Local Group Report – Chichester – Thursday 19th December 2019

Our last sing together for the current year was a great success. Thirteen of us (and three well-behaved dogs) came to the Chichester Inn ready to socialise and celebrate Christmas with a selection of seasonal poems and songs. We lit the candles on the tables and Anne, Alan, Keith and Dave brought guitars, melodeon and whistles to play a few tunes and accompany some of the songs. After starting with Deck the Halls we went around the circle encouraging everyone to do their party piece or recommend a favourite carol from the SDFS repertoire. Sue gave us a version of I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas and Jane requested The Holly and the Ivy which we sang to the other (not the folky) tune just for a change. Clare asked us to sing Here we come a-wassailing and Henny requested The Angel Gabriel. We followed this by singing Sweet Chiming Bells and then Stephen A gave us a jolly rendition of Tom Lehrer’s Christmas Time is here by golly! reflecting ironically on the crass commercialism of Christmas. Gordon had written a 21st century version of Jim the Carter Lad, poking fun at DHL-type delivery drivers, which he performed with panache. Debbie brought us back to sanity with the Coppers’ Christmas Song, before Chris read one of Les Barker’s comic poems Spot of the Antarctic and Lyn sang us Sid Kipper’s hilarious parody The Ivy and the Holly. Alwyn requested The Sussex Carol and Keith sang a nostalgic and moving song entitled Christmas Long Ago. Before the interval we had another version of Sweet Chiming Bells from Anne and Alan, who then recited Kipling’s poem Eddi’s Service (at Manhood End). Finally Dave finished off the first half singing Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey.

After a break to chat and refill our glasses (and enjoy the chocolates that Alwyn had kindly brought!), we went around the circle again; we sang the Sugar Wassail, Silent Night, Masters in this Hall, Pentonville, Hark the Herald Angels sing and the Gloucester Wassail. Gordon got us singing his Three Moles song and gave us his Shakespearian rendition of The House at Pooh Corner; Henny recited Leslie Norris’ poem The Shepherd’s Dog, Alwyn a poem entitled Christmas Lights and Chris delivered Ronnie Barker’s hilarious Cockney Rhyming Slang Sermon. Alan had composed an Apple Tree Wassailing Catch which he taught us to sing successfully in four part round. We finally finished up singing Old Jacky Frost is Knocking at the Door. All in all it had been a tremendous evening. Thanks to everyone for their excellent contributions. We’ll meet again on Thursday 16th January 2020 at the Chichester Inn. Hope to see lots of you there!

Local Group Report – Lewes – Wednesday 20th November 2019

We were missing several regulars who were resting their voices between Brighton Pub Carols rehearsals, but 11 singers gathered at the John Harvey Tavern. These included Kim and Lisa, our two visitors to this session, one from Hailsham and the other a friend staying with her, from Kent. They had come out together for a quiet meal, but ended up joining in very enthusiastically with the singing and said how much they had enjoyed hearing songs which were mostly new to them.

We sang a variety of songs suitable to the season – some war songs of Remembrance, others relating to cold weather generally, Christmas, New Year and wassailing, including most of the set for the Weald and Downland Christmas Market the following weekend.

Warming up with Sweet Chiming Bells, Poor Froze-Out Gardeners, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Where Stormy Winds Do Blow we then moved on to Life of a Man, All Things Are Quite Silent, The Coppers’ Christmas Song, The Holly Bears a Berry, The Holly & the Ivy, Home Lads Home and Here We Come A-Wassailing.

During the break for refilling glasses we managed to keep discussion of Brexit, the General Election and Trump's possible impeachment to a minimum, although goodness knows what the world will be like when we meet again in December!

In the second half we tackled The Fields Lie Silent, Sugar Wassail, Sussex Mummers’ Carol, The Angel Gabriel, While Shepherds Watched (Pentonville), Masters In This Hall and The Woodcutter’s Song before finishing as usual with Thousands Or More.

Nine of us had recently performed a mini gig at Jan L’s mum’s residential home in Henfield which had been very well received and we discussed returning there in Spring with a new set.

We were disappointed to hear that we would not be wassailing at Steyning Community Orchard in the New Year due to the organisers having “over-organised” and we will be looking out for suitable other similar events to suggest in future.

Next month we will again be meeting on a Wednesday, 18th December, to accommodate the Brighton Pub Carols rehearsal the previous night so see you there.

Back to the usual third Tuesday from January.

Local Group Report – Worthing – Wednesday 4th December 2019

Thirty-six singers, including some joining us for the first time, gathered at “Ye Olde House at Home” for an evening of seasonal song. With no performance sets to work on we simply chose many of our personal favourites. The Holly Bears a Berry opened the show leading on to The Coppers' Christmas Song, Deck the Hall and the Sussex Mummers' Carol before I Heard a Bird Sing was sung as a round. Masters of This Hall came next before some more rounds, Hey Ho Winter Snow and Child of Light, sung separately at first but then beautifully combined. Alan introduced us to another round, about “Stir-up Sunday” and Christmas pudding, which went down well! Sweet Chiming Bells and Pentonville brought us to a break for more refreshments. We resumed with a request for The Turnip Hoer and the Poor Froze-Out Gardeners, before a couple of Wassails: Sugar Wassail and Apple Tree Wassailing Song (with Alan stepping up to do the celebratory speech at the end of the song). The Holly and the Ivy, the Woodcutter's Song, Fields Lie Silent, and the Sussex Carol followed before our festive singing came to a close with a hearty rendition of Hark the Herald Angels Sing. Festive greetings were exchanged and plans for our first session of the New Year were made.
PLEASE NOTE – for the January meeting only we will be meeting later in the month than usual, on Wednesday 15th January 2020. The group has also agreed to start our singing at 7.45pm.
We look forward to seeing you there!

Footnote – During the interval in our singing, Henny (SDFS Chairperson) was surprised by the presentation to her of a generous gift from her SDFS chums. In addition to her thank yous on the night she wants here to thank again everyone involved in plotting and delivering such a lovely surprise, your thoughts and kind words are much appreciated. A Happy New SDFS Year to you all! Hx

SDFS at W&DLM Christmas Market – Report

Here's a report from Alan for our performances on 23rd November 2019:

Thanks to 40 SDFS members for turning up on a damp, cloudy, muddy day at the Christmas Market at the Weald & Downland Museum. Thanks to those from the eastern provinces in particular and to Dave and Amaryllis for organising their respective halves of a newly-tightened semi circle. Also to Dave for announcing.

All went quite well despite rain in the first performance. It was worrying as books drooped and words vanished from pages. A spell cast by Emily to impress upon us the importance of learning our words?

Great singing despite my novel, idiosyncratic activities as conductor. But could it have been those that gained your attention to my unusual gesticulations, leaving John Barbirolli way behind? Two sessions outside with the full complement. At the second session by the café the singers somehow managed to position the leader in a puddle, with a little child stamping up and down behind and determined to make everyone wet. At the request of the organisers, we gave a third performance with about 15 or so who stayed to sing in the Gridshell. Although tired, damp and muddy, a super Gridshell performance. It is so much easier to impress when singing inside a building.

The gentlemen gave of their best due to a larger-than-usual complement of excellent singers. Their harmony lines of some of the songs were particularly powerful. The ladies were their usual solid, competent selves with a large group of top-part-harmony-singers voices adding an extra level of beauty to the songs.

“Thank you Emily for teaching so well that we can feel pleased with our performances and can entertain audiences.”

Singing in Henfield

Update 17th December 2019: Les has confirmed we're going ahead with this. We look forward to seeing all the singers who have offered to sing and to any others who plan to turn up on the evening.

Update 6th December 2019: Here's the set list:

1. While Shepherds Watched (Pentonville)
2. Deck the Hall
3. The Falmer Carol
4. Sans Day Carol (The Holly Bears A Berry)
5. Sussex Mummers Carol (Righteous Joseph)

Wednesday 18th December 2019, 8.30pm
The George Hotel, Henfield

Here's an invitation from one of our singers, Les B, to do some singing with the Chanctonbury Ring Morris Men:

We have been invited by Chanctonbury Ring Morris Men to take part in an evening of carols, songs and a Mummers play on the 18th December at the George in Henfield, from about 8.30pm. It will surely be an engaging and entertaining evening, so it would be great if we can muster a dozen or more of us to sing some of our own winter songs.

If you're interested in this please email Les at southdownsfolksingers@gmail.com so that he'll know if there will be enough singers to go ahead. You can read more about the Chanctonbury Ring Morris Men on their website and Facebook page.

Local Group Report – Chichester – Thursday 21st November 2019

Seventeen stalwarts, including a new member, attended the session at the Chichester Inn. The evening was directed by Alan with help from Keith and consisted for the main part of practising those songs to be sung at the Weald and Downland Christmas Market, interspersed with the normal good-natured banter associated with this venue. A few extra favourites were sung.

At the end Alan sang a new song to see if it would be liked by this small group of members before perhaps putting it forward in the New Year to the main Worthing gathering. A song mentioned by Chris Hare at a Belloc, Broadwood and Beyond session. This version of ‘Buttercup Joe’ came from Ashurst, so maybe we can call it a Sussex song. There seemed to be a positive response with some of the lyrics in particular!!

South Downs Folk Singers “Winter Revels” – our winter party!

Following the success of our gathering there in February 2019 we will be paying a return visit to “The Barn” on Saturday 25th January 2020 for our next “Winter Revels” party.

