Local Group Report – Chichester – Thursday 18th January 2018

Seventeen of our most stalwart singers braved the dark and cold to come out to the Chichester Inn on Thursday night to enjoy yet another lively evening of drinks and songs. After wishing everyone a Happy New Year, we set about singing the songs for the “Worthing Sow & Grow” event scheduled for Saturday 10th February 2018. Amaryllis has chosen some cracking songs for this. We warmed up singing: Oak, Ash & Thorn and Pleasant and Delightful and then sang The Magpie, Brisk Young Ploughboy, On Sussex Hills, The Turnip Hoer, Country Life, Poor Froze-out Gardeners and The Woodcutter’s Song before stopping for a break and a bit more socialising. In the second half we had a go at Barbara Shaw’s Worthing Grower and sang Jim the Carter Lad and the Farmer’s Toast before tackling a couple of new songs. Alan introduced us to his traditional Sussex version of The Lark in the Morning and was very successful in getting us to master this unfamiliar new melody. Dave then went on to present two more Kipling songs. The first one Rolling Down to Rio was sung to Peter Bellamy’s tune (not the Sir Edward German one!) The second was The Bee Boy’s Song which was very positively received and, with its echoes of old country lore, deserves to be learnt as a companion piece to The Magpie. Alan and Dave were delighted and not a little embarrassed to be presented with a lovely bottle of wine each from the Singers in recognition of their efforts in running the Chichester Group sessions over the past year. And Julie T was also given some chocolates for keeping us all regularly informed through emails and twitter. Thank you everyone, but we all enjoy doing what we do! Time was quickly running out so we sang a rousing version of Thousands or More before we set off for home. Our next group sing will be on Thursday 15th February at the Chichester Inn in West Street, Chichester. We hope to see lots of you there!