Globe columnist Peter Grant meets a man on a musical mission... Richie Williams of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain who are coming to Chester Storyhouse.

George Hinchcliffe had an idea – with strings attached - back in 1985.

He founded ‘The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.’ And Bootle-born Richie Williams shared his vision.

Now the all-singing,all-strumming stars are a global sensation.

What started out as a novel idea has turned the UOGB (like ELO they are shortened for long-winded reasons) and have become one of the most respected musical attractions of the past 30 years.

David Bowie was a huge fan and Michael Palin says they are the ‘best of British.’

And even the NME love them and the New York Times are trans-Atlantic admirers.

These Ukulele masters of the unexpected are heading our way - to the Chester Storyhouse in September.

For one of its hallowed members it is a ‘home-coming’ of sorts.

They are all big fans of the Philharmonic Hall where they regularly sell-out, but they are thrilled to be playing the Storyhouse – recently officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen and arts loving time Duchess of Sussex - Meghan Markle.

Musician Richie Williams, and a former top notch roadie to the stars, is one of the twelve members of UOGB to be bringing his own distinctive steel string uke along.

This multi-talented guitarist is a ukulele virtuoso and has a great pedigree in the business having played with Thin Lizzy at the Cavern.

"I am genuinely looking forward to the Chester Storyhouse concert because there will be members of the family there.

"They live in Heswall so that will be fun. I hope they don’t shout out, ‘Hi there, Richie on the night,’’

Fun is certainly a word you can use to describe the individual and collective crew of the UOGB.

The 62 year-old musician says they were the first to use the name ‘orchestra’ in connection with the term ‘ukulele.’

Since then they have seen ukulele orchestras spring up - ironically all over Great Britain.

We even have one in Wirral.

But George, Richie and co., have inspired many to take up the instrument (me included).

The ukulele is now more popular than the recorder in schools.

"Yes, we do have a brand,’’ says Richie and we take what we do seriously, but we do have a lot of fun and we hope that translates from the stage.

"We enjoy chatting – sharing a few stories along the way and meeting people to sign our CDs after the show.’’

The UOGB are, he says, democratic when it comes to picking their wide range of songs.

Founder George is arranger and director and is ‘pretty good’ on the classical numbers, says Richie.

"We all suggest songs and we give them a go. Some of them work – and some don’t, but nothing is taboo to us.’’

Their back-catalogue has seen them tackle everything from Kate Bush’s Wuthering Heights to Nirvana’s Teen Spirit.

He adds with a laugh: ‘‘I don’t want to say too much but we have been working on a Blur cover. That is all I am saying.’’

His own favourite Ukulele cover version is the Talking Heads classic Psycho Killer.

He also enjoys their own version of the cinematic soundtrack to The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

The Orchestra, he points out, do not tackle Beatles songs in their sets but have, in the past, been known to play Hey Jude and Yellow Submarine which are big hits with Japanese audiences.

The UOGB certainly have a great sense of humour. Their latest tour is called ‘Heritage I I Heritage’ a nod to the fact that rock and pop stars give their tours names.

This quirky, much-loved Orchestra have an impressive creative CV. They have played everywhere from village halls to the Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall to Sydney Opera House.

"We have performed for the Royal Family and the BBC Proms. And of course Glastonbury was so memorable.’’

And they really can claim to be a world-wide phenomenon.

Happily touring for the troupe is not overtly expensive.

"Have ukulele... will travel. That’s our motto. Its ideal hand-luggage on aeroplanes,’’ says Richie who is now based in Dorset.

He says he is proud of what the UOGB have achieved to date and look s forward to breaking new ground with them.

"I was with them from the very start in 1985. I took a break and then came back in 2003 and I’ve been here ever since.

"I guess I got the time off for ‘good behaviour.’"

He promises their usual diverse eclectic mix show of surprises when they head ‘up North.’

Pop, folk, rock, and classical music will be re-imagined like never before and given a unique ukulele musical make- over.

As Richie says... you ‘ain’t heard nothing yet.

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain at The Chester Storyhouse.

On September 23, for tickets call 0124 440 9113 or visit https://www.storyhouse.com/event/ukulele-orchestra