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SPECIAL DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
(Three concerts not to be missed)

Friday 29 August 2003 at the Bath Road Methodist Church, Swindon. Louise Lloyd will be singing in her own concert to raise money to help her on her way to study at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Tickets, priced at £5, are available from Louise on 01793 706484 or Duck Son and Pinkers, Swindon

Friday 5 September 2003 at the Arts Centre, Swindon is an ‘Evening with Sheila Harrod and Friends’. Come and meet the students not in the Kentwood Choir. Tickets, priced at £7, are available from the box office at the Arts Centre.

Saturday 4 October 2003 at the Arts Centre, Swindon Sheila Harrod presents ‘A Family Affair (The Beans)’. Again, tickets are available from the box office at the Arts Centre, priced at £7.

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THE KENTWOOD PIANO TAKES CENTRE STAGE

On 26th March 2003 the brand new piano was unveiled in fine style to the delight of staff and cafe customers alike. Donated by the Kentwood Trust, the piano, a Yamaha C3, was chosen by Sheila herself, and is a marvellous gift for musicians and audiences to enjoy over the next few decades! It replaces the old Bluthner piano which was over 100 years old and was starting to deteriorate in sound quality.

So, on the launch day, members of the Kentwood Trust Committee, representatives of hiring musical societies, and the local Press were invited to come and hear the piano played in the new Arts Centre foyer - and what a glorious sound it made in that light, airy space. Sheila, Geoff Walters and Paul Turner all played in turn, and their varying styles demonstrated the piano for all to hear. Chris Harrod unintentionally put his foot in it when, as Paul finished his spot after Sheila had played, Chris remarked how nice it was to hear the piano played sensitively!! After the music, and a ‘thank you’ speech from yours truly, we all enjoyed a buffet lunch together (provided by the splendid new lunchtime caterers at the Arts Centre!).

The following couple of weeks saw the piano enjoy(?) a baptism of fire as the Music Festival took place - so it was well used by competitors and accompanists alike. I sat and listened to Jacqui Dankworth’s accompanist play superbly a few weeks later, and I must say that the clarity and musicality of the upper range of the piano particularly was a delight to hear after the rather muted sounds of the Bluthner. Incidentally, the Bluthner has gone to a good home - it’s now at Huddersfield Grammar School where Craig Ball (son of local accompanist Dawn Ball) is Head of Music.

Thanks are due to the Kentwood Trust and Choir, and all who have raised the money over the last few years. The piano will stand as testament to Kentwood and its commitment to music in Swindon. The piano bears a plaque with Kentwood’s name, and a photo of Sheila at the keys will be displayed at the Centre so that everyone is aware of the generosity of the gift.

Clary Bean

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KENTWOOD SCHOOL OF MUSIC PRIZE WINNERS

The Swindon Music Festival was held in Swindon’s Arts Centre at the end of March 2003 and I thought you would like to know who, from the Kentwood School of Music, won classes this year. Congratulations to them all.

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A LETTER RECEIVED FOLLOWING THE CONCERT AT TROWBRIDGE

Dear Mrs Harrod

You and your Choir provided so much pleasure to the audience, including myself and my friends last Friday at Trowbridge that your performance should not go unacknowledged.

Having a recollection of the unique presentation of music you gave the previous year in Swindon, I had high expectations and was not disappointed. The wider spectrum of music covered in your programme, the discipline you have instilled into your Choir, their professionalism and above all enthusiasm you personally convey and which becomes infectious, ensure success. Your love of music, your joy in living and gift of communication are all apparent and I salute you for sharing these qualities with us. In singling me out for attention in the front row, you showed kindness and respect which I at the age of eighty seven appreciated. It is so easy for professional performers to obtain cheap laughs by ridiculing selected members of the audience. I am sure you never do that.

Your Choir’s rendering of the John Rutter piece was sensitively sung and gave me great pleasure. His composition “Looking at Life”, which you probably know, (perhaps I have got the title wrong) always reduces me to tears, but would admirably suit your Choir. Had it not been the prospect of embarrassing my friends on Friday, I was tempted to get up and dance a few steps with you!. Your sense of rhythm seems as compulsive as mine.

The Director of Music at the Wiltshire Music Centre at Bradford on Avon said to me recently, “Music to me is indispensable”. I imagine in your life you can go along with that sentiment. I certainly can. The Wiltshire Music Centre would be an ideal venue for your Choir to be appreciated. A very modern Theatre. Keith Nimmo is the Artistic Director (Tel 01225 860100) with whom you may have already had contact and discussions. If not, I would willingly recommend him engaging the Kentwood Choir. I enclose their brochure.

