16 March 2017

Dear All,

As you will know, if you were with us yesterday evening, we have been invited to offer a couple of singing sessions to the staff at Guys Marsh next Wednesday morning (22nd).  If you would like to take part you MUST let me have your full name by Monday 20th 4.00 p.m. at the latest so that I can forward it to the prison office in time. We will meet at the main entrance / reception to the prison at 9.00 a.m. when you will need to produce your passport or some other photo ID.  DON’T whatever you do bring a mobile phone or camera with you.  There is a big visitors’ carpark.  After parking your car, follow the perimeter fence to the main entrance.  Our sessions are from 9.30 to 10.30 and from 11 o’clock to midday. Refreshments will be provided and we should be on our way home again by 12.30 at the latest.  For security reasons you will need to be able to commit yourself to BOTH sessions.   (There is no need to dress in shades of red by the way.)

COMING EVENTS

Wednesday 22 March: Sing for Pleasure – part of the Wellbeing Day at Guys Marsh.  See above.

Wednesday 19 April:  Evening session with the B Naturals.

Unspecified Wednesday sometime soon(ish): Bring-a-friend day.  Four or five new songs for regulars and newcomers alike.  More details later.

Sunday 14 May: Shaftesbury Food and Drink Festival.  We have been asked to provide a 45 minute slot.  More details later.

OTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Saturday 18 March:  Choir and orchestra concert in St John’s Church Tisbury at 7pm. Music from the Tisbury Community Choir (director Mark James) and soloists and the St John’s Chamber Players. We are celebrating St David and St Patrick’s days with suitable songs, some to join in with, plus orchestral music. There is no entrance charge but there will be a licensed bar and a collection for the St John’s Church Development project. 

Saturday 1 April: Concert by Spectra Musica, Wincanton.  See last week’s newsletter or our website for flier.

also

Concert by Palida.  St Mary’s Church, Shroton.  See flier.

Sunday 9 April: Concert by the Pilgrim Singers.  Wincanton Memorial Hall.  See flier.

Sunday 7 May: STUPENDOUS SINGING DAY  If you like the idea of singing together with hundreds of other singers, you won’t want to miss the Dorset Community Choir Festival on at Charlton Down Village Hall (otherwise known as Herrison Hall). Although we won’t be taking part as a choir, several choir members have been in the past and have really loved it.  (Talk to Nicola and Linda in the altos amongst others.)  Choir leaders include Sarah Pennington (of Gilo ‘n’ Sarah) and Jon Conway (B Naturals).  It starts in the early afternoon, followed by an early evening concert in which choirs from across Devon, Dorset and Hampshire will perform from their own repertoire.  It's £15 for the whole event, with an additional £10 if you'd like supper. Alternatively if you prefer, you could just go to the concert in the evening - £5 a ticket.  Contact Su Lewis for information and tickets.  Tel: 01305 776106 or email her on weysound@yahoo.co.uk 

David

9 March 2017

Dear All,

Another excellent sing last night!  I have a number of photos from the concert we gave for the Stroke Association last month.  For various reasons we can’t put them on the website but they will be on the coming events table for the next couple of Wednesdays and I am always happy to scan in photos and zap them to you on an individual basis. 

COMING EVENTS

Unspecified Wednesday in March or early April: Bring-a-friend day.  Four or five new songs for regulars and newcomers alike.  More details later.

Sunday 14 May: Shaftesbury Food and Drink Festival.  We have been asked to provide a 45 minute slot.  More details later.

BEREAVEMENT

Linda Hopkins (alto) writes: “Shaftesbury Methodist Church have started to hold bereavement sessions once a month on the first of the month starting on the 1st April.  If you have lost someone and you would like to have a chat together with a light lunch of bread, cheese and soup we would like to see you.”  She adds: “We also have a lovely lady called Jane who offers a hand or shoulder massage which I can say is very good.”   Chat to Linda if you want to know more. 

OTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Saturday 1 April: Concert by Spectra Musica, Wincanton.  See attached flier.

