ Ron added.

Jeff Booth from Modbury, leads the group at the Fisherman’s Rest, and has been playing in the group for about four years: ‘I started when Reverend Barker started - it was Neil who got me into it really. I already played guitar and a few other instruments badly,’ Jeff joked.

‘We don’t do as much tuition on Monday evenings, we’re just here to enjoy ourselves really. The majority of people here have been to see Paul at some stage for tuition. Some of these people have been playing here for years, others for a few weeks,’ Jeff continued.

‘Apart from the music, some people are here for social reasons. People get so much enjoyment from it, musically and socially. And of course some people come for the drink!’

‘It’s Paul who feeds the group,’ Jeff continued. ‘Eight of us have been through Paul, including me. Not only does he provide the instruments but he also teaches. People become confident and then they come along to the group. Paul’s such a great teacher.’

Once the group have unpacked their instruments, unfolded their music stands and made themselves comfortable, they are quick to begin strumming and singing. They work their way through a light-hearted selection of sing-along songs, including Whiskey in the Jar, Singing the Blues - with kazoos appearing out of pockets, Country Roads, Peggy Sue, Folsom Prison Blues, Hey Good Lookin and Eight Days a Week.

Most people are play standard ukuleles, but there are a few banjo ukuleles, or ‘banjoleles’, in the mix. And Adrian Sparks is playing an amplified bass ukulele - his resonant bass lines holding the group together.

‘It’s a great group - everybody has fun!’ Adrian told me.

‘I joined the group four years ago. You don’t have to be the best player in the world to get by. My motto when I first started was: if you don’t know what you’re doing, just play C and keep going!’

‘People without any musical ability can - with a certain amount of effort and guidance - learn to play an instrument and learn to play with a group and not feel stupid. That’s what this is all about,’ Adrian said.

‘Paul’s message is enthusiasm. Everybody is at different levels and we play together in a happy spirit, it’s not at all competitive. We just enjoy it, no matter how good or bad you are.

‘It’s still an evolving thing. It’s grown because Paul has made more people capable of playing the ukulele - it’s brilliant. And it gives me the chance to be in a rock ‘n’ roll band!’ Adrian smiled.

Katy Gostick from Kingsbridge joined the group three years ago: ‘One day I went into Paul’s music shop and bought a ukulele, I had never heard or played one before.

‘The very next day, I went to the White Hart in Modbury and joined a fabulous, fun and diverse group, and started learning to play the ukulele.

‘Since then I’ve joined the Monday evening group, performed in the Modbury pantomime and played at numerous events and fundraising musical evenings.

‘The ukulele is a simple instrument to play, and so you can easily progress to making music within a group and performing, which was a new experience for me, and one which I really enjoy.’

‘It’s a great way to meet new friends and share a love of music in a fun and social way,’ Katy added.

Modbury Melodies’s Paul Woodcock said: ‘The ukulele groups around here are amazing. I’m known for the technical clubs - I teach people how to pick and orchestrate. The Fishermen’s Rest group is the ‘sing-along drink-along’ group - it’s for fun and friendship.

‘I’ve been teaching for donkey’s years, but these groups are so hungry for knowledge. We’re doing stuff that even the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain don’t do!’

‘We’ve got a bucket-load of ukulele groups, and there’s another group starting in Ivybridge this month,’ Paul added.

Paul explained that the difference between the ukulele and other string instruments, is that it’s impossible not to smile while playing the ukulele.

‘It’s fun - you can’t play serious music on the ukulele. You could play the funeral march and you’d still be smiling!

‘And they’re colourful instruments, and lots of us have got flowers for our straps - just for fun,’ Paul added.

The ukulele originated in Hawaii in the late 19th century, adapted from a Portuguese instrument called a cavaquinho or machete. The name ukulele roughly translates as ‘jumping flea’ and the instrument took America by storm during the roaring twenties.

The Modbury Uke’n’Sing Group is open to all. They meet at the Fisherman’s Rest, Aveton Gifford on Mondays at 7.30pm.

For further information, or to find out more about the Wednesday tuition groups, call Paul Woodcock at Modbury Melodies on 01548 831504.Watch a video of the Modbury Uke'n'Sing Group performing Eight Days A Week below.