Ladies that Lunch

Tuesday 8th October, a group of us met at Shill's for the first of what we hope will be many of 'Ladies Wot Lunch' occasions. We were joined by Doreen Wilson, who was chair of choir before retiring nearly ten years ago. She still is a keen follower and comes to all our concerts! Good craic, and delicious food of course! We hope to have these lunches about once every half term; I will be checking out the cafe at Jennings before the next occasion (since they've been so kind as to change the night of their Christmas Carol event so that we can take part!!). We'll be arranging this one for a Saturday, so that members who are at work during the week will be able to attend if they wish.

Saturday's workshop

On Saturday 21st September MD Val Hetherington organised a super 'away day' in the music department suite at St. Joseph's in Workington (where Val is Head of Music). A good number of choir members enjoyed learning all the numbers from A Ceremony of Carols that we'd not yet tackled. And, at the same time, had a really enjoyable day. There's nothing like a good sing to improve your mood and feeling of well-being. Except perhaps a good lunch... which we had too! There have already been requests to repeat the experience some time, and for learning something really challenging it's a great idea. Those who were unable to go will benefit too, as the confidence of the attendees when we go through the different numbers again will make it so much easier to follow the music.

Start of Term 4th September

Back to 'work' tonight. Lots to learn for Christmas! And a good start made on the Ceremony of Carols. The bag-pack session at Sainsbury in August raised a very welcome £351 (plus one Belgian franc...) which has gone into the pot to help defray the costs of our Christmas concert. Welcome to new member Abigail Cann. It's always pleasing to see new faces in the Alto section!! And how lovely to welcome back Jean Stafford; we've missed her over the past year. Some choir members are still enjoying their summer hols. By 21st September, when Val hopes to hold the full day workshop at St. Joseph's in Workington, they should all be back. The decision will be made next week as to whether we have enough participants for it to be worthwhile. Watch your email boxes if you weren't at tonight's rehearsal!

End of term news

What a triumph our summer concert was! All that patient coaching by Val paid off, with a flawless performance that had our Val in paroxysms of joy!! A good-sized audience thoroughly enjoyed both our offerings, and the performance by the talented young musicians of the Yann Tan Folk Music Group. A perfect summer's evening.

Janet Mansfield prepares tickets for her raffle-table of very desirable prizes; the young folk musicians warming up before the start of the concert. Final meeting of the season was our summer party at Bob and Sheila's Crosby home - and, at last, a balmy summer evening for us all to enjoy their beautiful gardens. Folk arrived in their gorgeous summer finery, together with platefuls of yummy food. Dave's bread gets special mention, and of course Janet's meringue mountain disappeared like snow off a dyke.

I apologise for having been so taken with the enticing supper tables I forgot to take many of choir members... just managed the one, and another of some very tempting salad leaves in the garden. Obviously no rabbits nearby! Some of us will be meeting on Saturday 3rd August for a fund-raising bag pack at Sainsbury's. An updated roster will be sent out nearer the time. And that's it until Wednesday 4th September, so have a lovely summer, everybody. And please write Saturday 21st September in your diaries too, as Val is organising a whole day session in her departmental rooms at St. Joseph's in Workington, where we will 'break the back' of the work required to learn our ambitious Christmas prgramme.

Rehearsal 3rd July

Friday night was our concert dedicated to the memory of Robert Rawlinson, at Bridekirk. I think it's fair to say the gratifyingly large audience enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed singing to them. What I hope is to be the final 'tweak' to our summer concert dress code, smart black with a flower in sweet pea shades, also met with approval. The photos who how good the appearence is!

The choral music was supplemented by solos from Jane Gambles and Ann-Marie Kerr. After the concert, we were treated to strawberries, shortcake and fizz. What a lovely night!! Tonight's rehearsal was spent tidying up a few loose ends in preparation for our main summer concert at Christ Church next week. A roster has been prepared for our bag-packing event at Sainsbury's on 3rd August; a copy will be sent out to all those who've offered. It is hoped that we may raise enough money to cover the cost of our special Christmas concert featuring Britten's Ceremony of Carols, with harp accompaniment. (November 2013 sees the centenary of his birth).

