June starts with a very special evening of music with Martin Oxenham and Jonny Beatty. Martin, of course, sings in our choir regularly at Evensong and occasional offices, dividing his time between us and St Paul’s Cathedral. Jonny was for many years a member of the choir until his career as a pianist took over. However it’s a Friends of the Music only event so you have to join quickly if you want to go! Contact [email protected] – I’m assured there are still tickets.
Easier to get into will be the Hampstead Chamber Choir concert on 20th June – an Evening of English Song. Details further on in this issue and leaflets at the back of church.
Back to our choir and the following day, Sunday 21st, sees our Junior Choir Prom, followed by the Friends of the Music Garden Party. Perhaps you were lucky enough to win tickets on the Raffle at the Spring Fair? If not it’ll cost you a very modest £10 (£25 for a family) which includes Lunch, Pimms and Entertainment by the adult choir. Slightly unfortunately this is also Poverty Sunday when we are invited by the Church Urban Fund to hold a service followed by a “Frugal lunch”. Another day perhaps?
More entertainment is provided by Renée Reznek at the Lunchtime Recital on 3rd June – anyone who was at her last recital will know how well worth listening to she is – and a semi-musical Literary Hour (read Stephen Clarke’s piece about it in this issue) on the subject of The Last Romantics – Songs of Lovers False and True! And both these events are free, although we do suggest a retiring collection.
Looking back to May for a moment we had a celebratory weekend on 16/17 May. The Spring Fair was a huge success – it’s not all about the money though you will find a note of the takings broken down stall by stall if you care about these things – much more it was about lots of people working together, lots more people coming and having a good time and everyone going home satisfied (if exhausted).
The next day we welcomed Choir Vivente from Holland to sing at the Eucharist, along with their organist who played a very stirring voluntary at the end. I had this message from them:
“Dear James and Judy,
After a safe journey back home we would like to thank you once more for your very warm welcome, the chance to sing in your Parish Church, the beautiful service with lots of hymn singing, the after-party in the church-grounds, the sun was shining, lots of parishers to talk to, the friendliness of all your helpers, all in all a unique opportunity for us all to sample the spirit of your beautiful community. There are no words to describe our feelings/emotions; at last night’s rehearsal for our Jubilee concert in November, the Messiah, Leo our conductor had a tough job to get us back on track and down to earth.
Regards from us all and take care, Marijke”
****
As has said above, I’ll be taking over from Paula until we get a permanent replacement. Going back to work at 70 was never part of my retirement plan so it’s with some trepidation that I’ll be taking the plunge; Paula has been a huge help to Father Stephen I know and I foresee some hiccups ahead – bear with us if things don’t run as smoothly as they might at first!
And there are things I won’t have time for in the parish – Stewarding comes immediately to mind, particularly Wednesdays between 1 and 3pm (only on alternate weeks when there’s no concert or literary hour) and, during the run up to the play when some of my other regular volunteers are tied up, 3-5 as well. Please consider whether you could do the occasional slot (either time) and let me know. Existing stewards – please encourage anyone who shows even the tiniest interest in helping! Several people responded to our request for Thursday stewards so I’m optimistic………
June
Judy East