Sunday 7 May: STUPENDOUS SINGING DAY If you like the idea of singing together with hundreds of other singers, you won’t want to miss the Dorset Community Choir Festival on at Charlton Down Village Hall (otherwise known as Herrison Hall). Although we won’t be taking part as a choir, several choir members have been in the past and have really loved it.  (Talk to Nicola and Linda in the altos amongst others.)  Choir leaders include Sarah Pennington (of Gilo ‘n’ Sarah) and Jon Conway (B Naturals).  It starts in the early afternoon, followed by an early evening concert in which choirs from across Devon, Dorset and Hampshire will perform from their own repertoire.  It's £15 for the whole event, with an additional £10 if you'd like supper. Alternatively if you prefer, you could just go to the concert in the evening - £5 a ticket.  Contact Su Lewis for information and tickets.  Tel: 01305 776106 or email her on weysound@yahoo.co.uk 

David

9 February 2017

Dear All,

Another excellent sing last night!  Next week will be a BADGE WEDNESDAY.  Come along with a name badge – as flamboyant as you like.  (Sticky labels provided for those who forget.)

COMING EVENTS

Tuesday 14 February  10.30 – 12.00Singing for and with the North Dorset Stroke Club.  Charlton Village Hall - just off the A30 about 2m from Shaftesbury.  [Heading along the A30 towards Salisbury, turn right at St John’s Church (the church with the twin towers on the left hand side).  The Hall is then about 100 or so yards on the right.]  Can we meet at 10.15 prompt please for a quick warm-up?

Our programme will consist of (in no particular order): We’ve got all the love; Let’s call the whole thing off; California Dreamin’; Every time I feel the spirit; Shenandoah; Lollipop; Chattanooga Choo Choo.  I hope we can also do I’m gonna sing, sing, sing; Bela Mama and / or Hambani Ghale as participation numbers.   (As you know, I have invited a flautist friend from Tisbury to contribute a couple of items too.) 

Dress:  shades of red above the waist (not patterned); dark or black below. 

Unspecified Wednesday in March or early April: Bring-a-friend day.  Four or five new songs for regulars and newcomers alike.  More details later.

WEBSITE

Make sure you have a good look at our website: www.shaftesburycommunitychoir.org  Tell your friends about it too.

OTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Saturday 11 February   Spectra Musica invite you to their Come and Sing Day in Cheap Street Church, Sherborne.   The workshop will feature Handel’s ‘Israel in Egypt’ in a programme entitled ‘A Georgian Choral Extravaganza’.

Friday 10 March  Introductory meeting for Salisbury International Arts Festival’s “Voices of the Whale” project.  See attached flier or talk to Yuko (soprano) for more details

Sunday 7 May STUPENDOUS SINGING DAYIf you like the idea of singing together with hundreds of other singers, you won’t want to miss the Dorset Community Choir Festival on at Charlton Down Village Hall (otherwise known as Herrison Hall). Although we won’t be taking part as a choir, several choir members have been in the past and have really loved it.  (Talk to Nicola and Linda in the altosamongst others.)  Choir leaders include Sarah Pennington (of Gilo ‘n’ Sarah) and Jon Conway (B Naturals).  It starts in the early afternoon, followed by an early evening concert in which choirs from across Devon, Dorset and Hampshire will perform from their own repertoire.  It's £15 for the whole event, with an additional £10 if you'd like supper. Alternatively if you prefer, you could just go to the concert in the evening - £5 a ticket.  Contact Su Lewis for information and tickets.  Tel: 01305 776106 or email her onweysound@yahoo.co.uk 

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

The Red Cross are looking for volunteers in the Shaftesbury / Blandford area.  Details on the attached flier.  More info from Angela Faulding (alto).

David

2 February 2017

Dear All,

Great work last night I thought – and very jolly too!

COMING EVENTS

Tuesday 14 February  10.30 – 12.00Singing for and with the North Dorset Stroke Club.  Charlton Village Hall (Just off the A30 about 2m from Shaftesbury). 

Our programme will consist of (in no particular order): We’ve got all the love; Let’s call the whole thing off; California Dreamin’; I’m gonna sing, sing, sing; Every time I feel the spirit; Shenandoah; Lollipop; Chattanooga Choo Choo.  (As agreed, I have invited a flautist friend from Tisbury to contribute an item too.)  Although we will be including all of these songs in our sessions over the coming weeks, if we feel there is a need for an extra practice nearer the date then I am fairly sure that can be organised.

OTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Thurs 2 – Sat 4 February  Your last chance to see Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves at Shaftesbury Arts Centre,  7.30 pm.  Quite a few choir members are taking part so do support it if you possibly can.

Friday 3 February  12.00Foteini Koutsotheodorou, who co-ordinated the humanitarian response to refugees on the Greek island of Samos, will share stories of her experiences, at Bell Street United Church, Shaftesbury. All welcome. Bring your own lunch.