“The Barn” is a restored old Sussex barn attached to the English Martyrs Church in Goring (map link), on the corner of Goring Way and Compton Avenue. Postcode: BN12 4UE.

There is limited parking at the church, but no restrictions in the nearby residential roads. The venue is also near to the route and stops of the 700 Coastliner bus service and not far from Goring-by-Sea railway station.

The fun will begin at 7.30pm – BUT PLEASE NOTE – quiet is requested during an early evening service held in the adjacent church, so please DO NOT ARRIVE BEFORE 7.00pm. Similarly when leaving the party later, please be especially respectful of the surroundings and the quiet of the neighbouring area.

All South Downs Folk Singers, plus their family and friends, are very welcome to attend. Tickets are £2.50 each. Numbers are limited, so to avoid disappointment secure your place in advance by contacting Margo, via the South Downs Folk Singers email (or maybe see her at some of our local singing sessions).

Please bring food to share and your drinks of choice and, as ever, your readiness to join in song (and even a dance) or two!

Individual or group contributions to the evening’s entertainments are invited – songs, readings, music and dance – all are very welcome. (If possible please let Margo know in advance.)

Just one extra note – the Barn is a much loved Grade II listed building, so special care must be taken not to damage the flint walls, wood pillars and beams, and we’ve been advised that shoes likely to mark the wood floor (especially high heels) are NOT welcome! (The SDFS will be liable for the cost of any damage.)

We look forward to enjoying your good company there in a lovely setting and to saluting the winter season with our festivities in January!

Local Group Report – Worthing – Wednesday 6th November 2019

The festive season arrived early to Ye Olde House at Home when we sang through the songs from the set planned for our events this month and next. Sweet Chiming Bells warmed us up with The Holly Bears a Berry and selected verses from the Sussex Mummers Carol to follow. The Sussex Carol, Hark the Herald Angels, The Holly and the Ivy, Here We Come A-wassailing and The Coppers Christmas Song brought us to a cheery and reviving break. With our thirsts quenched we resumed by singing the rounds Child of Light and Hey Ho Winter Snow, with the final line of each round repeated across each group to all finish singing together. The Falmer Carol then Angel Gabriel and lastly Shepherds Watched Their Flocks, to the Pentonville tune, closed our proceedings for this month. More next time on 4th December.

N.B. Advanced notice – because the first Wednesday of January will be New Years Day we are aiming to move our first Worthing meeting of 2020 to the following week, Wednesday 8th January, thereafter returning to the first Wednesday of each month as usual. This is still to be confirmed with the pub, so watch this space and our website diary page for more details.

Littlehampton Women’s Institute Christmas Celebration

Update 29th November 2019:

Set List:

1. Sweet Bells
2. Sussex Carol
3. Righteous Joseph
4. Alan and Anne duet (Alan to introduce)
5. The Holly and the Ivy
6. Deck the Halls
7. Here We Come A-wassailing
8. We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Please note: Keith will be leading us. We have 20 singers due to attend, which includes six men. On the night we will have to decide if there are enough men to sing “men” parts for the carols.

Alan and Anne will sing a piece accompanied by instruments.

Since we have been asked to sing for 30 minutes, we may have to drop a carol if time is running out.

Doors open for the WI at 7.00pm and I will be there from that time. Their meeting officially starts at 7.30, but often earlier and we are due on at 7.45 prompt. Please be there at least 20 minutes before then, so that we can go through our programme briefly and put on a good show. Do dress up in Christmas spirit.

Look forward to seeing you next Tuesday and thank you for volunteering.

Michael

Tuesday 3rd December 2019, evening event from about 7.10pm
1 St Floras Road, Littlehampton, BN17 6BD

Thank you to the singers who have volunteered to sing for the WI. We should have a very pleasant evening and they are eagerly waiting to hear us.

The meeting will be at the Littlehampton Evangelical Church, 1 St Floras Road, Littlehampton, BN17 6BD. Those of you who sang for the Arcade Knitters last Christmas will remember it.

Their meeting starts at 7.00pm and we are due to sing from 7.30 for 20 to 30 minutes. This will be followed by refreshments, which will include finger food, soft drinks and tea. When the refreshments are over we can leave, as they will be going through notices and future events planning.

The meeting is held in the main hall, but there is a smaller hall next door where we can assemble and store coats, etc. Could I suggest you arrive by 7.10 so that we are ready in time for 7.30. There is ample car parking in their car park or the street.

A song list will follow and will be taken from the songs we have prepared for the Weald and Downland Christmas Market.

My phone number is 07709 935650, which you can ring to let me know if you cannot come, or if you are lost or delayed. Feel free to decorate yourselves like a Christmas tree, or more modestly with a Santa hat, or something in between.

Looking forward to seeing you all on 3rd December.

Michael

Cotillion

Alan and Anne's folk band, Cotillion, is performing its Sussex Christmas folk show 'A Sussex Christmas' in Rusper Church at 7pm on Saturday 7th December and at 7pm in Newtimber Church (which is not far from Henfield) on Saturday 14th December. The evenings consist of a mixture of standard (Hymns Ancient and Modern) carols to join in, early carols, poetry, sayings and rounds. Lots of opportunity for SDFS members to join in. Refreshments in the interval.

Keep up to date with Cotillion on their website.

SDFS at W&DLM Christmas Market

Update 22nd November 2019: If it is raining (forecast is for light rain or showers to about lunchtime, preceded by heavier rain overnight) there is the music tent for shelter in the Market Square and the Gridshell Balcony as usual instead of the Courtyard by the shop.

Update 12th November 2019: Details from John C for this event have been added below. Be careful not to miss the performance notes from Alan which have been added after the set lists below.

Saturday 23rd November 2019
Weald & Downland Living Museum, Singleton, PO18 0EU

Again a packed event with over 150 stalls, so if the weather is reasonable it's worth making a day of it.

See the organiser's website.

Saturday is the middle day of the weekend, with probably the whole of the overflow car park filled out to West Dean College by 1pm, if the weather is dry.

If you arrive early (around 10.00am) you will be nearer to the entrance booths, please use the dedicated members and stall holders queue for quick entry, either by showing your SDFS lanyard (wristband see below) or identifying your surname on the list I will send them. The usual wristbands arrived too late to be distributed at our monthly meetings, but I will be at the Secret Shore Singers practice on Wednesday 20th Nov at YOHAH (for the Victorian Christmas Festival at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard) so you can pick one up then if convenient.

We have two sets, at 12.00 noon in the Market Square and 1.00pm in the Courtyard between the Gateway Entrance and Shop if the weather is OK, or perhaps on the decking outside the Gridshell if the weather is not dry. This will allow you the rest of the day to take in the market stalls and hopefully leave the site more easily.

Please gather at the Market Square and the Courtyard at least 15 minutes before each performance start time.

My contact email as usual for any queries – southdownsfolksingers@gmail.com

Dress for cold variable weather and wear stout shoes, but please don whatever festive headgear you want for the occasion.

I already have 40 volunteer singers for the day. As there will be more singers than at the 'Fire & Light' a couple of weeks ago, please follow Emily's requests to form a compact semi-circular group focussed on Alan, our leader for the day, so we can present the songs again at their best for the assembled multitudes.

Alan has appended a few notes regarding some order/variations to the various songs clarified at the last YOHAH practice. These follow the set lists below.

John C.


Our set lists (thank you Amaryllis) are below, with further details to be added here when available.

First Set – 12.00 noon in the Market Square:

1. Sweet Chiming Bells [E]
2. Where Stormy Winds Do Blow [A]
3. The Holly Bears a Berry [C]
4. Oak, Ash & Thorn [E]
5. Sussex Mummers’ Carol [G]
6. The Woodcutter’s Song [B]
7. Sussex Carol [G]
8. Life of a Man [B]
9. Hark the Herald Angels Sing [F]

Second Set – 1.00pm in the Courtyard between the Gateway Entrance and Shop:

1. The Holly & the Ivy [Ab]
2. The Fields Lie Silent [F]
3. Here We Come A-Wassailing [C]
4. The Coppers’ Christmas Song [B]
5. Rounds for the Festive Season
6. Poor Froze-Out Gardeners [Db]
7. The Falmer Carol [B]
8. The Angel Gabriel [B]
9. Pentonville (While Shepherds…) [C]

  
Additional performance notes as discussed at YOHAH 6th November 2019

Sussex Mummers Carol
Verses to be sung are:

1. When righteous Joseph...
2. Oh Blessed Mary...
3. God bless the master...
4. God bless your house...
5. Our song it is sung...

Hark the Herald Angels sing
The verse beginning "Mild he lays his glory by..."  should be sung softly

Here we come a-wassailing
Sing the last two lines of the song slowly

The Coppers' Christmas song
In the first three verses only men sing the first half of line 4 and women sing the second half
In the last verse substitute ‘Christmas’ for ‘Winter’

The Falmer Carol
Verses to be sung are:

1. See Seraphic throngs...
2. T’was for us he left...
3. Repeat verse 1

Local Group Report – Chichester – Thursday 17th October 2019

Due to some prior apologies for absence from a number of our regular singers we didn’t really know quite what to expect, but in the event eleven of us, plus Stanley the dog, braved heavy rain to come out to the Chichester Inn to enjoy a very pleasant evening, singing around the big table. We were happy to welcome back new member Julia who brought her father Barry with her and they both joined in eagerly with the singing. Also present were a couple sitting apart and enjoying an evening meal. They told us that they had come over from Felpham especially to hear us sing. We hope they liked what they heard!

