From left to right- Bob Cottrell, Bob Porter, Orval Bolton, Bob Knox, Marvel Henning, sitting Shirley Rooke |
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Bob Knox and the “Wednesday Nighters” are a local musical group from Woodview and area. The members are: Bob Knox who plays lead guitar and fiddle, his wife, Diane who plays keyboard, Bob Porter who plays harmonica, Orval Bolton who plays fiddle, Bob Cottrell and Shirley Rooke who play the auto harp, and Marvel Henning who plays the flat top guitar. Other members over the years have included: Bob Walker, who was learning to play bass and was by all accounts a fine tenor, a terrific singer, Wib Wright who played the violin, Roy Reynolds who played mandolin, violin, Spanish guitar, and a little fiddle and Don Lane on guitar and vocals. Don was an infrequent member of the group. He used to travel to the Norwood Senior’s home with the group to sing a particular song to a woman, a song that had been one of her husband’s favorites. The group began when Diane Knox, who was nursing Isobel Reid, decided to have a birthday celebration for Isobel. People may remember Isobel played the organ at Eden United Church. To celebrate Isobel’s birthday Doug Dunford asked Wib Wright and Marg Dunford asked Marvel Henning to provide some musical entertainment. The entertainers also included Roy and Bob and Diane Knox. Diane baked a cake to celebrate Isobel’s birthday and they were all going to get together to play for Isobel at her birthday party. When they went to Isobel’s she was in the hospital, so they decided to go to Bob Knox’s house to play anyway. Many of the members came from very musical families including Orval, Shirley, Roy and Bob Porter. If you wanted music you had to play in the days before radio and records, and many whole families played. Orval can play almost anything. He actually made the fiddle he plays. He plays the Spanish guitar as well. Shirley Rooke got involved with the group when she and Bob Cottrell were going to the same church and he found out Shirley also played the auto harp. He and Marvel Henning came to her house to play and thought that she would make a good addition to the group. If you listen to the Carter Family music, June and Mabel, you can hear the auto harp. Bob Knox has played his whole life and can also play mandolin, accordion, banjo and keyboard. His wife Diane has some formal musical training. The group still practices every Wednesday (now in the afternoons) not at night – hence the name. They’ve been together for over twelve years and all these years they have practiced together at Bob and Diane’s never missing a session. Thanks to Bob and Diane for being such faithful hosts. Several of the members, Bob Knox, Wib and Roy went to Belleville and Peterborough nursing homes to play. More recently, the “Wednesday Nighters” have travelled monthly to two senior’s residences; Spruce Corners in Apsley and Pleasant Meadows Manor in Norwood where they provide musical entertainment. They have also participated in several events in the Apsley area including the Millenium Celebrations. The group has provided traditional entertainment, mostly good old country music, to our local seniors and local community who have appreciated it immensely. Nothing can light up a person’s memory and put a sparkle in their eye like hearing a tune from their past. Bob Knox and the “Wednesday Nighters” were presented in June with a Peterborough County Recognition Award for Leadership in the Arts Community.
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The Township of North Kawartha opened the community Public Washrooms, located behind the Royal Bank and Royal LePage Offices on Wednesday, July 4th, 2007. Unfortunately, within the first week of operation, vandalism has occurred to our community automated facilities from the forced compaction of newspaper and Styrofoam cups. The community is seeking the Public’s help in reporting any vandalism or suspicious activity to the North Kawartha Municipal Office immediately (705-656-4445). The appropriate authorities will be contacted and violators prosecuted. In order for us to fulfill the wishes of the Public and provide this much needed service of Washrooms in the Village of Apsley, we need to keep them in working order. Please help us spread the word and stop the vandalism to your public washrooms now.
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