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