We decided to start with the songs planned for our performances at the Weald & Downland Living Museum’s “Fire & Light” event on Sunday 3rd November and a good choice it was too, as they were all songs which we love and know very well. So in the first half we sang Oak, Ash & Thorn, The Woodcutter’s Song, The Bee-Boy’s Song, The Turnip Hoer, Where Stormy Winds Do Blow, Ale Glorious Ale, and Poor Froze-out Gardeners. The singing sounded perfect to me, although we did miss hearing those beautiful harmonies from our talented harmony singers!

In the second half we tackled two rounds: Hey Ho Winter’s Snow and I heard a Bird sing in the Dark of December. Then we thought we had better get to grips with The Coppers’ “Winter” Song and The Fields lie Silent. The latter song rather fell apart as we seemed to have several different printed versions. We must make sure that we stick to the “revised 23rd August 2018” edition that is on the website!

As we inevitably like to try out new songs at Chichester, Dave introduced us to The Rigs of the Time a song he had heard at Whitby Folk Week this year. It’s a song from the Napoleonic period, complaining about the tricks that traders use to swindle poor folk. We sang it through a couple of times and it seemed to be very well received.

Finally we ended the evening at 10.00pm by singing Brisk Young Ploughboy, an excellent choice requested by one of our singers. Thanks to all who came along to make this a very sociable and enjoyable evening. Next month we will meet again in the Chichester Inn on Thursday 21st December. If you like a good sing, then do come and join us there. You’ll be made most welcome!

Local Group Report – Lewes – Tuesday 15th October 2019

Seventeen singers arrived at The John Harvey Tavern and sang through 18 songs. Tina was just recovering from a week of a sore throat and no voice, but still managed to direct us through the song list for the Weald & Downland “Fire and Light” experience on 3rd November. We started with a rousing West Susex Drinking Song – all four verses – then it was time for Oak, Ash and Thorn, The Woodcutter’s Song, Bee Boy’s Song, Life of a Man, Turnip Hoer, Where Stormy Winds Do Blow, Poor Froze-Out Gardeners, Ale Glorious Ale, On Sussex Hills, Copper’s (Winter) Christmas Song, the rounds Hey Ho Winter Snow and Child of Light, and Fields Lie Silent. Tina also suggested While Shepherds Watched (Pentonville tune), Sweet Chiming Bells and Seasons Turn so our two new recruits got a hefty selection of our winter repertoire before closing the evening with Thousands or More. Thank you Tina for your sterling leadership through a noisy evening; we appreciate your valiant efforts.

Rehearsals for the Brighton Pub Carols start on Tuesday 12th November so the Lewes Group will meet on Wednesday 20th November and Wednesday 18th December to accommodate the Brighton participants.

Local Group Report – Worthing – Wednesday 2nd October 2019

Our singing began rather late at 8.30pm following an over-run SDFS AGM to accommodate some useful feedback and discussions about our events, possible extra sessions to work on our performance skills, and mention of our WInter Revels booked for 25th January next year (tickets now available via the SDFS email address). After a refreshment break to revive us Pleasant and Delightful launched us into song and thereafter the evening focussed on the changing seasons and our next events. In an autumn mood we worked on and enjoyed Where Stormy Winds Do Blow; Poor Froze-out Gardeners; The Fields Lie Silent; All Among the Barley; The Coppers' ‘Winter’ (inserted instead of ‘Christmas') Song and The Woodcutter's Song. Looking further into winter we sang the lovely rounds, Hey Ho Winter Snow and Child of Light, before concluding on a Christmas note with the Sussex Mummers Carol and the Pentonville version of While Shepherds Watched. So ended a productive evening which welcomed four new singers to our fold. We look forward to meeting again at our next Worthing session on 6th November, if not before at the Weald and Downland Museum event on Sunday 3rd November (see the Diary Page and Latest News notices on this website).

SDFS at W&DLM Historic Life Weekend: Fire & Light

Update 29th October 2019: Please note the time of our first performance has been changed to 11.45am to allow time for more people to arrive.

Update 29th October 2019: Please wear your lanyard, if you have one, and warm clothing, a light-shower day is predicted, so we will either sing inside or outside North Cray (first red-washed house as you enter the market square).

As there will be as many singers as at the Christmas Market, please follow Emily's requests to form a compact semi-circular group focussed on her, so we can present the songs at their best.

Your name will be on a list for free entry, please gather at North Cray at least 15 minutes before each performance start time.

The two approximately 35-minute performance times have been agreed at 11.00am 11.45am and 1.30pm either side of lunch, the day's programme is on the organiser's website (link below).

You will note smuggling is mentioned at the Toll House so we might add Kipling's A Smuggler's Song to the sets.

John C.

Sunday 3rd November 2019
Weald & Downland Living Museum, Singleton, PO18 0EU

This is a new event this year under the Historic Life theme, demonstrating the considerable contrasts of how in the past the majority of the populace had to prepare for the darker, hungrier cold months both in gathering adequate fuel stocks and providing various forms of light from the rendering of natural products.

Organiser's website

The programme for the weekend will not be finalised until a couple of weeks before the event and our song set times and other details will will be posted here.

Set List - kindly provided by Amaryllis

1. Oak, Ash & Thorn : E
2. The Woodcutter’s Song : B
3. The Bee-Boy’s Song : E – A
4. The Turnip Hoer : B
5. Where Stormy Winds Do Blow : A
6. Ale, Glorious Ale : E
7. Poor Froze-out Gardeners : Db
8. Hey Ho Winter’s Snow : round
9. On Sussex Hills : A
10. Life of a Man : B
11. The Fields Lie Silent : F
12. The Coppers’ Christmas Song* : B

* Last Verse – replace the word CHRISTMAS with WINTER.

John C.

Singing at Fernhurst Furnace, Sunday 15th September 2019

Have you forgotten those hot sunny days of summer? They are well past now, but we can still remember the brilliant day we had singing on the Sunday at the annual Fernhurst Furnace open weekend, a unique, historical event at the site of the old Tudor iron-works, that once made cannons for King Henry VIII’s navy.

We were over 30 strong, dressed in appropriately rustic gear, and we sang two very enthusiastic sets of songs. Firstly we sang outside the beer tent in the woods, where we were warmly applauded by the queue of folk lining up to buy their lunch at the lamb roast stall. The second set we performed in the main field in the full glare of the afternoon sun, which proved almost too hot for some of the ladies who had to retreat to the shade of the cake stall!

There was ample opportunity for us to peruse the various woodland craft activities, watch the falconry displays and marvel at the re-enactment manoeuvres performed by the members of Sir Marmaduke Rawdon's Regiment of Foote in the main arena.

This was our second year singing at the event and we hope it will not be our last. Thanks to Dave for his announcements, to Alan for conducting us and to everyone who came to sing in the choir.

Apple Day at Stanmer Park

Brighton Apple Day at Stanmer Park was, despite the weather, a huge success!

Loads of stalls with – apples! Apples to buy, apples to study and apple identification. Plus apple juice and cider. There were apple tree tours as well!

Actually it didn’t rain much and for our two singing sessions we were bunched inside a gazebo, put up especially for all singers and musicians, with chairs set out for the audience. So thoughtful.

Tina did an amazing job as leader and kept all 20 of us together – spatially and vocally. During the first 40-minute set we had some drizzle, but still an audience appeared and many stayed to watch. We sang The Bee Boy’s Song especially for Cat’s 3 year old son, Rhion, as it’s his favourite song. Rhion sat on his father's lap and quietly watched the whole first set before closing his eyes…

There was no rain for the second set and we had a really good audience plus plenty of through traffic, most of whom stayed for at least a little while. The organiser, Neil – such a nice man – thanked us all very much and has asked us back for next year. There were lots of very positive comments. I think the South Downs Folk Singers did the Apple Day proud and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, too!

Amaryllis

Local Group Report – Lewes – Tuesday 17th September 2019

Fifteen singers were at The John Harvey Tavern including our resident comedian Peter B who decided to visit us from Shoreham Beach prior to our first foray into Stanmer Park for Apple Day.

After a warm-up with West Sussex Drinking Song and Oak, Ash and Thorn, we sang through Tommie, the apple scrumping song which is sung to the tune we know as Fathom the Bowl. In the first line of the second verse we have added an “Oh!” – Those rosy-cheeked apples, oh they seemed to be – which is easier to sing. The Bee Boy’s Song, Ha’nacker Mill, Hares On The Mountain, Brisk Young Ploughboy, Sussex Wedding Song and all three verses of The Song of The Sussex Downsman completed our first half.

Tina made sure that we started on some of our winter songs: Fields Lie Silent, Seasons Turn (the Sylvia Watts song), Christmas Now is Drawing Near, the Coppers’ Christmas Song as well as the “reindeer” Yoik – Ole Leloila which will feature at the Bognor Big Sing. And there was time to run through Pleasant and Delightful, East Sussex Drinking Song and Thousands or More before 10 o’clock. Then Ray treated us to one of his poems, Season’s Turn Around – a humorous glimpse of facing the dark days of winter and its festivities!

Tommie

Use this link to download a pdf file containing the words for Tommie. We first sang Tommie at our monthly Worthing session on 4th September 2019 and it appears in the set list for our performance this month (September 2019) at the Southdowns Folk Festival.

