newsletter > Autumn 2003 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL My Dear Friends At the time of writing (beginning of September) everyone is flat out working for our November Show. A good one again? I think so. I have some real surprises in this year’s Christmas Cracker! Please don’t forget to get your tickets early. They are selling fast. My idea of three smaller shows caught on well and Louise Lloyd did a great evening in her one woman show at Bath Road Methodist Church. Well done Louise - we all wish her well at Birmingham Conservatoire. Not forgetting her very hard working family who have always given her great support. This week sees an ‘Evening with Sheila Harrod and Friends’ at the Arts Centre (newly refurbished). Proceeds of this event will be given to the Prospect Hospice. My final show will be ‘A Family Affair’ on October 4th again at the Arts Centre featuring our wonderful Bean family. Do support them. Proceeds of this show will help the Arts Centre. What a wonderful year we have had again with Kentwood! Our new name ‘out of town’ hopefully will be “The Kentwood Show Choir”. This we surely are - and the only one in the country. Next year promises to be a ‘cracker of a year’ as we are celebrating our 40 years. Can you believe it? Take care of yourselves. See you all soon. Kindest regards, Sheila <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> THE KENTWOOD CHOIR ASSOCIATION - NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The eighth AGM of the Kentwood Choir Association will be held on Tuesday 28th October 2003 at the St Margaret’s Centre, Kenwin Close, Stratton St Margaret, Swindon (next to St Margaret’s Church) commencing at 7.30pm. An informal Patrons Evening will be held after the meeting. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> A SUMMER’S EVENING IN ASHBURY CHURCH Before Christmas last year I was approached by the fund raising organiser of the Ashbury pre School to see if a group of the Kentwood Choir would put on a concert to raise funds. They had heard us sing and that the choir were quite good ! Sheila agreed and 26th June was booked. As the date approached I became involved with selling tickets and organising the church. The main organiser, Karen, a very vivacious sociable character, who had never heard of the choir wanted to know what the programme would be? “I don’t know” I replied. “Well she’s leaving it rather late” replied Karen. “That’s right” I said, “and she won’t know until the evening and we won’t know until Geoff plays the introduction!”. Karen obviously perplexed by this then asks if she should compere and at this point I realised Ashbury had no idea of what they were getting! Anyway we could not have wished for a more lovely warm, summer’s evening. The Church was packed with people all new to Kentwood, sweet smelling sweet peas and roses filled the church and candles lit all around. The church had wonderful stained glass and the colours filtered into the church. Because I was involved in the organising I was anxious that all the group turned up and since we had a lot of people on holiday and therefore people swapping I felt responsible if we didn’t have enough singing. The group turned out to be really well balanced and Sheila being herself had the audience eating out of her hand. A wonderful variety of music was performed. A small group of children had come to watch including my three year old son, Tom. Well I was worried he would be noisy and running around but in fact he behaved quite well……bearing in mind when I sang I saw him look at his Dad and say “will mum stop singing soon”. To entertain the children we sang ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ followed by the ‘Hallelujah chorus’…only Sheila could do that! The evening was completed with a glass of wine and an audience bowled over and ready to book up for the November Show. I have to say that they will certainly be delighted and entertained with seeing us at the Wyvern, however it is occasions like the evening at Ashbury when you see Kentwood at its best. What did Karen have to say about the concert? She was lost for words …now that’s saying something! PS: We raised £420 and yes we finished before quarter to twelve. Gill May <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> CONCERT AT THE HILTON HOTEL FOR MACMILLAN CANCER RELIEF HELD ON SUNDAY 3 AUGUST 2003 A letter received from Gill Thornton following the concert: ‘On behalf of the Swindon Committee I would like to express our heartfelt thanks for a truly stunning evening. Everyone was in awe at the standard of the Choir and your wonderful soloists. Your support for Macmillan has been tremendous and we are indebted to you for including us as part of your programme. We know the demand for the Choir is huge and so we feel very privileged to have had this concert for so many years. At the moment the total is heading towards £2500, just a few more tickets to be sorted! It is a superb sum and will go to the Appeal. There is always a very special atmosphere at the Concert, something many people comment on. Last night was no exception! We send our very best wishes to you, Chris and the Choir. Once