THE Shed head of innovation, Simon Thackray, likes to throw new challenges at legendary Malton bingo caller Mrs Boyes.

The Shed On Tour programme has given Simon the chance to take 73-year-old Eileen Boyes on the road, not only with her regular distraction/percussion accompanist Mark Sanders but special guests too.

Already this week, she has conducted standard games of prize bingo to the additional aural competition of Oren Marshall’s tuba at Crayke Sports Club on Wednesday and John Edwards’s double bass at Weaverthorpe Village Hall last night. Tonight Alan Tomlinson adds his improvised trombone to the bingo and percussive banging at Sessay Village Hall, a combination that will be reprised tomorrow at Brawby Village Hall .

“I haven’t a clue how I’ll cope, but I will,” she said, contemplating this week’s marriage of musical mayhem and bingo.

“If it wasn’t for the bingo, I wouldn’t listen to that rubbish and Simon knows that! I couldn’t tell you why the combination works, but it does.”

Mrs Boyes has never forgotten her first Shed experience.

“I thought I was just doing a bingo night and Simon didn’t tell me it would be with music. That’s Simon for you. There were about six of my regulars that turned up at Brawby Village Hall and they couldn’t believe it,” she says. “I felt stupid when I was introduced to Mark Sanders, but he’s a real nice boy.”

Mrs Boyes’ Bingo featuring Mark Sanders has since been exported to York, Leeds and Belfast and although Mrs Boyes officially retired from her Malton bingo duties five years ago, she will continue her travels with Simon.

“I’ll be 74 next week but I don’t feel it and as long as I keep breathing all right I’ll keep doing it. My husband says I’m crackers, my son says I’m crackers but I’m not bothered. I like a bit of fun.”

Tickets for the 8pm shows are available online at theshed.co.uk or on 01653 668494.