“South Downs Folk Singers” – AGM Notice

It’s that time of year again…

Our AGM will be on Wednesday 2nd October 2019 at our Worthing venue “Ye Olde House at Home” . It will start promptly at 7.00pm to precede our usual singing session there from 8.00pm.

At the meeting the Committee Minutes file, the Constitution and the Accounts will be available to view and we will hold the annual elections for the Committee.

If you’re interested in joining the Committee or standing for election to a Committee role, please contact me as soon as possible via the SDFS email address (southdownsfolksingers@gmail.com) with your name and, if available, the names of the singers proposing and seconding you as a candidate.

Also, if you have any SDFS related issues or ideas you would like to raise for discussion at the meeting (or have represented on your behalf if you cannot attend) please let me know in advance and they can be added to the Agenda, or they can be raised under Any Other Business on the night (as far as time allows).

Hope to see you there – Henny (Chairperson)

Local Group Report – Worthing – Wednesday 4th September 2019

Our September sing began with the West Sussex Drinking Song before proceeding with a menu catering for the various events we have planned this month. We sang the Sussex Wedding Song, Ha'nacker Mill, the Brisk Young Ploughboy and Hares on the Mountain. The last of these was structured to have the men sing both the first and the second lines of the first and second verses before the women sang the third response line and all joined in with the chorus. From the third verse the women joined the men on the second 'echo' line, with the men singing more softly, then in the final verse the men added their voices to the women's in the last response line as well as in the chorus (which was repeated to conclude the song). All three verses of the Song of the Sussex Downsman were achieved before a much-needed break for refreshment. The Bee Boy's Song began our second half, followed by a rerun of the Downsman’s third verse. We took a diversion when Emily aired for us a song about apples, Tommies, discovered by Amaryllis and sung to the tune of Fathom the Bowl. Follow Me 'Ome came next and then the East Sussex Drinking Song, with the verses sung by its author Adrian and the rest of us supporting the chorus. To conclude we sang the 'Big Sing' songs again, Ole Leloila and Sing You Now After Me, before wending our way home. N.B. the evening also included a reminder that our next meeting in October will start early (7.00pm) to accommodate the business of our AGM. More details will appear on this site soon.

SDFS at Brighton Apple Day 2019

Update 20th September 2019: Set list revisions: Jolly Good Song has been added to the first set and Tommie has been added to the second set. To get the words for Tommie see this post.

Update 15th September 2019: A message from John - "Today (14/09/19) all those Singers who have to date volunteered to sing on the day have been sent instructions and a permit for free parking at the event. Any Singers who subsequently volunteer this week for the event will be provided with this facility when I reply to their emails."

Update 5th September 2019: Set lists and times have been added at the end of this post.

Stanmer Park (near Falmer)
Sunday 22nd September 2019

The Brighton Permaculture Trust's Festival helps fill this traditional theme for us this year, albeit straight after Bognor.

We will be singing two sets, appropriately in the Orchard alternately with 'Whispering Woods' and probably others.

Fourteen singers so far have volunteered for the day.

Tina has kindly volunteered to lead us so a spirited rendition, as at Firle, can be looked forward to.

Dress as Bognor sans the nautical theme.

Additional volunteers for the day please contact John C. at southdownsfolksingers@gmail.com

Organiser's website: general information   |   directions   |   poster download (pdf file)
NB Read the directions web page carefully and be aware that official parking for the general public is £10 per car. If you have put your name down to sing at this event, you will be sent further information about parking.

We have two time slots for singing, 12.45pm to 1.20pm and 3.10pm to 3.50pm.

Set 1 – 12.45pm to 1.20pm

1. Country Life
2. On Sussex Hills
3. The Bee Boy's Song
4. The Nightingale
5. Rosebuds In June
6. Twanky Dillo
7. Ha’nacker Mill
8. West Sussex Drinking Song
9. Sussex Wedding Song
10. Ale, Glorious Ale
11. Jolly Good Song

Set 2 – 3.10pm to 3.50pm

1. Pleasant & Delightful
2. Oak, Ash & Thorn
3. A Smuggler's Song
4. Tommie
5. The Magpie
6. Hares On The Mountain
7. Song Of The Sussex Downsman (three verses)
8. East Sussex Drinking Song
9. Brisk Young Ploughboy
10. Thousands Or More
11. Jolly Good Song

SDFS & SSS at Southdowns Folk Festival 2019

Update 17th September 2019: The set list has been added below. The song Tommie was sung at the last Worthing session and the words for this will be appearing here soon in a separate post.

Bognor Regis
Saturday 21st September 2019

Everything crossed that we don't have a repeat of last year's comprehensive precipitation all day, good weather really brings out the public like last weekend at Arundel and Littlehampton, and Arundel is choka this weekend in this heat! [editor's note: for this to make sense, you need to know this was written on 25th August]

Nevertheless SDFS will be filling the 12.10-12.50pm slot at the RAFA Club in Waterloo Square so no problem there. Please be there by 11.50am to arrange ourselves. Twentythree singers signed up to date.

Those singers who are also SSS will be singing at London Road Precinct South (Arcade end) 1.30-2.15pm. See the SSS website for details.

So either choose your relevant Singer theme or just come in casual greens and blues of various hues.

At around 4pm (time to be confirmed) several of the choirs taking part during the day (including SDFS and SSS) will gather at London Road Precinct South to participate in the 'Big Sing' with one song each, and then together under Emily's direction sing  the catch 'Sing You Now After Me' and the Finnish reindeer welcoming song 'Ole Leloila' in 'rounds' format.

Please wear your SDFS lanyards.

Additional volunteers for the day please contact John C. at southdownsfolksingers@gmail.com

Further details of all Festival events are on the organiser's website.


Set List

1. West Sussex Drinking Song [E]
2. The Bee Boy’s Song [G]
3. Oak, Ash & Thorn [E]
4. Tommie (Fathom the Bowl tune) [Eb]
5. On Sussex Hills [A]
6. Pleasant & Delightful [A]
7. Hares on the Mountain [Ab]
8. Hard Times of Old England [F]
9. The Magpie [B]
10. Ale, Glorious Ale [E]
11. A Smuggler’s Song [C#]
12. The Turnip Hoer [B]
13. Jolly Good Song [C]

SDFS at Fernhurst Furnace Weekend 2019

Update 12th September 2019: Information about what to wear has been revised, also the number of singers who have so far signed up.

Sunday 15th September 2019

By popular demand we will be singing on the Sunday this year in the manner of 'wandering minstrels' as last year, singing songs relevant to various activities and locations on the day. There is nothing happening in the Arena during lunch time from 12.45pm so arrive around midday to liaise with Alan and Dave, and Carla in the Furnace Tent.

Twenty-nine singers have signed up so far including Alan, Anne, David and Sue.

As the weather is forecast to be clement all day, those Singers who have suitable 'rustic' type garb are welcome to come dressed up in same, but if you haven't just come as usual in any comfortable blues and greens you have plus a lanyard if you have one.

Alan and David will be leading again, using the set lists below.

Additional volunteers for the day please contact John C. at southdownsfolksingers@gmail.com

More information on the Fernhurst Furnace website here and here.

Set 1

1. Country Life
2. Ale, Glorious Ale
3. The Brisk Young Ploughboy
4. The Bee Boy's Song
5. Follow Me 'Ome (if enough men)
6. The Magpie (if enough women)
7. The Woodcutter's Song
8. West Sussex Drinking Song

Set 2

1. Twanky Dillo
2. Thousands or More
3. The Turnip Hoer (if enough men)
4. Song of the Sussex Downsman
5. Rosebuds in June
6. On Sussex Hills
7. Oak, Ash and Thorn
8. Pleasant and Delightful

In addtion we may sing relevant songs by various displays e.g. Twanky Dillo by the blacksmith.

Songs for the Big Sing 2019

Use this link to download a pdf file containing words for two of the songs we will be singing together at the Big Sing in Bognor (part of the Southdowns Folk Festival) on Saturday 21st September 2019.

Ole leloila

Ole leloila
Ole leloila
Ole leloila
Ole le loi le loila

Sing You Now After Me

Sing you now after me,
And as I sing sing ye,
So shall we well agree,
Five parts in unity,
Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong, ding dong, bell!

Local Group Report – Lewes – Tuesday 20th August 2019

Thirteen singers gathered in The John Harvey Tavern despite so many regulars being on holiday, but we were joined by Guy and Zoe and her Spaniel “Genie”, who was absolute magic and had no objection to us barking out 17 songs.

As usual, Tina had prepared well and led us through a mixture of songs starting with one of our oldest, Rosebuds in June, then The Nightingale, Ale, Glorious Ale and Oh, Good Ale, three newish ones Searching for Lambs, The Turtle Dove and The Lark in the Morning. We introduced Zoe and Guy to Hilaire Belloc with one of his more sombre songs – Ha’nacker Mill. It is a long time since we aired Old Adam and Three Maidens and Tina didn’t want us to forget our WW1 repertoire so chose Home Lads Home and Ladies go Dancing. At the Bognor Southdowns Folk Festival we shall be joining other choirs for The Big Sing, so we had a go at the Ole leloila Yoik of the Reindeer herders and the Elizabethan round, Sing You After Me. That just left us to practice the two parts to Caburn Hill and The East Sussex Drinking Song, both penned by our members Dave T and Adrian F. We finished the evening with Thousands Or More and are looking forward to the Apple Day in Stanmer Park and singing the Bee Boy’s Song and The Hares on the Mountain especially for Cat’s nearly three year old son, Rhion!

