newsletter > Autumn 2004 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL My dear Friends To quote a song “This is the weather the cuckoo likes – and so do I”. At the time of writing(September) the weather is glorious. The weather has been very mixed hasn’t it – but who cares about the weather when we have music! I have just returned from two wonderful weeks in Ireland giving Summer Workshops to children. I took 5 of my own juniors the second week I was there and hope to be able to set up some form of exchange. Lydia and Yvonne also travelled with me. Incidentally, they both make excellent cups of tea!! I’ve had some wonderful letters and phone calls about our May concert – thank you. I can order DVDs or videos of this concert, so if you are interested, give me a ring or a few will be on sale at concerts. We are all excited about being chosen to appear on ‘Songs of Praise’. This will be on your screens Sunday 31 October. It is being relayed from Malmesbury Abbey. Stunning! We have recently sung in the Bacon Theatre, Cheltenham with the Gloucester Police Band. Another new venue. Our annual Hilton Hotel concert for Macmillan nurses was another great success. It was lovely to work with Paul Maguire while Geoff took a well deserved holiday. We are all working hard for our annual show in November. 60 show songs on one great roller coaster!! The Aldbourne Band are our guests at the Christmas Cracker. Tickets are selling fast for both events. STOP PRESS!! (see below). This will be our last full November show. Next year we will have our show in May and our Cracker as per usual in December. I feel sure that this will be a good move. I am also hoping to do a Junior Concert at the Arts Centre next September. Change can be refreshing. Hope you have all had a good summer. Please send your thoughts and love to all the very sad people and events in the world. Take care of yourselves. Love Sheila THE KENTWOOD CHOIR ASSOCIATION AGM WILL TAKE PLACE ON TUESDAY 26 OCTOBER 2004 AT 7.30PM AT THE ST MARGARET’S CENTRE, KENWIN CLOSE, STRATTON ST MARGARET. LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> IMPORTANT NOTICE It has been decided that , as from next year (2005), the annual November Show at the Wyvern Theatre will be discontinued. Instead, the May Concert will be extended from two to three days (Thursday until Saturday) and the format slightly changed to incorporate some of the character of the November Shows. Pre-box Ticket Order Forms for the May 2005 Show will be sent out to Patrons and Vice-Presidents with the Winter 2004 Newsletter in December. Senior and Junior Choir members will continue to have the pre-box booking facility as in the past. The ‘Kentwood Christmas Cracker’ will continue to be presented each December as previously. NOTICE TO ALL PATRONS In order to streamline our administration, it has been decided to alter the date on which Patronage Subscriptions become due. As from 2005, patronage renewals will become due on 1 September each year instead of 1 February. This will mean that all current Patronage Memberships will remain in force until 31 August 2005 at no additional cost and will then become due for renewal on 1 September 2005. Patronage fees and benefits will otherwise remain unchanged. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> TWO LETTERS RECEIVED FOLLOWING A CONCERT GIVEN AT THE BRITISH LIMBLESS EX-SERVICE MEN’S ASSOCIATION HOSTED BY THE MAYOR OF SWINDON ON 13 JUNE 2004 What a wonderful evening of entertainment you and the Kentwood Choir provided for the ABLESMA Dinner. The audience was so appreciative that you and the choir could spare the time to perform after such a hectic day. You have all done so much to put Swindon on the cultural map and you have now made another group of people, from many parts of England, aware that Swindon is a place to enjoy. Sheila, you made me so proud that night, by not only being able to deliver you and the choir but also to be the Mayor of our town. What a way to retire, an evening to treasure and remember. Councillor Derek Benfield Mayor of Swindon 2003 – 2004 Thank you very much for bringing your wonderful Choir to our Gala Dinner last Sunday. I can safely say BLESMA Members cannot remember such a joyful evening of song. Certainly the evening’s entertainment was the subject of much of Monday morning’s breakfast discussion. Everyone enjoyed the music and all the talent, skill and hard work that went into it, but equally all remarked on how much the Choir really seemed to enjoy themselves. All credit to their leader and conductor say I. Many of our members had not ventured to the Swindon neck of the woods before. I think they came away with very favourable opinions and a clear appreciation of the talents that lurk there! Please pass on our very best wishes and thanks to all members of the Kentwood Show Choir. They did Swindon proud. J W Church General Secretary <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> CONCERT FOR MACMILLAN ON 8 AUGUST 2004 £2,449.07 was the marvellous result of the concert at the Hilton Hotel this year! The total amount raised over the 10 years we have had the concert has now exceeded a staggering £22,000! Our Swindon Macmillan Cancer Relief Committee are indebted to Sheila and the Choir for the tremendous support they have given us. We are fully aware of their very busy programme and so we feel enormously privileged to have had the concert over so many years. It is wonderful to see so many Choir members singing at this peak holiday time and we are immensely grateful to them for all the effort they make to attend. The concert was once again a “sell out” and it was great to see many newcomers as well as the dedicated followers of the Choir. We were delighted The Mayor and Mayoress of Swindon and Lady Patricia Talbot, our Wiltshire Chairman were able to attend. The Management at the Hilton have been very generous in donating the Lydiard