As I said last week, the programme for the VE Day Celebrations gets better and better, and last night’s singing was just glorious. Next week we will continue with Lili Marlene and do the verse of We’ll Meet Again. We’ll also be singing Bela Mama, Balanced Be The Way, Vive La Compagnie, I wish I Knew How, Run Rabbit Run and Isa Lei.
COMING CHOIR EVENTS
Tuesday 24th March Entertainment for members the Stroke Club. Charlton Village Hall (just off the A30 to the east of Shaftesbury.) Singing from 11 o’clock for about 30 / 45 minutes. (Tea and coffee from 10.30)
Friday 8th May Shaftesbury VE Day celebrations (75 year celebration). 6.30 – 6.55 p.m. on a specially erected stage outside the Town Hall. More details later.
Sunday 5th July Gold Hill Fair. More details later.
PHIL THE FLUTER (Philip Gilbert)
Members of the choir were sad to hear that Phil died last Thursday (20th). He was found in the foyer of Lloyds Bank. He was often to be seen (and heard) playing his penny whistle outside the Cancer Research Shop in the High Street and was a frequent and welcome visitor on Wednesday evenings, dropping in for a cup of tea, a few biscuits, a bit of conversation and perhaps a little tlc too. At the moment, the circumstances surrounding his death are unclear but I understand that it is not being treated as suspicious. The coroner’s office is trying to trace his relatives (I seem to remember him telling me he had family in Cornwall) but if none can be found the undertakers assure me that he will be given a simple but dignified cremation. I have asked them to let me know when this will be. Our performance of Senzeni Na last night was given in his memory and a few members of the choir suggested we might record this and arrange to have it played at his funeral if we weren’t able to get there in sufficient numbers ourselves. It was also suggested that we should send this recording to “This Is Alfred” and I will follow that through. Several people have already made donations to Shelter in his memory and there has been a suggestion that we plant a tree as a living memorial – perhaps a crab apple, blossom, bees and then fruit for anyone who wants to make crab apple jelly. ' For Phil, Thank you for the Music'. A lovely idea I think.
OTHER EVENTS
Thursday 27th February What we need to do now for a zero carbon future. (A talk by Chris Goodall). Shaftesbury Town Hall. 7.30 p.m. ADMISSION FREE See last week’s flyer
Saturday 7th March Training Day with the Pilgrim Singers (Wincanton). See last week’s flyer.
Thursday 12th March Dorset Waste talk. See earlier flyer
Saturday 14th March Women in Jazz with Julie Dunn. The Gugg, Stalbridge. See last week’s flyer.
Saturday 28th March Recital by clarinetist Emma Johnson MBE. St Peter’s Church. 7.30 p.m. Tickets available from Shaftesbury TIC or Tony Hawkins (bass). See earlier flyer.
David