Local Group Report – Chichester – Thursday 15th August 2019

On Thursday night ten of us met at the Chichester Inn to sing a song or two of our lovely Sussex folk songs.  It took us a while to get going as there was a lot of chatting, but we eventually made our way through the set list for our slot at Arundel Festival on Saturday.  Chris read out a funny story he had come across in an 1846 Worcestershire newspaper item, involving a fight over a dog.  We then invited requests for songs and sang Green Grows the Laurel and then Turtle Dove which we had learned at the Belloc, Broadwood and Beyond workshops.  Sharon and Julie sang a slightly different version of Turtle Dove which they had also learned recently. As with many a folk song, it had a different title (Ten Thousand Miles), a different tune and slightly different words!  After Stephen sang a funny ‘folk’ song from the ’50s we tried a couple of sea shanties, but got a bit muddled with Mingulay Boat Song.   We did better with John  Kanaka!

A Cotillion Public Show

Cotillion is performing its folk-show 'The Last Trip Home' in Graffham Church, The Street, Graffham, GU28 0NJ on Saturday 5th October. Doors open 6.30pm. Tunes, songs, poetry, anecdotes and a little local flavour re the change from using the ox and the horse to the engine.

Local Group Report – Worthing – Wednesday 7th August 2019

Eager to get singing we started with Pleasant and Delightful before considering the song list proposed for use at the Arundel Festival on the 17th. From this we sang The Bee Boys Song and The Magpie. Then from Emily’s list of new and not-so-new songs for us to work on we selected All Among The Barley, Hal An Tow (with no breathing allowed in the verses!) and Searching For Lambs. We also spent some time on the third verse of the Song Of The Sussex Downsman to build it to a more spritely pace. In contrast the beautiful Fields Lie Silent was enjoyed at a more gentle pace before our final song, Ole Leloila (to be sung with other singers at the “Big Sing” event in September), raised the roof a little with the energy it produced. A lively finish to another sociable evening of songs, chats and quaffing!

A Singer's Guide To Britain

Here's a link to a short series of BBC radio programmes that may interest singers.

SDFS at the Arundel Festival

Saturday 17th August 2019

Our first fully public performance was at the Arundel Festival seven years ago on the Jubilee Gardens Stage in Mill Road by the Arun bridge. Seems almost like yesterday until I look in the mirror!

Again many members will be singing as both SDFS and Secret Shore Singers, both led by Emily.

SSS will be singing between 12.45-1.15pm in Jubilee Gardens (the stage this year will be there only on the Bank Holiday Weekend), but all are welcome to join in the shanty choruses.

SDFS will be singing our song set set from 3.30pm opposite the Nineveh Chapel in Tarrant Street.

If you haven't already put your name down on the list at YOHAH or won't be there on the 7th please email me on southdownsfolksingers@gmail.com just so we have a good idea of numbers for the day (18 so far). There is no cut off date for coming if your plans change at the last knockings.

If the forecast alerts the organisers to a problem with the weather, there are plans to site us indoors.

I will be parking free in Torton Hill Road off Ford Road, but it's a 10 minute walk in and there is charged overflow parking off Station Road.

John C.

Set List:

1. Country Life [E - A]
2. Pleasant & Delightful [B]
3. The Bee Boy’s Song [G]
4. West Sussex Drinking Song [F]
5. The Magpie [B]
6. The Nightingale [B]
7. A Smuggler’s Song [C#]
8. On Sussex Hills [A]
9. Rosebuds In June [B]
10. Thousands Or More [A]
11. Jolly Good Song [B]

Local Group Report – Chichester – Thursday 18th July 2019

Nineteen singers and three very well-behaved dogs came along to our monthly sing at the Chichester Inn. People were in noticeably high spirits and there were lots of jokes and banter, especially amongst the men. Dave G chaired the proceedings and attempted to lead everyone in a stimulating variety of songs, including songs about beer, sailors, shepherds and young lovers. We warmed our voices by singing lustily songs like Gooches Beer and O Good Ale and then went on to sing the Saucy Sailor and All Around My Hat before slowing down the tempo with Searching for Lambs and Shepherd of the Downs. Then as promised months earlier we tackled the elusive third verse of the Song of the Sussex Downsman. With the aid of the music score and Keith’s excellent musical advice we were finally able to sing the whole song reasonably confidently a couple of times. Result!

After a break to refill our glasses, Alan led the assembled company in two rounds: namely Now we wish you many happy returns and Summer’s Here. Stephen A got us all to sing Valiants All, which is a version of Let No Man Steal Your Thyme and had been collected over 100 years ago in the Midhurst Workhouse. This was followed by Chris singing The Devil and the Farmer’s Wife and we all joined in with the chorus of “Lero Lero Lillibullero, Lillibullero bullen a la”. We then sang the Turtle Dove and the Loyal Lover, two tender love songs that Emily has taught us recently at the Lucy Broadwood song workshops in Worthing and Rusper. Finally we picked up the tempo again with The Lark in the Morning and finished the session by singing The Sussex Wedding Song. Thanks to everyone for coming and lending their voices; it was an excellent evening which we all enjoyed immensely. We will meet next month at 8pm at the Chichester Inn on Thursday 15th August. Hope you can join us!

Local Group Report – Lewes – Tuesday 16th July 2019

Fourteen regular singers were joined by Sally, another Jan and Jill who all live fairly locally and will probably return. Also Pauline and Dave on holiday from Staffordshire joined in for the first half and Sandria arrived during the second half.

We started with Pleasant and Delightful, Rosebuds in June and then The Sussex Wedding Song to embarrass our newly weds, Jane and Adrian, followed by Green Grow the Laurel and Hard Times of Old England before Tina guided us to our newer songs. We sang through The Birds on the Spray twice and Our Captain Cried “All Hands” was faultless on first, full attempt!

After a refreshment break, Tina suggested revisiting two of our war-related songs which are still in the repertoire but unlikely to crop up again in a set list – All Things Are Quite Silent and Follow Me ’Ome. We sang through two verses of Dave T’s Caburn Hill with both tunes harmonizing well – we hope to record a verse soon for the blog so that you can all hear it. Then The Fields Lie Silent, The Turtle Dove with its easy but effective harmony and When Spring Comes In concluded the newer songs. We persuaded Adrian to sing the verses of his East Sussex Drinking Song while we all joined in the rousing choruses. We are unlikely to change the reference to The Beechwood Hall Hotel because that was where we met the Southdown Folk Singers that we now know so well. The hoardings are still up around our old haunt – that is seven months now. We finished the evening with Thousands Or More.

Local Group Report – Worthing – Wednesday 3rd July 2019

A warm evening at "Ye Olde House at Home" saw a gathering of 30 singers enjoying a diverse selection of songs to hear and try. After launching with Thousands or More we took time to revisit a couple of songs not sung for a while, The Fields Lie Silent and All Among the Barley, with agreement to polish these for use at events later in the year. Emily then introduced a change of mood and pace with the first of the two pieces chosen for the SDFS to contribute to the “Big Sing” at the Southdowns Folk Festival in September, not a South Downs but a Sami song or “Yoik” from Finland, Ole leloila. Once we had picked it up as a group we extended the fun by singing it in multiple parts, a challenge but making a wonderful noise! After the break Dave W. brought us back to the UK with his solo rendition of The Green Man, leading many to suggest we should have a Green Man song, possibly this version, in our repertoire. Alan and Anne sang The White Cockade again which everyone enjoyed, before we moved on to the second of the "Big Sing” choices, another round or catch, Sing You Now After Me. Although not chosen from or for our usual SDFS repertoire they are great to sing and we hope they will go well at the folk festival after some more work on them before September. Following these vocal challenges we were “weary labourers” so chose to sing Rolling Home to conclude our lively evening. Looking forward to more work, and fun, at our next gathering in August!

Local Group Report – Lewes – Tuesday 18th June 2019

It is probably an advantage that Emily was running the Secret Shore project rehearsal in Worthing on the same night as our session because more than 16 round the tables gets rather too cosy.

It is good to have Cat back with us and, this month, Ruth joined us; both have confident folk-singing voices. We send our congratulations and best wishes to Adrian and Jane who got married recently and are enjoying a mini Honeymoon in Rye – well out of range of the South Downs.

Again, Tina planned a balanced evening starting with Country Life, On Sussex Hills, West Sussex Drinking Song and The Magpie then spending a little longer on three new songs interspersed with well-rehearsed favourites. We soon got the tunes to the Copper’s The Birds on the Spray and When Spring Comes In and even Our Captain Cried, All Hands with the To Be A Pilgrim twister melody and this month tackled the lower harmony to The Turtle Dove as well. Other songs were Song of The Sussex Downsman, Pleasant and Delightful, Hard Times of Old England, Rosebuds in June, The Bee Boy’s Song, A Smuggler’s Song, The Turmut Hoer finishing with Thousands Or More.

Local Group Report – Chichester – Thursday 20th June 2019

‘Twelve good men and women and true’ met in the Chichester Arms to further the maintenance of the local folk-song tradition. Only two canines were registered as present on this occasion.

Alan was officiating and managed to keep order for most of the time.

In order to ensure that we would be at our best for the following Sunday’s performance at the Weald and Downland Museum we practised a number of songs from the gig-list. We concentrated on those numbers that it was felt were sometimes our Achilles heel such as The Song of the Sussex Downsman and The Beeboy’s Song. Then we attended to others in the list and a few more that were nominated as being of either some difficulty or that could be sung in gusto or with joyous enthusiasm.