again, please accept our sincerest thanks for all your efforts to help us help those living with cancer in the area. Kindest regards,’ Gill <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Sheila receives many letters and requests for dedications at concerts and she received this one just before the Macmillan concert: ‘I am writing to ask you if you could please say “Happy 60th Birthday” for next Tuesday August 5th to a very special lady who will be in the audience at the Kentwood’s concert at the Hilton Hotel in Swindon on Sunday August 3rd, from all her friends and family. She is a very private, courageous lady who has had more than her fair share of misfortune to contend with over the last three years, without ever a “why me?” She nursed her husband with bone cancer and he died at home on December 3rd 2001 aged 57 years. Several months after this she developed breast cancer, having beaten it once seven years before. After intensive radiotherapy, chemotherapy and complete hair loss she has recently returned to her part-time job at the Great Western Hospital. She has faced all this with such a brave determined and positive attitude and we her friends are all so proud of her. They loved the musical songs, particularly Les Miserables and Phantom and they were also ardent Neil Diamond fans and had attended many concerts. It would be lovely if you could dedicate one of the Choir’s songs to her. I leave the choice to you, but suggest maybe something more uplifting than too poignant which may tug at the heart strings. We would all be so grateful if you could do this for her from all of us. Thanking you in anticipation not only for our request but the many hours of pleasure you give to people and the large amounts of money you have raised for such deserving causes. The Macmillan nurses in particular are very close to her heart as they gave her tremendous support during her husband’s last weeks.’ Yours sincerely Christine on behalf of friends and family <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> LOUISE LLOYD (accompanied by Sheila Harrod) - SOME ENCHANTED EVENING What a wonderful evening I spent with 200 plus people at Bath Road Methodist Church on Friday 29th August 2003. Louise’s father, Phil, welcomed us all and then handed over to Sheila, who introduced Louise and the concert was then underway. Louise opened the concert singing Rodgers and Hammerstein ‘Some Enchanted Evening’. What a repertoire – all the songs exquisitely performed. ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’ (Rutter), accompanied by brother Christopher, what a talented family and of course Sophie who attends the Junior Choir. ‘Where and When’, dedicated to Louise’s granddad was very moving. ‘Tritch Tratch’ duet with mum Sharon, ‘Oh! Mio Babbino Caro’, ‘My Hero’ from the Chocolate Soldier – all these are a few of the songs which I always enjoy. To give Louise a rest brother Christopher performed two jazz piano solos and joined Sheila at the piano to perform a couple of duets. Louise was in confident form and introduced the whole programme. She has excellent poise and empathy with her audience. To end the concert Louise sang ‘Climb Every Mountain’ from the Sound of Music. A truly enchanting evening and Louise deserved her standing ovation. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the church. I am sure you will all join me in wishing Louise every success at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Mary Sherratt Patron <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> SHEILA DOES IT WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HER FRIENDS (Evening Advertiser Tuesday 9 September 2003) An impressive newly refurbished interior greeted the audience as they entered the Arts Centre for this opening concert by Sheila Harrod and Friends. The turquoise and cream décor gives the venue a bright new feeling with comfy seats, some of which had been donated by members of the public and those connected with theatre arts, both professional and amateur. Sheila Harrod opened the autumn season with a concert by singers who were not members of her renowned Kentwood Choir, but who go to her for their singing tuition. A full house witnessed some stunning performances from singers of all ages, some experienced in the ways of the stage and others who had never performed solo....… I can only say well done. You were a pleasure to listen to. (Lack of space would not allow the full review to be printed here but I am sure you get the gist)    Yvonne Walker <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> GREETINGS FROM CORNWALL Twelve months have passed since I last wrote for the Newsletter to report on life in Cornwall and at Yvonne’s request here is the second instalment! What can I tell you? Only about my life here in Hayle with Tony – it’s all that I know. I will give you little snippets of things that have happened, things we have done, things we have seen. Tony’s cancer (non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma) at the top of his right leg, has responded to chemotherapy and radiotherapy which took up a lot of time last October to April. A scan in June was