Have dinner in the beautiful ambience of the Friendly Room.
Dedicated to Bob Homme, "The Friendly Giant", in his memory.
The Friendly Giant ~ Bob Homme
This article is from the Grafton Village Innformation Newsletter, Vol. 1 - No. 2
"He is the Friendly Giant who led us with the sparkling notes of his flute into that magical world across the moat and into the castle to curl up by the fire with Rusty and Jerome. Several decades of Canadian children grew up in the warm welcome environment of his long-running television series that set the standard for children's educational programming. He remains an icon of childhood, an image of quiet intelligence, gentle humour and unhurried attention who treats his audience with utmost respect. He continues to charm and delight children and seniors with live performances of music and storytelling." On May the 6th this year it was announced that Bob Homme had been appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. This investiture is scheduled to take place in Ottawa towards the end of October. This singular richly deserved recognition of what it was and still is, "a Canadian institution ", places Bob in the company of a select group of Canadians recognized for their "lifetime of achievement, merit and service to their community or country. The Order was created in 1967, as the centerpiece of Canada's system of honours. We salute Bob Homme, a true Canadian icon.
Easy Listening, Endless Repertoire, Keep Diners Returning Again and Again When Bob and Sheilagh Play. Any time Bob and Sheilagh entertain diners at the Grafton Village Inn you can be assured of two things. There will be a lot of nostalgia and reminiscing of the older crowd while the younger set will discover a world of music many of them didn't know existed. "It's been that way from the start," said Inn General Manager Bill Vronsky. "Bob and Sheilagh create an entirely new dimension to dining, and we keep getting the same question when people call for reservations - are Bob and Sheilagh playing this evening?"
Bob and Sheilagh have been performing together for more than four years. "We first met socially, at a neighbour's party - we were asked to play, and it just seemed to be a natural fit," said Bob. We both enjoy the same wide range of music and play anything from the 30's, 40's and 50's as well as some of the more popular current show tunes.
"Sheilagh is an amazing musician," Homme added. "She plays strictly by ear and from memory in any key. She just comes by it naturally. Her parents had a dance band out west when she was growing up and her love of music, combined with an amazing talent make her a joy to work with. In all the time we have played together I have never been able to stump her with a song."
"We play songs that people don't get to hear very often any more," said Sheilagh. "A lot of music is from a gentler time and there seems to be a real joy when people hear "their songs" played again after so many years. Of particular interest to Sheilagh and me is the interest among the young people in the music which their parents played and enjoyed when they were dating and dancing. It makes for a great family outing, when families dine at the Inn and we are seeing more and more of them all the time."
Families are such an interest and appreciative audience. It isn't at all unusual for spontaneous sing-a-longs to break out and it makes for a fun afternoon or evening.
Sheilagh plays the keyboard and Bob joins in on the clarinet or recorder. It was the recorder that brought Bob almost instant - and certainly enduring fame as TV's "The Friendly Giant" who entertained children of all ages for many years on the CBC. "Friendly, Jerome and Rusty were household words for years," says Bob, "and it amazes me how often people still come up and speak to me about those days long gone."
For the past two years Bob and Sheilagh have been a regular feature at the Grafton Village Inn at both the popular weekend brunches as well as evening dinners.
~ In Spring of 2000 Bob Homme, "The Friendly Giant", passed away. A true "Giant" of human spirit, in life and television. Though his memory will live forever in the hearts of all his family, friends and fans, we will miss him dearly and remember him always.~