A lively linguistic discussion was continued into the use of auxiliary verbs shall and will. When to use which as a simple future or a more determined action to be? A rather practical approach was proposed as a useful ‘cop-out’ when in doubt i.e. the use of I’ll or he’ll etc.

We had another bash at Our Captain Cried All Hands and tried another song that could be used as an alternative to Rolling Home before wending our ways homeward. This was Come Stranger Come Friend. This rather lovely but partly sad song was a favourite of the well-known East Sussex folk singer and accordion player Ron Spicer, and of his father George before him.

As the new number was still awaiting a state of perfection we left, as oft times before, to the roaring of Rolling home.

Editor’s note: For those concerned about the use of shall and will I suggest using the following links:
https://www.lexico.com/en/grammar/shall-or-will
https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/shall
https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-modals_shall-will.htm
https://www.grammar-monster.com/easily_confused/shall_will.htm

SDFS at W&DLM Historic Life Weekend: Midsummer and Plant Lore

Update 19th June 2019: Please note we are now meeting at the earlier time of 10.30am, this is to allow singers to join the tour which starts at 11.30am if they wish to do so.

Update 18th June 2019: The set lists have been added below.

Sunday 23rd June 2019
Weald & Downland Living Museum, Singleton, PO18 0EU

Organiser's web pages:
Historic Life Weekend: Midsummer & Plant Lore
Programme for Sunday 23 June (pdf file)
Map (pdf file)

Apologies for the lateness of these details, those of you who have already contacted me are on the entry list.

We will be assembling at North Cray (by the Market Square) at 11.00am 10.30am to sing there at 11.30am 10.45am or depending on the weather by the Mill Pond. Then again after 2.00pm at that or another location.

Emily will be selecting songs from the two sets that we sang at the Stansted Garden Show.

Entry is by named list but please wear your lanyards if you have them, if you wish to wear sprays of flowers in your apparel please do, or a turnip or two!

To have your name on the list for free entry please email me at southdownsfolksingers@gmail.com as usual.

Many thanks,

John C.


Here are the two set lists:

Set 1

1. Oak, Ash & Thorn [F]
2. The Nightingale [A]
3. Rosebuds In June [B]
4. West Sussex Drinking Song [F]
5. The Magpie [B]
6. Twanky Dillo [G]
7. Hard Times Of Old England [F]
8. On Sussex Hills [A]
9. Life Of A Man [B]
10. The Turnip Hoer [B]

Set 2

1. Country Life [E – A]
2. The Bee Boy's Song [G]
3. Pleasant & Delightful [B]
4. A Smuggler’s Song [C#]
5. Fathom The Bowl [D#]
6. Song Of The Sussex Downsman [D#]
7. Jim The Carter Lad [C#]
8. Hares On The Mountain [F#]
9. Thousands Or More [A]
10. Ale, Glorious Ale [E]
11. Jolly Good Song [B]

Local Group Report – Worthing – Wednesday 5th June 2019

Forty of us gathered for this month’s session. Chris H joined us for a while and started the singing with a solo performance of a song written by a local man in celebration of his social life and his drinking at “Ye Olde House at Home”! From there we went on to revisit the Maytime songs used at Michelham Priory (Hal an Tow, the May Day Carol and It is the First of May), and thereafter to run through some of the songs in the set planned for our next event at Stansted Park on Sunday (The Bee Boy’s Song; Ladies Go Dancing At Whitsun; Song of the Sussex Downsman and Hares on the Mountain). After a break Emily shared with us suggestions received from colleagues in Lewes and Chichester for songs we could introduce or revive for more regular use and possible performance at events. From these one not yet tried by us, The White Cockade, was sung by Alan and Anne, then Dave G led on When Spring Comes, already known to some from the Lewes and Chichester sessions. Littlehampton Colliers and Brave Eleven, also already known by a few singers from the Lewes sessions or from the Secret Shore singers repertoire, were discussed, but singing time was given instead to revive Jim the Carter Lad, Lark in the Morning and Searching for Lambs being songs already known to most of us. Thanks to all for their contributions to another good evening of song.

Local Group Report – Lewes – Tuesday 21st May 2019

Eleven singers arrived at The John Harvey Tavern for another evening of old songs. There was a quiz night taking place in the large room upstairs so I hope we didn’t give away any big clues!! Tina had planned to run through any Stanstead Garden Show set list songs that the group fancied airing and also told us of the six songs that the planning group had agreed upon for the coming year. Not surprisingly, the three May songs that were added at the last minute to our most recent performances, can now be rehearsed and learned confidently for May 2020! Even if they sound Cornish rather than Sussex, they certainly have been played and sung by local Morris sides! Our very own Caburn Hill and Brighton Camp are to be included, Birds on the Spray, The Turtle Dove (from Rusper)and also Our Captain Cried All Hands which was heard, recorded and modified somewhat by Vaughan Williams to create the tune for To Be A Pilgrim! Those who already know this hymn will find it awkward at first because the original tune leaps from the first line to the third which is then repeated before finishing with the usual fourth line.

So we sang through Pleasant and Delightful, Bee Boy’s Song, Rosebuds in June, The Mayday Carol, Hares on the Mountain, Song of The Sussex Downsman, Birds on the Spray, The Turtle Dove, Magpie, It Is The First Of May, Our Captain Cried All Hands, Hal an Tow, The Nightingale, Oak, Ash and Thorn, Brisk Young Ploughboy, East Sussex Drinking Song, finishing with Thousands Or More.

Local Group Report – Chichester – Thursday 16th May 2019

A small but lively group of 11 singers gathered to lift their voices and drink their beers. A new member, Bob the Dog, attended to join Stanley and  Buster in the ever-expanding canine component of folk singers.

Alan was in the chair for the evening and started the proceedings by reintroducing the birthday round to celebrate Buster’s birthday. ‘Buster we wish you many happy returns and the best of love on your day of birth’.

Seasonal songs are often our weakest as they are sung relatively few times during the year. Thus, we spent some time practising some of our May songs in an attempt to lodge them more firmly in our long term memories. Hal and Tow, It is the First of May, The May Day Carol, Searching for Lambs. Then we moved on to some songs that we felt were falling by the wayside but we enjoyed. The Sussex Wedding Song, The Constant Lovers, Our Captain Cried all Hands, Saucy Sailor, Old Adam. Then a few favourites such as Ladies go Dancing at Whitsun  (well it soon will be).

At Chichester we like to try songs that members bring to the table; not necessarily to introduce them to the central home in Worthing, but to sing and perhaps learn them for our own pleasure and fun.

Alan and Anne brought along a rousing song that is sung by folkies widely across the UK. Many versions can be heard. This particular version was taken from a book published in 1885. ‘A Collection of Ballads as Sung by The Peasantry of England’. The White Cockade. The group spent some time learning the melody and the interaction of voices in the refrains.  

Lynn introduced us to a rather lovely May Song that we might consider for next year, Singing in the May.

The evening finished with our local signature song, Rolling Home. Then that is what we did!

Local Group Report – Worthing – Wednesday 1st May 2019

May Day was duly celebrated in song at this month’s session with seasonal songs Hal an Tow, It is the First of May and the May Day Carol – and it was agreed to add these to the set planned for our performance at Michelham Priory on 5th May. The evening also included a Maytime song from Alan and Anne, and Emily’s noble rendition of The Fine Old English Gentleman. The latter being a song brought to her and our attention by Leigh, who shared with us its history and her family connection with the May Day celebrations in Petworth. In addition to these pleasures, we returned to the Michelham set and chose the Bee Boys Song, the Brisk Young Ploughboy, the Song of the Sussex Downsman and Hares on the Mountain to enjoy and to polish for the 5th. Meeting and greeting, notices and refreshments otherwise filled another sociable evening. So same time, same place, hope to see you again at Ye Olde House at Home on 5th June.

SDFS at The Garden Show at Stansted Park, Rowlands Castle

Update 4th June 2019: There has been one small change to the first set list. The third song, which was previously Rosebuds In June, is now Dancing At Whitsun.

Update 3rd June 2019: With regard to times for singing, they will be at the same provisional times as Firle i.e. 12.30pm and 2.30pm, to be confirmed on arrival on the day with Jane who organises it, meet by St Paul's Chapel by 12.00 noon.

Update 30th May 2019: The two set lists have been added below.

Sunday 9th June 2019
The Garden Show at Stansted Park, Rowlands Castle, Hants, PO9 6DX

We have been invited to sing a couple of song sets at this increasingly popular event which this year supports the community charity CancerWise.

There will be the usual two 35-minute song sets with preamble which will be held undercover if the weather proves inclement, but it was sunny and dry last year, so fingers crossed, otherwise outside at a site/s of our choosing when Jane gives me an update on the layout due to the increased number of stalls this year.

Entry will be by pre-issued pass, so please contact me by email southdownsfolksingers@gmail.com  by the cut off date below to show your intention of volunteering on the day to sing, so that these can be distributed at the Worthing meeting on 5th June. Members of the Chichester and Lewes meetings attending on that date can collect passes for their respective Singers, or let me know their names by the cut off date below and I can mail them out to each meeting organiser respectively for collection.

Cut-off date for volunteers, so I can give Jane the number of passes we will need, is 20th May. Please also wear your lanyards on the day for easy identification.

Apparel will be dictated by the weather but greens, blues, shades of cream/light yellow as usual if you have them please.

