(Ogden Nash, 1902 – 1971)
Two amazing and momentous events began our Christmas celebrations in December. On the 3rd, we sang outdoors for the first time in a community setting since Christmas 2019. It was a wet evening, but we found shelter underneath the awning outside the betting shop. A lively crowd of grown-ups and children gathered to hear us and to cheer when the Christmas illuminations were switched on, lighting up the square. A very small and very vocal dog added to the jollity. It was wonderful to be back and we sang our hearts out.
Like so many other organisations, we’ve been unable to hold a Christmas celebration for the past two years. But, at last, on December 11th we presented ‘Glad Tidings’ at St John’s Church, Boxmoor. Musical Director, Rufus Frowde, put together a programme of carols and songs, including the joyous ‘Ring out the Bells’ by Roger Emerson and a very jolly version of ‘The Holly and the Ivy’, arranged by John Gardner. The audience joined in with five traditional carols. In ‘Good King Wenceslas’ the men gave a wonderfully realistic impression of the wind howling while the women plaintively sang ‘Sire, the night is darker now…….’.
As Caroline Lees, our chair, said: ‘If you (the audience) enjoyed it half as much as we did, you’ll have had a very good time!’.
One of our long-time supporters, Janet Ellie, sent us this message. ‘Thank you one and all for such a wonderfully sounding and uplifting Christmas concert this evening. You truly were the best I’ve heard you, it was quite emotional.’ Praise indeed.
So, back to the Ogden Nash quote. I can’t finish this piece without some mention of what may be looming on the horizon. As I write this, daily Covid cases have increased by almost 50%.
We live in hope. We hope to host a barn dance on the 8th January, we hope to be back in rehearsal by the 11th January and we hope to be able to run a come and sing event, ‘Feelin’ Good – Let’s Sing’, in the Warners End Community Centre on February 3rd.
Happy New Year!
If you’d like to join us or book us to sing for your group you can find more information on www.dacorumcommunitychoir.org,
www.facebook.com/dacorumcommunitychoir, or speak to Sally on 07402 181182