satisfactory and we hope and pray all the cancer cells have now gone – I’ve spent a lot of time praying this past year. What a terrific time we’ve had with all our visitors. With so many children and grandchildren between us and so many friends, not to mention the heavenly place we live in, it’s no wonder we get so many! But we love it, so do keep coming. Hayle is a great place for walking with the beach; sand dunes, estuary and river close by. Today’s walk was along the Hayle River at St Erth following it for a couple of miles as it meanders through fields and woods inland, past a ruined mill. The water is clear and fast flowing and the heather is in full bloom. We saw many dragonflies, red green black and yellow and evidence of rabbit, badger and deer, a paradise for them and for us. I read that otters are now back in the Hayle River but we didn’t see any, although we walked along the river bank so silently. Such a quiet and peaceful place and the sun shone warm and there was no wind. Two weeks ago we were walking along the coast path in the hot sun between St Ives and Zennor and saw, unbelievably, a pod of dolphins fairly close to the rocky shoreline jumping right out of the water sometimes. It was exciting and magical. On our walks we try to remember to take three Tesco plastic bags, one for blackberries, one for horse manure and one for litter (other peoples I hasten to add) – it’s my pet HATE. The horse manure is too good to pass by as my roses love it. Flowers ah! Flowers, how can you live without flowers. Heaven will be full of them I know. Which brings me onto the subject of our garden pond, an endless source of interest it seems to children going to and from school and elderly neighbours passing by. They lean over the front wall and exclaim “look, I can see it” referring to the fish which sometimes appear out of the murky depths (have tried all sorts of things to get rid of the pea-soup water). People always stop and admire something – either the fountain, the new trees, the planting round the pond. They stop and chat, saying “good morning” or “I like what you have done to the garden”. Very gratifying. I have to say though that I think the sea gulls have eaten the fish as I haven’t seen anything of them for ages. Onto our music in Cornwall. This land abounds with male voice choirs, ladies choirs, brass bands and music festivals of every king. Tony and I go to concerts every Wednesday evening in Carbis Methodist Church and have heard some great singing (also some not so great singing!). Every village here has a choir it seems and often they sing local Cornish songs. In July we went to Truro Cathedral only half an hour away, and sat enthralled listening and watching Monteverdi’s Vespers sung by a beautiful choir and soloists and played by an orchestra using ancient instruments. At one point during the second half of the concert some of the soloists were singing simultaneously in different parts of the cathedral, producing an ethereal effect which was beautiful, one voice echoing the other. Still on the subject of flowers and music, May 8th was Flora Day in Helston, a musical explosion, where the whole town come to a standstill. The streets are packed with people and all the houses and shops are decorated with flowers and greenery. Young boys and girls are dressed all in white and dance with their partners along the streets to the Helston Brass Band which proceeds slowly in front of them. The band plays the same floral dance tune over and over again. It is very loud and very stirring. The atmosphere is fantastic – you have to be there. Later on around mid-day it is the turn of the grown-ups, the gentlemen dressed in top hat and tails and the ladies in long ball gowns of every colour. They do the same dance to the same music and there were about a hundred couples. It look them two hours to dance the route from start to finish. This year Tony and I celebrated twenty-five years of marriage and travelled to Ireland with some of our children and grandchildren for a special holiday on the south-west coast. We stayed in a friend’s house right on the beach on a remote part of the coast with lots of inlets and islands. It was good to explore the coves and beaches and we had two boats at our disposal. Some of us went musseling one day and the subsequent bucket of mussels took two hours washing and scrubbing afterwards. Great eating though! (with wine, garlic, butter and parsley). It was good to see Alison my eldest daughter from Toronto who came over specially for the anniversary with two of my grandsons, Joe and Dominic (ten and five years). So, lots of love to all you Kentwood people (you turn up unexpectedly in the most unlikely places – Carolyn Curtis in Tesco’s in Truro and Jayne Parker in Flambards at Helston) and keep on coming down here to visit. We know all the best coffee place, all the best eating places, best beaches, best walks. We are truly blessed here and want to share it all with you. After all, we are on this earth to spread joy, are we not? (remember the song?) so come down. We are still taking bookings. Ann Donaldson Cornwall <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>