Song sets content and timings to be posted here as they become available.

John C.


Here are the two set lists:

Set 1

1. Oak, Ash & Thorn [E]
2. The Nightingale [A]
3. Dancing At Whitsun [Bb]
4. West Sussex Drinking Song [F]
5. The Magpie [B]
6. Twanky Dillo [G]
7. Hard Times Of Old England [F]
8. On Sussex Hills [A]
9. Life Of A Man [B]
10. The Turnip Hoer [B]

Set 2

1. Country Life [Eb - Ab]
2. The Bee Boy's Song [G]
3. Pleasant & Delightful [A]
4. A Smuggler's Song [C#]
5. Fathom The Bowl [D#]
6. Song Of The Sussex Downsman [C#]
7. Rosebuds In June [B]
8. Hares On The Mountain [G]
9. Thousands Or More [A]
10. Ale, Glorious Ale [E]
11. Jolly Good Song [C]

Three Songs for May

These three songs are added to our repertoire for singing at Michelham Priory on 5th May 2019. Use the links below to download the lyrics:
Hal an Tow
It Is The First Of May
May Day Carol

If you will be singing at Michelham Priory, please see the updates to the set lists.

Horsham’s Great British Festival Day

Update 11th May 2019: For any singers who were thinking of turning up on the day, I have just learned that we will not be singing at this event.
Keith D

Sunday 12th May 2019

We have been asked again to support the Horsham Folk Club's fund raising efforts for the Samaritans on this day.

It would involve two song sets, one on the Bandstand between other music performers and one in the Amphitheatre between circus skills slots.

Alan W has kindly offered to lead on the day.

Given the late notice I need to establish whether I can confirm our participation in their event to determine if their will  be enough of us to achieve  a viable group in a busy environment.

If you can support it please let me know at southdownsfolksingers@gmail.com

For more details of the event see the organiser's website.

John C.

SDFS at Michelham Priory's Diamond Anniversary Party

Update 3rd May 2019: Please note three songs in the set lists have been changed, here are the new lists:

Set 1

1. Country Life [Eb - Ab]
2. On Sussex Hills [A]
3. The Bee Boy's Song [G]
4. The Nightingale [A]
5. May Day Carol [G]
6. Rosebuds In June [B]
7. Twanky Dillo [G]
8. West Sussex Drinking Song [F]
9. Hares On The Mountain
10. Ale, Glorious Ale [E]

Set 2

1. Oak, Ash & Thorn [E]
2. Pleasant & Delightful [A]
3. The Magpie [B]
4. Song Of The Sussex Downsman [C#]
5. Brisk Young Ploughboy [C]
6. East Sussex Drinking Song [F]
7. It Is The First Of May [D-G]
8. A Smuggler's Song [C#]
9. Thousands Or More [A]
10. Hal an Tow [F#]
11. Jolly Good Song

Words for the three new songs that have been added can be found in this post.

Sunday 5th May 2019

Apologies for the lateness of the post as I was awaiting the times for our sets. I have 14 volunteers so far for this event, with Emily leading.

We will be singing outside if the weather is clement or inside in the good acoustics of the Prior's Room (1st set) and in the Tithe Barn (2nd set) if inclement.

The two song sets will be the same as for the Firle Garden Show but sung at midday and 2.30pm with performances in-between by a choir singing 1950s period songs.

I'll be at the gatehouse from 11.00am to tick names off the list, but if you have SDFS lanyards do wear them thereby easing identification, especially as it helps the staff on the gate if you want to go back out to your car in the interim.

John C.


The set lists will be as below.

Set 1

1. Country Life [Eb - Ab]
2. On Sussex Hills [A]
3. The Bee Boy's Song [G]
4. The Nightingale [A]
5. Fathom The Bowl [D#] May Day Carol [G]
6. Rosebuds In June [B]
7. Twanky Dillo [G]
8. West Sussex Drinking Song [F]
9. Hares On The Mountain
10. Ale, Glorious Ale [E]

Set 2

1. Oak, Ash & Thorn [E]
2. Pleasant & Delightful [A]
3. The Magpie [B]
4. Song Of The Sussex Downsman [C#]
5. Brisk Young Ploughboy [C]
6. East Sussex Drinking Song [F]
7. Green Grow The Laurel [G] It Is The First Of May [D-G]
8. A Smuggler's Song [C#]
9. Thousands Or More [A]
10. Turnip Hoer [B] Hal an Tow [F#]
11. Jolly Good Song

Local Group Report – Chichester – Thursday 18th April 2019

It was Maundy Thursday and people were already in Easter holiday mode. Nineteen singers came to the Chichester Inn with a mind to “sing in the Spring”, which is exactly what we did. We began with some of the songs planned for Sunday’s event at the Garden Show at Firle Place, namely Country Life, the Bee Boy’s Song, Hares on the Mountain, Brisk Young Ploughboy and Green Grow the Laurel. We were singing so well that some of the pub’s customers showed an interest in our group as they made their way out into the Beer Garden and said how much they enjoyed hearing our songs. Encouraged by this we began to sing songs pertaining to the season, starting off with the traditional On One April Morning, which immediately prompted us to sing All Around My Hat which shares a similar tune. After the interval we sang the Lark in the Morning, Pleasant and Delightful and Drink Me Brave Boys and Alan got us all to sing his new round: Summer’s Near. Then there were requests from around the room for some “May Day” songs, so we sang the May Day Carol, Good Morning Lords and Ladies and Dave Webber's May Song and we finished up with a rousing rendition of Hal-an-Tow. Special thanks must go to Julie T and Dave G for supplying the words to many of these seasonal songs. It was a most enjoyable evening. We hope to see you all next month at the Chichester Inn on Thursday 16th May when once again we will have fun singing songs old and new that connect us with our beautiful county of Sussex!

Local Group Report – Lewes – Tuesday 16th April 2019

Another pleasant and delightful evening spent in song at The John Harvey Tavern. Fourteen of us worked through most of the songs from the Firle Garden Show set list except for Brisk Young Ploughboy, Country Life, West Sussex Drinking Song and Ale, Glorious Ale which we had run through last month.

So the evening consisted of A Smuggler’s Song, The Turmut Hoer, Green Grow The Laurel, The Bee Boy’s Song, Twanky Dillo, Hares on the Mountain, Song of The Sussex Downsman, The Magpie, Oak, Ash and Thorn, Rosebuds in June, On Sussex Hills, Pleasant and Delightful, Fathom the Bowl and The Nightingale, but Tina also introduced us to the Copper’s song Birds in The Spring which she sang and explained the two minor changes that she, Emily and David had agreed.

During the second half of the evening Tina also sang The Turtle Dove which was collected from the landlord of The Plough Inn at Rusper and now is part of the Belloc, Broadwood and Beyond workshops list. We did well to learn the tune and the words without written sheets and it shouldn’t take long for the whole group to master and include The Turtle Dove in our performance repertoire. We aired Jolly Good Song with its before-the-watershed words and its final Golier for the benefit of our newest recruits and then finished with Thousands Or More.

Local Group Report – Worthing – Wednesday 3rd April 2019

Country Life launched us for another evening of meeting, greeting and song. Polishing of songs ready for the Firle event followed, with Hares on the Mountain, The Bee Boys Song, The Magpie and The Song of the Sussex Downsman chosen for extra attention. After a break for refreshment refills and more chat we continued with The Brave Ploughboy and the West Sussex Drinking Song (with the additional verses written for us separately by SDFS members Alan and Adrian). Jolly Good Song was also given a polish – with the change to giving the old beggar a drink again recommended for public use! Emily queried our opinions on a few other songs, some of which we have not often used at our Worthing sessions. With time short we selected Searching For Lambs to sing this evening and agreed to revisit others at future sessions. Last but not least Pleasant and Delightful was requested to close our singing before clearing glasses and heading home.

Local Group Report – Chichester – Thursday 21st March 2019

We were all in very good voice at our monthly group meeting on Thursday evening. Nineteen singers came along to sing a dozen stirring folk songs in the music room of the Chichester Inn in West Street Chichester. Facing each other around the tables we discussed the fiasco that is Brexit and then decided to sing a couple of songs that make us proud to be English, namely Hard Times of Old England and Fathom the Bowl. We raised the roof with a lusty version of Twanky Dillow followed by a more sensitive rendition of Hares on the Mountain. Then we revisited a couple more of our favourite drinking songs Ale Glorious Ale and Oh Good Ale. With Keith’s expert encouragement and access to some music scores, we finished up the first half singing both verses that we know of the Song of the Sussex Downsman. This song is beginning to sound really good; now we must knuckle down and learn the final verse and chorus!

After a break to chat and re-fill our glasses, Alan led us in singing Our Captain Cried All Hands, a great new song from Sussex that we are learning, and Dave got us all to sing When Spring Comes In, a seasonal ditty from the Copper Family Songbook. Someone suggested we should sing The Cuckoo but no-one could remember the tune, so we’ve earmarked this song to re-learn on another occasion. We sang the pressgang lament All Things Are Quite Silent and after this there was time for just two more songs, so we sang Brisk Young Ploughboy and finished up with the lovely Searching for Lambs. It was a pleasant evening of pastime and good company. If you like singing, you must come along to our next local group sing on Thursday 18th April at 8.00pm at the Chichester Inn. You will be made most welcome!

