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.