Saturday 11 February   Spectra Musica invite you to their Come and Sing Day in Cheap Street Church, Sherborne.   The workshop will feature Handel’s ‘Israel in Egypt’ in a programme entitled ‘A Georgian Choral Extravaganza’.

Friday 10 March  Introductory meeting for Salisbury International Arts Festival’s “Voices of the Whale” project.  See attached flier or talk to Yuko (soprano) for more details

Sunday 7 May STUPENDOUS SINGING DAY  If you like the idea of singing together with hundreds of other singers, you won’t want to miss the Dorset Community Choir Festival on at Charlton Down Village Hall (otherwise known as Herrison Hall). Although we won’t be taking part as a choir, several choir members have been in the past and have really loved it.  (Talk to Nicola and Linda in the altosamongst others.)  Choir leaders include Sarah Pennington (of Gilo ‘n’ Sarah) and Jon Conway (B Naturals).  It starts in the early afternoon, followed by an early evening concert in which choirs from across Devon, Dorset and Hampshire will perform from their own repertoire.  It's £15 for the whole event, with an additional £10 if you'd like supper. Alternatively if you prefer, you could just go to the concert in the evening - £5 a ticket.  Contact Su Lewis for information and tickets.  

Tel: 01305 776106 or email her on weysound@yahoo.co.uk 

STOP PRESS   Westminster Memorial Hospital Dick (bass) writes:

I think we are winning!  Thanks to you all and everyone involved.  We have certainly stirred things up!

The chief of the DCCG [Tim Goodson] has visited us, twice, and is coming again.  He has received delegations from MPs, mayors, and others, and has listened to verbal and written views, expressed in correspondence, petitions, questionnaires, and personal conversations.  He can be in no doubt of the local strong feelings on keeping our beds, and retaining Shaftesbury’s central role in serving North Dorset and parts of neighbouring counties. 

Several groups have joined in the pressure, including the both town council, smaller councils in the area, and Julian Prichard’s group.  All deserve our gratitude for focussing on the issue and promoting questionnaire responses. 

Two MPs, 2 mayors, 4000 people via the petition [which DCCG has now agreed can be ‘counted’ in the response], several meetings, local councils, and questionnaire returns which you have sent in, plus questions in Parliament, make it impossible to ignore!

Let us hope that a decision will emerge that is to our liking.  Fingers crossed!  I think it will!

David

26 January 2017

Dear All,

Two new recordings have been added to the LISTEN page –“Evo Banke” and “California Dreamin”.  Hope you enjoy them.  It was rather too warm in the Town Hall last night and as a consequence we go a bit flat, but it is not too noticeable.  Not so “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” which begins to sink from bar 2 onwards! (I have deleted it so there can be no incriminating evidence.)

Richard’s “Anthem for Shaftesbury Community Choir” is shaping up well I think you will agree.  Great work everybody.   Lovely harmony of course (thankyou Mr Dvorak) but lovely arrangement too (thankyou Mr Clark).

COMING EVENTS

Tuesday 14 February  10.30 – 12.00Singing for and with the North Dorset Stroke Club.  Charlton Village Hall (Just off the A30 about 2m from Shaftesbury). 

Our programme will consist of (in no particular order): We’ve got all the love; Let’s call the whole thing off; Blue Moon; California Dreamin’; I’m gonna sing, sing, sing; Every time I feel the spirit; Shenandoah; Lollipop; Chattanooga Choo Choo.  (As agreed, I have invited a flautist friend from Tisbury to contribute an item too.)  Although we will be including all of these songs in our sessions over the coming weeks, if we feel there is a need for an extra practice nearer the date then I am fairly sure that can be organised.

A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
Spectra Musica invite you to their Come and Sing Day on Saturday 11th February in Cheap Street Church, Sherborne which will feature Handel’s ‘Israel in Egypt’ in a programme entitled ‘A Georgian Choral Extravaganza’.

David

19 January 2017

Dear All, 

On the LISTEN page of the website you will find the first of the two recordings we made yesterday.  You will be pleased to hear that I deleted “Evo Banke” – not our finest hour!! We will be looking at it again next week.

COMING EVENTS

Tuesday 14 February  10.30 – 12.00Singing for and with the North Dorset Stroke Club.  Charlton Village Hall (Just off the A30 about 2m from Shaftesbury). 