Song of the Sussex Downsman

Here is a reformatted version of the score for Song of the Sussex Downsman, intended to be easier to read for singers who may not be accustomed to reading music. If you have never read music, with a little explanation (which we can cover when we next sing this together) there is useful information that you can pick up very quickly, to ease the learning process for this song. There's also a piano recording of all three verses. The words and notes are unchanged from those given in the previous post for this song.

Download score pdf

Download mp3 (pitch as on the score)

Download mp3 (lower pitch, as we may sing it)

The original score for this song is marked allegro, meaning fast and bright. The mp3 files here are recorded at 115bpm (beats per minute) which is about the bare minimum (or even a little too slow) to qualify as allegro.

Hares On The Mountain

Here you can download the lyrics for Hares On The Mountain (pdf file).

You can listen to the melody in this post.

The Turtle Dove Pilgrimage

Singers may be interested in a BBC Radio 4 programme which was broadcast on 14th March 2019, The Turtle Dove Pilgrimage. This is described as "A pilgrimage across Sussex tracing the origins of the iconic song The Turtle Dove." This song is being taught at the current Belloc, Broadwood and Beyond Song Workshops and it was also introduced at the most recent Worthing session.

It can be heard on the BBC website here (not sure how long this will be available), where you will also find links to further programme information. You may also be interested in the following links which are associated with the programme:

https://soundcloud.com/voice/turtle-dove-pilgrimage A recording of the BBC broadcast on the SoundCloud website. If you are unable to listen on the BBC website, you may be able to listen here instead.

http://thenestcollective.co.uk/turtledovepilgrimage/ A detailed written description of the pilgrimage.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/turtle-dove-pilgrimage-tickets-53093862171 Website for booking a place on this year's pilgrimage (now sold out).

https://britishpilgrimage.org/ Website of the British Pilgrimage Trust which organises The Turtle Dove Pilgrimage and others.

Local Group Report – Lewes – Tuesday 19th March 2019

Tonight at The John Harvey Tavern, nineteen of us squashed into the pub’s small downstairs dining room. It was lovely to have Cat back singing with us – it is nearly two and a half years since Rhion was born – and she still remembers all the lyrics! Another pleasant surprise was that Maggie brought along her friend Bonnie who sings with Anne and Alan in Cotillion.

Tina had the set list for the Firle Garden Show so we were able to work through almost all of it; Country Life, On Sussex Hills, Bee Boy’s Song, The Nightingale, Fathom the Bowl, Rosebuds in June, Twanky Dillo, West Sussex Drinking Song, spending a little more time on Hares on the Mountain with both first and second verses and putting the hares on the mountain and the sheep on the common! Ale Glorious Ale, Oak Ash and Thorn, Pleasant and Delightful, The Magpie, before we worked through all the verses in Song of The Sussex Downsman and also Brisk Young Ploughboy, omitting the second verse which is about the morning and horses. Then we gave time to sing both tunes and all verses for Caburn Hill, before finishing with The East Sussex Drinking Song and Thousands Or More!

Local Group Report – Worthing – Wednesday 6th March 2019

We had another full house at this month’s gathering and welcomed three new singers to the fold. Having no performances in March to prepare for left us free to sing whatever songs from our repertoire we fancied, plus the chance to hear and sing a couple of new things. Fathom the Bowl started our singing before we heard and tried an alternative version of Happy Birthday to You, brought to us by Alan and now available for celebratory use at future sessions whenever needed! We went on to a number of songs learned by some at the early song project workshops. It was a pleasure to revisit the lesser-used ones from those times: Three Maidens, The Sussex Wedding Song, Green Grow the Laurel, Cruel Mother and Oh Good Ale, and to sing again some favourites, Thousands or More, Rosebuds in June and the Song of the Sussex Downsman (with Keith ably leading us through the second verse). After a break we resumed to the rising buzz of the Bee Boys Song before turning our attention to a new song, The Turtle Dove, as requested by singers who knew and liked it from the current Belloc and Broadwood Song Workshops. With agreement to revisit and learn it at future sessions, and hopefully to add it to our set, we then returned to some more old favourites: A Smuggler's Song, Country Life and Ebernoe Horn Fair to finish.

SDFS at The Garden Show at Firle Place

Update 15th April 2019: Please gather at or in (weather dependant) the Old Riding Stables, Firle at 11.30am to be briefed on where we will be singing the two sets at 12.30pm and 2.30pm. The show gates are open from 10.00am.

Update 22nd March 2019: Use this link to download an information sheet with details of what will be going on at this year's Garden Show at Firle Place.

John writes:

Sadly Firle House is closed this year for renovations, but there is always the possibility of future years.

We are hoping of course the weather will be clement so we would be able to sing in the gardens, if not St Peter’s Church is willing to house us as is the Old Georgian Riding School where we have Firle Arts & Craft Market and a little cafe.

I'll get there around 10.00 - 10.30am to liaise with Jane when it opens, the earliest we might be singing would probably be midday but I will confirm nearer the date.

The cut off date for volunteers is now 28th March.

Update 19th March 2019: The set lists have been added below.

Easter Sunday 21st April 2019
The Garden Show at Firle Place, Firle, East Sussex BN8 6NS

We have been invited to sing a couple of song sets at this increasingly popular event which this year supports the community charity Hands of Hope

There will be the usual two 35-minute song sets with preamble which will be held in Firle Church if the weather proves inclement, but it was sunny and dry last year, so fingers crossed, otherwise outside at a site/s of our choosing when Jane gives me an update on the layout due to the increased number of stalls this year.

Entry will be by pre-issued pass, so please contact me by email southdownsfolksingers@gmail.com  or come and put your name on the event list at the next YOHAH to show your intention of volunteering on the day to sing. So I can pass these out at the Worthing meeting on 3rd April. Members of the Chi. & Lewes meetings attending on that date can collect passes for their respective Singers.

Cut-off date for volunteers, so I can give Jane the number of passes we will need, is 28th March. Please also wear your lanyards on the day for easy identification.

Apparel will be dictated by the weather but greens, blues, shades of cream/light yellow as usual if you have them.

John C.


The set lists will be as below.

Set 1

1. Country Life [Eb - Ab]
2. On Sussex Hills [A]
3. The Bee Boy's Song [G]
4. The Nightingale [A]
5. Fathom The Bowl [D#]
6. Rosebuds In June [B]
7. Twanky Dillo [G]
8. West Sussex Drinking Song [F]
9. Hares On The Mountain
10. Ale, Glorious Ale [E]

Set 2

1. Oak, Ash & Thorn [E]
2. Pleasant & Delightful [A]
3. The Magpie [B]
4. Song Of The Sussex Downsman [C#]
5. Brisk Young Ploughboy [C]
6. East Sussex Drinking Song [F]
7. Green Grow The Laurel [G]
8. A Smuggler's Song [C#]
9. Thousands Or More [A]
10. Turnip Hoer [B]
11. Jolly Good Song

Our Captain Cried All Hands

Alan introduced us to this song at our last Worthing session. Vaughan Williams collected this in the village of Monk's Gate, near Horsham, and then adapted the tune for the hymn To Be A Pilgrim, which many of us will have heard. Here's a short extract from Andrew Gant's book "O Sing Unto the Lord: A History of English Church Music":

But a fascinating detail emerges from comparing the hymn tune, which they called 'Monk's Gate', with the original folk-song. 'Monk's Gate' repeats its first line, like many hymn tunes. But in the original song it is the second line, not the first, which is repeated - more irregular, but more fun. Vaughan Williams has smoothed it out. He was perfectly unapologetic about this sort of thing: folk-song was a living, oral tradition, and tunes changed between versions, or 'variants', as he called them, from one village to the next. His version is just one more 'variant'.

Download mp3

Download lyrics pdf

Local Group Report – Chichester – Thursday 21st February 2019

The worry was that not too many members might arrive on a damp February evening at the Chichester Inn to join us for our monthly meeting, but happily all our stalwart singers and supporters turned up and we had a really good sing! Dave began by saying that, as we don’t have an event on the cards until the summer, we might think about singing songs that we rarely practise or even possibly try out some new songs. So we warmed up by singing Pleasant and Delightful and followed this with a hearty rendition of Drink Old England Dry. We then practised the Coppers’ song O Good Ale which seemed to go down very well. We sang The Saucy Sailor and the beautiful Searching for Lambs, which has to be one of our favourite songs, and then had another go at singing To be a Farmer’s Boy. After an interval to have another drink and socialise, Alan taught us two new rounds. One was a novel way of wishing someone Many Happy Returns in song and the other was a lovely round he had co-written himself called Summer’s Near. It goes like this: “Rambling, rolling Downs in Spring; swallows soar, the harebells ring; soft blows the wind, bright shines the sun; Summer’s near and Winter’s done”. This immediately prompted Stephen to sing us a local song – The Four Seasons of the Year – collected in 1901 by WP Merrick from Henry Hills of Lodsworth. We will definitely look into learning this one. Dave followed this by looking forward to Easter and getting everyone to sing The Pace-Egging Song. Finally to finish off the evening Keith helped us once more to sing Arthur Beckett’s rousing Song of the Sussex Downsman with the correct phrasing and scansion. We really do love this song! All in all it was a very enjoyable evening. Our next group sing will be on Thursday 21st March at 8.00pm at the Chichester Inn in West Street, Chichester. Do join us if you can.

The Petworth Society Christmas Evening – a review

Singers may be interested to see this review, published in the Petworth Magazine, of our performance for the Petworth Society on 12th December 2018. Thanks to Leigh for sending this in.

Click on the images to enlarge them.