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!
Welcome to our website for singers who want to learn and sing traditional and new South Downs folk songs, sung in the traditional way. "Put another barrel on, landlord, and pull a pint for me! The ale here in Sussex is the best we all agree!"
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