Drum - Children’s Workshop
Well, no takers between 7 and 11 but these 'mature' kids really had a good time. Under the excellent tutelage of Charlie Fletcher a group of adults all ready to assist with the children's workshop on Saturday 21st April 'stepped in' and formed a group to make 'drumming' music.
The Revd Stuart Holt brought his guitar and Andrew Case showed a motley crew how to play Kum Ba Yah on the handbells - it was a very different way to spend a Saturday morning but great fun.
Many thanks to all those who gave of their time and enthusiasm.
Shirley Henderson
Sing, Play
We held our nerve. After the morning sessions where no young people arrived to drum or ring, would anyone come to sing? We had a conductor, pianist and 40 copies of the score; we needed voices. Singers started to arrive: all altos it seemed. Some brave ladies swapped to the soprano section. Gradually, tenors and basses arrived to fill the choir stalls. By 4pm we had 37 singers reasonably balanced for four-part harmony.
For the next two hours David Burgess melded us into something like a choir with Rosemary Field at the piano ready to support whichever part was struggling with the notes. By 6:15 we had grasped eight of John Rutter’s folksong settings and had an attempt at his version of “Heavenly Aeroplane”.
Refreshed by tea, and encouraged by an audience sitting in the chancel, we began with the performance. We worked through our small repertoire, finally lulling the audience with “Afton Water”. Then we woke them up with “Heavenly Aeroplane”. It went so well that David handed copies of the score to the audience and we all did it again. How’s that for participation?
As always, my thanks go to the team who poured tea and wine, washed cups and glasses, moved pews and piano, sold tickets and checked out the scores. But particularly, we all thank David and Rosemary who put in so much effort both before and during the event to make it all happen.
and Read
Reading of a different sort was required on Monday evening. Members of the many book clubs in Wickham met in the Church Room for a discussion with local crime novelist Pauline Rowson. Pauline started by explaining her writing method with examples from her published works. She then answered questions about “In Cold Daylight”, the book we had all been reading. It was pleasing that so many people had participated in something that is normally a solitary pastime.
Sue Fitzgerald
