First cockney sing-a-long train comes to Essex

A good old-fashioned knees up will get rail passengers smiling when Tom Carradine jumps aboard a train with his Ol’ Joanna for a cockney sing-a-long.

The one-off special train has been organised by the Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership and will run on Saturday 21 September on the 18.56 from Colchester to Walton on the Naze and return.

Tom Carradine, pianist with Champagne Charlie and the Bubbly Boys and regular accompanist on the London cabaret circuit, launched his show to capture the flavour and atmosphere of a good old-fashioned knees up in the grand Cockney tradition and recreate it for audiences young and old.

Since its launch in 2014, Carradine’s Cockney Sing-a-long has rapidly become a fixture on the UK’s thriving vintage scene, playing sell-out dates in the main auditorium at Wilton’s, every Thursday at Mr Fogg's Tavern, London, and for vintage events, corporate events and private parties across the country.

Tom comments, “I’m really looking forward to this unique event - my first sing-a-long on a train! As a huge Victorian Music Hall fan I can’t wait to lead the carriage in rousing choruses of the songs which Cockney day-trippers would’ve sung on this line over a hundred years ago on their way to the seaside.”

Terri Ryland, Community Rail Partnership Officer, said, “This is going to be a really fun evening full of songs that everybody knows and loves that will keep people smiling and singing from beginning to end. Don’t miss this chance to see Tom’s brilliant show while he’s here in Essex!”

Tickets are just £5 return and are only available at www.esscrp.org.uk