Suite each year and that generosity extends to David Wicks who has provided us with the superb sound system. We could never stage such a high profile concert without the support of so many kind people. We feel that the Concert has a very special atmosphere and this is so often commented on by the audience. Every concert is different and this year was no exception! The talent is amazing with so many members able to offer a solo spot! It was so good to have Paul Maguire accompany the Choir and perform a brilliant solo spot again this year. The Concert this year was dedicated to the memory of two very special people. Chris Pagett, one of our Committee members and a great follower of the Choir died shortly before the Concert and Gary Beint, a long serving member of the Choir. The Macmillan Nurses Appeal is going very well as it heads towards the £600,000 needed. All the money raised by our Committee goes into the Appeal Fund which has been set up to improve vital cancer services in this area. Thank you to everyone for all their wonderful support and helping us help those living with cancer. Gillian Thornton Chair <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> A REVIEW OF THE TRIP TO IRELAND Written by Charlotte Outen – Junior Member This summer has been rather special for me because I was chosen to go with Mrs Harrod, Yvonne and four other students to Ireland for a week in August. We went to attend a workshop organised by the ‘De Braam School of performing Arts’, which was based in Waterford. The trip was full of excitement, enjoyment and very happy moments that I will never ever forget. The whole experience was magical and I will try my best to share it with you now. It all began on the afternoon of Sunday 15 August at London Luton Airport, where we all met up and formed our party. The trip began with bad news because we had heard that our flight was going to be delayed by five hours because the door had fallen off our aeroplane. Despite Mrs Harrod giving the young man behind the checking-in desk one of her infamous stares, we still had to wait like everyone else! The time did eventually pass and shortly we had arrived at Waterford airport. On arrival we were introduced to the families that would be hosting us for the week. They were all very kind and friendly so everyone went back to their houses feeling happy. Due to the delay, we arrived in Waterford at one o’clock in the morning. This was a little inconvenient, but our families didn’t seem to mind! It proved to us how lovely Irish people are. The next day everyone was up bright and early because the workshop was going to begin. We had a very enjoyable first day that was full of different classes. These included drama, ballet, jazz, hip-hop and of course singing! The whole week was spent working towards a show that was going to take place on the Saturday, right at the end of our stay. Mainly we were focusing on scenes from the musical ‘Bugsy Malone’, but there were also songs from the musical ‘Carousel’ and various dances to break up the performance. The whole week was very busy with rehearsals for the singing, lessons for the dancing and sets to be done for the drama every day. However we were rewarded with some well earned breaks where we could all rest , relax and just chat. The day officially finished at five o’clock but not for us. There were extra ballet rehearsals for some and private singing tuition for others. When these activities were over, we went back home to our families. Each night the family you were staying with entertained you. Some went on outings to various places such as the sea front or into town. Three nights during our week were particularly enjoyable because everyone met up and went our together. We all went bowling, to Sophie’s house for tea and a trip to the beach and into town for late night shopping and a meal out. The week passed very quickly and soon it was Saturday, the day of our performance. We had worked hard all week learning lines, practising songs and dance routines and now the time had come for us to show them to all the parents who had come to watch. The studio was completely full and some people had to sit on the floor! The show went brilliantly and everyone had a superb time. The teachers were thrilled and so were the parents. We were all excited because it was a final night in Ireland. We spent it together and shopped the night away! The next day everyone was very sad because it was time for us to go back home. We had to say goodbye to the wonderful friends we had made and to the families who had so kindly hosted and looked after us. At Waterford airport we had another delay so some of our friends very kindly came and waited with us, so we could say a final goodbye. When the aeroplane took off some of us were crying because it was upsetting having to leave and go back home. However, at least the week had been absolutely fantastic! Going to Ireland was an experience I will never forget due to the wonderful time I had. Not only did I meet new friends who I will keep in touch with for the rest of my life, but I learnt so much about performing and how to sell yourself when you’re on stage. For some people it was their first time trying singing or dancing, and watching them improve throughout the week made it all seem so worthwhile. I was also reunited with one of my best friends, Sophie Richings, who actually lives in Ireland. To be able to spend a week with her was fantastic and she made me feel very happy throughout my whole stay. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Ireland and am very grateful to Sheila and Yvonne for taking me. The best part is that we are going back for a second visit next year and my name will be top of the list! <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Editor:    Mrs Yvonne Walker 23 Bourton Avenue Stratton St Margaret Swindon SN3 4LY. Telephone: 01793 823849 E-mail: walker365@ntlworld.com