Yours sincerely

Elliot Whittingham
Melksham

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REVIEW OF THE CHOIR’S MAY CONCERT AT THE WYVERN THEATRE BY ROS HOLLANDS OF THE EVENING ADVERTISER

Premier Choir Performs Concert of Musical Perfection

‘Kentwood Choir, under the direction of Sheila Harrod, are now one of the premier choirs in the country and Swindon people turn out in their droves to watch them perform, this was no exception.

The Choir can turn its hand to any style of music with harmonies and diction second to none. The audience was pleased to see the Choir’s vice presidents, Cleo Laine and husband John Dankworth, in the audience enjoying what was a wonderful musical feast. The Junior Choir, with narration by Clary Bean, sang a work commissioned by Swindon Council, called “Steam”. A great piece of nostalgia for all those involved in the railway in Swindon and beautifully sung by these well-drilled youngsters. The even younger members looked sweet in their bonnets and pinafores as they sang “I Don’t Want to Play in Your Yard”, with a great deal of discipline for ones so young.

Stealing the limelight in the concert was the Bean family. Clary and Christine can be proud of daughter Abigail, who has a voice that is pure in tone and pitch, and son Daniel who in gaining confidence and power in his stunning musical theatre voice. Christine was joined by Clary, Daniel and Abigail in one of the songs of the night “Wade in the Water”.

The percussion and violin group ‘Hum Drum’ were guest performers for the show. I’m not sure whether some in the audience were completely aware of the complexities of the percussion skills displayed by this innovative group of three musicians. Not everyone’s cup of tea I guess.

Sheila’s emotions were running high throughout what was once again a perfect performance by her Choir. As always, everyone showed professionalism synonymous with the Kentwood Choir’.

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CONCERT TOUR OF IRELAND – DIARY BY TERRI RHIND

Thursday evening. Case all packed, 2 uniforms, tickets, and passport. Set alarm, 4 am, maybe bit later 4.30, no 5 o’clock, plenty of time.

Friday am. Alarm off, up, shower, toast and away. Arrive at Tesco to pick up coach. Everyone excited, bubbly chatter even at this time. It’s amazing how many are on their first ‘overseas’ trip with Kentwood. I’ve heard so much about previous tours that I can’t wait to see for myself. Coach journey non-eventful, just a little quieter now, but here we are at the airport. ‘Miss’ tells us that we need to check in and we’ll all meet in the departure lounge. We all set off in different directions and almost all met up again in the restaurant for breakfast. Eventually the party was complete with Bev and Robert arriving from their respective homes. At last on the plane, and before we knew it we had arrived at Cork Airport. Luggage collected and off to get the coach. Christie the driver very friendly and would be with us all weekend. The scenery was exceptional; honest I saw the forty shades of green! There were mountains, lakes, rivers and sunshine.

Lunchtime. Here we are at Kerry’s and what a welcome. Armed with a posse of friends, a fantastic buffet was set out with, soft drinks, wine and cold beer. It was obvious from the laden table that Kerry was expecting another 2 coaches later on!! Once we were fed and watered, we were taken to our respective hosts. The, oh’s and ah’s came from the coach as we dropped off each group. We were in the last group to be dropped off in Dunhill, and we were split into two homes across the drive from each other. Luckily Kerry’s sister Ellie and her husband were there to host us in their parent’s home, and the other group was with Kerry’s other sister Carol. Oh, and next door was Christine, yes another sister. We also had pets, one home had a puppy; ours had two cows and a donkey. We had to get up early to milk the cows!

Friday pm. Off to the local community centre where we were to open and close the evening’s entertainment. We were treated to an abundance of local talent, beautiful voices in the Junior & Senior Ballad Group, Irish dancing, instrumentalists and a wonderful recitalist who had us all laughing with a tale of an audition. Sheila was thrilled when there was a raffle, but after which there was a presentation to Sheila of a beautiful ceramic picture, based on music. I’m sure that it will be hung in pride of place on our return. We closed the show and the centre was filled with happy smiling faces and a great deal of emotion. We all gathered upstairs for a buffet, yes more food, and to mingle with everyone. Off we go in various cars to our hosts. Well if your host goes to the pub for a glass of the black stuff, you have to be sociable. Mind you, to drink the pub out of something called Irish Mist is something else! Or if your host wants to sit and talk a wee while taking in a jar, it’s not polite to go straight to bed. And if your host has spent an 1½ hours trying to inflate an air bed, and it needs topping up, it’s not polite to let it down at half past midnight, start up a compressor and wake up the street. Still we never said we were technicians. Only singers eh!