Our programme will consist of (in no particular order): We’ve got all the love; Let’s call the whole thing off; Blue Moon; California Dreamin’; I’m gonna sing, sing, sing; Every time I feel the spirit; Shenandoah; Lollipop; Chattanooga Choo Choo.  (As agreed, I have invited a flautist friend from Tisbury to contribute an item too.)  Although we will be including all of these songs in our sessions over the coming weeks, if we feel there is a need for an extra practice nearer the date then I am fairly sure that can be organised.

A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
Spectra Musica invite you to their Come and Sing Day on Saturday 11th February in Cheap Street Church, Sherborne which will feature Handel’s ‘Israel in Egypt’ in a programme entitled ‘A Georgian Choral Extravaganza’.

David

14 January 2017

Dear All, 

Happy New Year.  It has been great to get back into harness again after our Christmas break - i.e. ONEWednesday off!

COMING EVENTS

Tuesday 14 February  10.30 – 12.00Singing for and with the North Dorset Stroke Club.  Charlton Village Hall (Just off the A30 about 2m from Shaftesbury).  We will be deciding on our programme over the coming week so please come armed with your suggestions next Wednesday

HOSPITAL

Copies of the consultation document were available on Wednesday and they will be again be available next week.  Please do respond as you think fit.  The attached photo was spotted on the London Underground earlier in the week – thanks Angela.  We thought you might be amused.

A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
Spectra Musica invite you to their Come and Sing Day on Saturday 11th February in Cheap Street Church, Sherborne which will feature Handel’s ‘Israel in Egypt’ in a programme entitled ‘A Georgian Choral Extravaganza’.

David

15 December 2016

Dear All, 

There are four attachments to this e-mail. 

Great singing at Stourhead last weekend. I am pretty sure we all had a good time.

This Sunday (18 December) we will be singing outside Town Hall for Shaftesbury Christmas Market (10.45 - 11.30 approx).  We have been asked to park in the cattle market carpark if possible.  (We know our place!) Julia has booked the back room at The Mitre for those who would like to socialise afterwards and maybe sing a few more carols too.  Please congregate at about 10.30. 

Dress code is shades of red as usual.  Our programme will consist of (in no particular order) our usual ten “audience” carols: Hark the Herald (normal tune, not the Durweston one); O Come; In the bleak; See Amid; Silent Night; O little town; It came upon; Once in royal; Joy to the world; Away in a manger + the same “featured” carols: Past Three o’clock; Come tune your cheerful voice; Lullay my liking; Fais dodo; Hosanna; Bethlehem Down; Ding Dong. 

OTHER CAROL SINGING

Christmas Eve – for those that can make it, the choir will be singing at the Grosvenor from 6 o’clock to 7 o’clock.  More tenors and basses would be particularly welcome.  Same repertoire.  Wine and mince pies on the house!!

CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR WEDNESDAYS

Next week we will be having our Christmas party.  Choir members are asked to bring a plate of finger food to share.  There will be mulled wine and fruit juice as well as teas and coffees, some games and lots of singing of course.

There will be no choir on Wednesday 28 December and, by popular request, we will resume our singing onWednesday 4 January. 

EVENTS COMING UP

Friday 16 December – Christmas Songs and sing-alongs.  Flier attached

Saturday 17 December – Gillingham Arts Workshop Carol Concert.  St Benedict’s RC Church, Gillingham. 7.30 p.m.  Returing collection. Flier attached

Thursday 22 December – Hospital Christmas Carol Service 7.00 p.m.  Again singers most welcome.  Contact Denise Potter (07922 225105) for more details.

WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL (from Dick)

The official DCCG Proposals Consultation Document has now been published.  Despite a petition from over 3,000 of us, and strong support from both MPs and both Mayors, they still propose making the Westminster a “no beds” community hub.  Also, there is no mention of either Salisbury or Yeovil hospitals - the ones we mostly use.

It is very important that we respond, using the “Consultation Questionnaire”, which is in the centre of the document.    The document is available at the Abbey View medical centre, the T.I.C., the Westminster hospital, libraries in both towns, the Post Office, Motcombe and Ludwell village shops, and most churches.

Page 2 is relevant to North Dorset.  Pages 5 and 6 allow other comments, and might cover Salisbury and Yeovil.   You can respond on paper [freepost], or online at www.dorsetvision.nhs.uk/feedback.   Please read the document, and respond before 28th February   Keep pressing, to save our hospital.”   A very Happy Christmas to you all, and thank you for your support.  Many thanks,   Dick. 

All good wishes

David