This Spring has been rather hectic and, although we have started working on a programme for the Summer entitled ’Unusual Musicals’, various other concert dates in between plus my holiday have held up the preparations.

St Columba’s Church Choir and the St Vincent Singers are joining forces to sing ‘Saints Alive’ on 17 and 24 May, at St Columba’s and Bury Rd URC respectively at 10.30am.  Like ‘The Inn Crowd’ which we sang at Christmas, this cantata is by Roger Jones, and is based on the account in Acts, Chapters 1 and 2. It describes the coming of the Holy Spirit to the apostles, changing them from frightened, defeated and hopeless men to a group of people who turned the world upside down. Most of the songs have choruses which the congregation are invited to join in singing. Why don’t you come and join in too!

Earlier in the Spring Term we entertained the residents at Elizabeth Court, a Retirement Home in Gosport, with a Cockney Ding Dong programme, and they all seemed to enjoy themselves.

St George’s Day was celebrated at Stubbington on Sat 25 April, when we were invited to give an ‘Old London’ programme. The ladies looked very bright and attractive in their different coloured feather boas. A slight hitch occurred during the concert when the generator rang out of petrol and Burlington Bertie, aka Brian Murley, had to continue singing unaccompanied until power was restored!

Two days earlier a group of musicians plus some of the choir travelled to Finchcocks, near Sevenoaks. This a beautiful Queen Anne House which contains one hundred old keyboard instruments – harpsichords, spinets, clavichords, virginals, organs, square pianos, and grand pianos. Forty instruments are in excellent playing condition, so we spent the morning trying them out! What fun we had! After a picnic in the walled garden we were then entertained by Richard Burnett, the owner of the house. He is a concert pianist, specialising in playing these period instruments. He played all them impeccably, as well as entertaining us with his great sense of humour. The choir members finished off the afternoon, since it was St George’s Day by singing ‘England’ by Hubert Parry, ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ by Edward Elgar and ‘Any dream will do’ by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Looking ahead to July, we have been invited to sing at Gosport Discovery Centre on 2 July at 7.30pm. The evening is entitled, ’Music for a Summer Evening, and will include Summer songs, Jazz, songs from a selection of Broadway, finishing with some London Songs. Tickets can be obtained from Gosport Discovery Centre priced £3 (£2 concessions), including light refreshments!

In May and June other concerts will be given at Langdales, Merlin Park, The Anchorage and Beechcroft Green retirement homes

New members are always welcome and further details can be obtained from Maureen Swire – 02392-583676 or moswire@supanet.com or phone 023 9258 3676.