15-17 December 2008

Christmas 2008 Concerts

This year's Christmas concerts followed the usual pattern; carols from the choir and with audience participation, excellent soloists, a lot of fun and an excellent supper. This year contained a new ingredient, a 5-minute pantomime, a most unlikely version of Cinderella, performed by the Ladies Committee, in which the main dialogue from Cinderella seemed to be 'alright', which was quickly picked up by the audience and shouted back to the players on stage.

The soloists were Jeff Bourton and pianist Pam Taverner, who made such an impression with their performance of songs from the 100 years of song writing at the NAC Conference in Bristol earlier this year. Also performing was Ralph Barnes who is a principal soloist with the choir as well as being Assistant MD. Conducting honours were shared between Ralph and the choir's MD John Blenkinsopp, and the compere and monologueist was Barry Woods.

The concerts were a very happy and enjoyable way to greet the coming Christmas and to cement further the wonderful camaraderie within the choir and its supporters.

One pound from the cost of each ticket this year was donated to the Ronald McDonald House at Bristol's Royal Infirmary. The House provides accommodation to parents and close relatives of children who are undergoing treatment at the hospital. A member of the choir has reason to be grateful to the facility as he was accommodated there during the treatment of his grandchildren following the fatal accident at Stow on the Wold. Colin Stone told of how both his grandchildren, Sophie and Adam are making a full recovery and read out a letter from the house thanking the choir for its support.

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