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