Ostara 2017

Here is another opportunity to sing and share our songs – at this year’s “Ostara” celebration of the Spring, hosted by the Worthing Downlanders on 2nd April, for further details go to www.worthingdownlanders.org.uk/ostara.htm  If enough SDFS voices are together at the event we could contribute a few of our songs as a group, choosing whatever we like on the day.  This is not a formal event and there is no fixed programme, but if you’d like to join in be there by 3-3.30 pm with some song choices in mind, and we’ll give it a go! (For more information or to confirm you will be attending, contact Henny via the SDFS email.)

Local Group Report – Chichester – Thursday 16th March 2017

Sixteen singers arrived for the first official Chichester group session at The Chichester Inn last Thursday. We welcomed newcomers Lyn and Chris and started off the evening with Rosebuds in June, Three Maidens, and Sussex Wedding Song. We looked at singing some appropriate songs for the first SDFS event of the year at the Food and Folk Festival so included The Turnip Hoer, Rolling in the Dew, The Nightingale Song, Where Stormy Winds Do Blow, Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun and Country Life. At the request of our newer members who didn't know them, we sang the two Kipling songs: A Smuggler’s Song and Oak, Ash and Thorn. In between we jollied up the evening with Ale, Glorious Ale, Gooch's Beer, Twanky Dillow, West Sussex Drinking Song and finished off the evening with Rolling Home before doing just that!

Edward Thomas song workshop

(NB - This is NOT about a South Downs Folk Singers event, but posted for your interest and information)

An outdoor singing workshop “Singing in the Spirit of Edward Thomas” is being held on Sunday 9th April 2017 from 2 - 5pm during a day of events to commemorate the centenary of this poet’s death in WW1.

It starts at Steep Village Hall and continues with a walk into the local Hampshire countryside.  For more information and tickets go to www.ticketsource.co.uk/southdownspoetryfestival

This is the information provided by the organiser:

SINGING IN THE SPIRIT OF EDWARD THOMAS
AN OUTDOOR SINGING WORKSHOP IN STEEP VILLAGE WITH REBECCA ASKEW

The writer Edward Thomas was a compulsive walker, he found “deepest ease and joy out of doors”. He was also a keen singer, preferring a folk song “...to Beethoven”. He edited a volume of poems and songs for the open air and many of his poems were influenced by music or song in some way. As part of a day of events to commemorate the centenary of his death in WW1, Rebecca will lead a session singing folk songs, rounds and simple part songs inspired by his work. It starts in Steep Village Hall and continues with a walk out into the village and beyond, stopping at suitable points to sing in the beautiful surroundings of the Hampshire countryside. Come and commemorate the writer’s life by doing two of the things he loved!

2-5pm. £10/£5 under 18s

For more information visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/southdownspoetryfestival

Local Group Report – Worthing – Wednesday 1st March 2017

We started our singing with some favourites, Pleasant and Delightful, Rosebuds in June and then Thousands or More, before working on The Farmer’s Toast, Jim the Carter Lad and Follow Me Home. After having heard it sung at our Wassail in January, we then tried and enjoyed a song known to some but not all of us - The Brisk Young Ploughboy. (It was suggested that, if also liked by our Lewes and Chichester colleagues, we could in due course consider adding this one to our SDFS repertoire.) We continued with a mixture of songs by request - Eileen Aroon and Poor Froze-Out Gardeners before a well earned break, and then Sussex Hills, Drink Me Brave Boys and Ha’nacker Mill, before finishing in more spring-like mood with a cheery rendition of Country Life. Many thanks again to Emily and Alan, our song leads for the evening.

Local Group Report – Lewes – Tuesday 21st February 2017

We were a select group of seven who met at The John Harvey Tavern. At last we were able to present a seasonal gift to Tina as a thank you for all her hard work that makes our meetings so fruitful and enjoyable. We started singing with a boisterous Country Life, continuing with Where Stormy Winds Do Blow, Farmer’s Toast, Ha’nacker Mill, The Turmut Hoer, The Woodcutter’s Song, Pleasant and Delightful, The Magpie and Constant Lovers.

In the break we discussed the two short sets that we might sing at The Star, Alfriston, in June – most will be from the selection above. During the second half we needed to work on They Won’t Let Us Go To Sea Anymore and Seasons Turn, but generally the songs like Oak, Ash and Thorn, Poor Froze-Out Gardeners, A Smuggler’s Song and Thousands or More flowed easily as there were no new people to accommodate. Penultimately, we attempted Adrian’s East Sussex Drinking Song but now, as recent research reveals, we have to sing that Lewes once had nine breweries – eight more than they do now!

Local Group Report – Chichester – Thursday 16th February 2017

The recently renamed Chichester Group contingent of the South Downs Folk Singers goes from strength to strength. We started out five years ago calling ourselves the Easebourne Group and singing together once a month in the White Horse Inn near Midhurst. We then in the interim made our home in the Three Moles at Selham. However now the consensus of opinion is that we should relocate permanently on the third Thursday of every month to the Chichester Inn in West Street, Chichester, where we have a good acoustic for singing, plenty of space to welcome new members and a genuine warm welcome from Nick the landlord. And there’s ample free parking in the car park over the road (just under the city walls).

Last night 19 of us met to socialise and sing a jolly selection of 14 mainly traditional songs celebrating all things to do with life, love, drinking and our lovely Sussex hills. We welcomed two new members, Jo and Corrin, who joined in with the singing even though most of the songs were completely new to them. But that’s how it is with the South Downs Folk Singers. It costs nothing to join – all you have to do is come along to one of our sessions and you’ll be made most welcome! Thank you to all who attended last night. See you again at the Chichester Inn on Thursday 16th March at 7.30 for an 8.00 pm start.

Vote South Downs!

The South Downs National Park is one of five contenders nominated by John Craven, BBC Countryfile presenter, for National Park of the Year in the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2017. You can see the other nominees and cast your vote here.

Voting closes before midnight on 28th February.

Slindon Wassail Report

10th February 2017 update: A report has been added to the Slindon Wassail post here.

Local Group Report – Beechwood, Wednesday 1st February 2017

We had another good turn out in Worthing to sing away any winter glooms, and we welcomed three new singers and one returner to the fold. For our ‘returner’ we gave Twankydillo an airing, and for the singers planning to sing at the Seed Swap event on 4th Feb we revisited Poor Froze-Out Gardeners, Oak, Ash and Thorn, The Farmer's Toast and The Turnip Hoer (plus the new Composting lyrics created for this tune by Barbara S). When Emily needed to leave early, Alan ably accepted the reins and guided us successfully towards the best start notes for the rest of the evening. By popular choice Country Life, Rosebuds in June, Jim the Carter Lad, Pleasant and Delightful, West Sussex Drinking Song, and Ebernoe Horn Fair were all enjoyed, and with what breath we had left we went Rolling Home!

Worthing “Seed Swap” 2017

12.30 – 4.00pm Saturday 4th February
Oak Grove College
The Boulevard
Worthing BN13 1JX
Entry £2

Further details here.

If you’d like to attend this event and to sing a few South Downs Songs during the afternoon, then come along and we’ll meet (near the stairs) at 1.40pm and later at 2.40pm for two brief song-sets. Come prepared with your song books and the lyrics to the “Composters” song supplied by Barbara S. (to the tune of the Turmut Hoer), and with Emily there to lead us we’ll choose our songs on the day!

See you there!