Saturday. Up with the lark, shower, dress, and breakfast - porridge, bacon, egg, sausage, tomato, beans, black pudding, white pudding, toast and soda bread. Will we ever get into our uniforms tonight?

The coach picks up right on time and, it was great to see how everyone had spent their previous afternoon. Some walked round the village, others had a little sleep, others had a mad moment got their swimsuits on and went for a swim. Some did not have their cossies, but fear not, clothes off and T-shirts at the ready, in they went. Still, off we go to Waterford to the famous Crystal Factory. We were taken round in two groups to see the process from start to finish and then left in the showroom to browse. It’s amazing how many Waterford bags you can carry in such a short space of time. We all met up at reception and were taken to a gallery where we gave a short concert. We could be seen from all sides and people stopped, watched and listened to us and we were very well received. Many of the staff had tickets for the evening and were looking forward to seeing us now they had had a wee taste of Kentwood.

On to the beautiful Theatre Royal in Waterford where we met by the theatre manager who explained the history of the theatre and showed us round. We were then free for the afternoon to take in the spirit of the town. Once back at 5.15 pm we got down to our rehearsal. All too soon the curtain was up and the show was on. From the first note you knew that the audience was with us. They clapped, laughed, sang and sat spellbound throughout the evening. Thanks and presentations were made to Kerry and Lydia for organising the trip, after which we sang the Irish Blessing; there was hardly a dry eye in the house, on stage and off.

After we had changed we made our way to the back of the theatre and collected our bags of chips, piping hot and delicious. What a sight, 50 folk sitting on the walls, steps and in the foyer of the theatre tucking into our supper. All done, we took the scenic route home and what had seemed a short run in the morning to Waterford became quite a journey on the way back and again the chatter brought up some stories; there was the one about a group chatting so much they got locked out of one part of the house and had to climb through the window to get back in. Still, all home now and ready for a good nights sleep. Well perhaps just one night-cap!

Sunday. Refreshed after a sleep, shower and breakfast, pack bags and take those last minute photos. We were all meeting at the pub in Dunhill, just a two-minute walk for our two groups. Once inside, the organisation that we had come to expect kicked in and table-by-table our drink orders were taken and our lunch was provided. Boiled bacon, cabbage and champ. What an amazing taste. Even though the majority of us had breakfast a couple of hours before, the plates were returned to the kitchen clean. Oh, room for dessert, only just! Everyone was mingling and speeches were made, thanks given and songs sung. All to soon it was time to leave, amongst hugs, smiles, exchanges of addresses and many tears, the coach set off with sound of “So Long, Farewell”, coming from the choir inside and our hosts and friends outside.

Off to Cork for the flight, this time along the coast road and through the centre of Cork. We arrive and check in, last minute shopping in the departure lounge and one last chance to sing. Homeward bound, all arriving safe and sound. What a weekend, busy and yet relaxing. We have thanked Kerry for the organisation, but she was also a host, along with husband Dale, Carol and Roy, Eleanor and Andy, Kathleen, Margaret and Liam, Sean and Christine, Siobhan and Noel and not forgetting the Landlord and Landlady at our local pub and everyone involved. With so much given by the community, everything so well organised, how could it not have been a success? It was and we hope will be again. Everyone kept on talking of next year. Who knows, but I know most of our fingers are crossed. Must ask Sheila, when’s the deposit due???

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Letter to the Swindon Advertiser 16 June 2003
Wonderful visit

I am writing to let you know just what a wonderful weekend visit we have had from Swindon’s Kentwood Choir. The people of Waterford have been blown away with the entire experience of Kentwood. The choir performed at the Theatre Royal in Waterford on Saturday June 7. Director Sheila Harrod came on stage like a human dynamo with such energy and enthusiasm. The audience was roused with excitement as the choir went from one song to another. Every emotion that could be felt was felt.

We laughed as Sheila attempted not only to play the bodhran but also when she had a go at an Irish jig! We clapped our way through uplifting numbers such as “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” and we cried when the choir sang the “Irish Blessing”.

This was a new experience for the Waterford audience – one that was warmly appreciated and we are all counting the weeks down when Kentwood will return to us next June.

Well done Sheila and to all the choir who performed – you have put Swindon on the map here in Waterford and we’re proud of you!

Kerry Richings
Bonmahon, County Waterford
Ireland

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Editor: Mrs Yvonne Walker, 23 Bourton Avenue, Stratton St Margaret,
Swindon SN3 4LY.
Telephone: (01793) 823849
e-mail: walker365@ntlworld.com