Rehearsal 19th June

Started early tonight 'cos it was the AGM. Managed to work our way through our whole summer concert programme, nevertheless! Well done! Next week will also be an early start, as we need to fine-tune our repertoire for our concert on Friday 28th June, in Bridekirk at St. Bridget's Church (see Cockermouth Post for details - just inside the cover!) Handed out tonight was a list of everything we've sung at concerts over the past year. The idea is to award a mark to everything you've sung, on a 1 - 5 basis. We can then see clearly what we all enjoy singing the most, and that will be a great help in future planning. Forms to be returned to Audrey Evans (treasurer) next week. No need to put your names on, we don't need to know!

Rehearsal 6th June

Some sightreading; we all got so involved that tea-break wasn't remembered till after half-past eight - most unusual!! Nomination forms were handed out for committee members for the next year. At this stage, just the right number, so maybe we'll get by without having to hold an election... or having to press-gang members, which is worse, so best avoided... Announcement made about a special winter concert celebrating Benjamin Britten's Centenary...(November 2013). Met with delight, despite the projected cost. But since then, it appears there is a clash of dates, so we may have to renegotiate. To be discussed next week. It was very nice to welcome back Audrey Albon, after her epic charity bike ride from Lands' End to John o'Groats.

Reheasal 22nd May

Last one before our half term break, followed by a committee meeting where arrangements for the next two concerts were made. Val Hetherington came up with a rather exciting suggestion for our Christmas concert.... to be announced, once the financial details have been worked out and agreed!! Audrey presented the year's accounts, which have now gone to be 'examined' (we used to say audited, but that's no longer the case..). Suggestions for fund raising were made, also to be discussed once inquiries have been made. All very mysterious, I know! At the weekend, a number of choir members joined the throng of well-wishers, friends and relatives welcoming back Audrey and Chris Albon from their heroic cycling journey from Lands' End to John o'Groats, which has raised money for the Arthritis Foundation.

Rehearsal 15th May

Tidying up our summer programme. Have decided that it's a bit superfluous telling you all each week what we've rehearsed. If you were there, you know it. If you weren't, just get in touch with Madam Chair if you feel like doing some catching up on your own between rehearsals, and I'll fill you in. Anyone has a problem with this, let me know and I'll revert to that weekly list. A number of members went to Robert Rawlinson's funeral at Bridekirk,; Sue wrote us a lovely note by way of thanks. He will be missed at our concerts, and our late June concert at Bridekirk, dedicated to his memory, will be a good opportunity to remember what he meant to us. Sue Hellier will have a new surname by next Wednesday (unless she's being very modern and progressive that is!!) as she and Andrew will be getting married at All Saints (by Wendy, of course!) on Saturday. We all wish her the very best - a wonderful day, and bliss ever after!! Next week's rehearsal starts early, at 7 pm. The AGM will take place on 19th June.

Rehearsal 8th May

Tonight we worked our way through practically all of our programme, with special attention to On My Own, from the Les Mis Medley, which forms a large section of the programme, and The Girl from Ipanema, which may be short but is tricky enough to require constant attention.... The choir were saddened to hear of the death of Robert Rawlinson, the father of Sue, who was our accompanist for quite a few years. Robert was a loyal and much-loved follower of the choir, attending practically every concert and always submitting his review to the press afterwards. The funeral will take place at Bridekirk on Friday at 11.00. He was keen for us to sing at Bridekirk again (it's been some time since we were last there) and had been busy arranging a concert when he died. The date of this is Friday 28th June and we will be dedicating it to his memory. On a happier note, the guests for our summer concert at Christ Church have been confirmed - the Yann Tan folk group, which will provide some very exciting variety to our programme.