Lovely singing again on Wednesday and the recording we made in memory of Phil the Fluter has come out pretty well I think. (MP3 attached). Some great German pronunciation in Lili Marlene too - Wunderbar! Next week we will recap Lili Marlene together with the verse of We’ll Meet Again and learn the coda to Everytime We Say Goodbye. Time permitting we’ll also be singing Alleluia, Vive la Compagnie, Wake Up, Down in the River 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. Our programme will be taken from (in no particular order): Blue Moon; Chattanooga ChooChoo; Java Jive; Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off; Run Rabbit Run; Tuxedo Junction; We’ll Meet Again; Everytime We Say Goodbye; Lili Marlene and possibly Kiss Me Goodnight Sergeant Major.
Sunday 5th July Gold Hill Fair. More details later.
STEVE RIDOUT
Long established members of the choir will be saddened to hear that Steve passed away, suddenly but peacefully, at home, on Tuesday (3rd). He was a wonderful singer – the tenors will miss him in particular – and a loyal member of the choir until his Parkinsons became too debilitating. I have written to his wife, Ann, on behalf of us all of course and she will let us know when the funeral will be in due course.
PHIL THE FLUTER
We have yet to hear when Phil’s funeral will take place but should insufficient members be able to attend, the recording we made on Wednesday should provide a fitting tribute. I have sent the recording to “This is Alfred” who have already made a podcast about his tragic death. You can find it at www.thisalfred.com (Episode 90 from 7’30” onwards). I have also been in touch with the coroner’s office and they have asked me to ring back in a couple of weeks. However, I understand that wherever / whenever the actual funeral takes place there will be a service of some kind in Shaftesbury to honour his memory. The idea of planting a tree was very enthusiastically received by the Shaftesbury Tree Group (probably a bare root crab apple, variety ‘Evereste’) and they plan to meet the head groundsman early next week. However, rather than a plaque, they suggest putting up a temporary notice by the tree to coincide with some significant date. This way, many more people pause and read because it is a new intervention. More details as I get them.
OTHER EVENTS
Saturday 7th March Rockforte - Great songs from the 50s onwards. Another lively joint production between the Tisbury Arts Group and the home grown band Rockforte. 7.00 p.m. Victoria Hall, Tisbury. See attached flyer.
… also
Training Day with the Pilgrim Singers (Wincanton). See last week’s flyer
Thursday 12th March Dorset Waste talk. See attached 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.
Mon 6th – Sat 18th April Dorchester Community Play. See attached flyer.
DAVID