Skip to main content

A London Highlight


Dear Reader

One of the highlights for me and for the young people involved was taking Allan, Jules, Sophie and Charlie to St Paul’s for a singing lesson with one of their Lay Clerks, Patrick Craig. I met Patrick at the Tallis Scholars Summer School in Sydney about ten years ago and have managed to catch up with him a number of times since, when we have been on the same continent. When I mentioned to the young ones that I wanted to catch up with him this time it was their idea to see if he would give them a lesson. 

So on Tuesday we headed off on a hop on-hop off bus for a morning of fun, and following lunch at Wagamama we went to St Paul’s for the afternoon. 






Each one had an individual lesson with Patrick while the rest of us explored. Each one came out beaming; they are still talking about what they learned. We had afternoon tea in the Crypt Cafe with Patrick who then joined us for dinner at Pizza Express with the Crompton Family, Rev Jenny and Nick. 

It was a wonderful experience for the kids and I was so pleased when he said they were all singing very well and safely. 

Here is the evidence of the fun they/we had.











Thanks are due to Patrick for making this possible, as well as Lavinia for her support of these Lay Clerks and their singing. 

Cxx

Comments

  1. UnknownJanuary 11, 2020 at 5:15 AM

    What a terrific opportunity for these choristers of ours to have one-on-one tuition. It goes to show how important it is for us to network well, and to keep our friendships within our networks current and fresh. Who knows where they may lead?
    Stuart L

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Big One, St Paul’s

  Dear Reader Today was the Big Event of tour. St Paul’s Cathedral, London. If you are observant, you will notice my absence from the photo above, along with several of my colleagues. Sadly, this happened.  After nearly four years and six vaccinations I finally succumbed to the dreaded Covid. At the worst possible time. My multiple vax status has meant I only feel a bit rotten, like a cold, but I do feel sad to have missed the day. And to miss Windsor tomorrow. I was grateful for the considered medical advice provided by Dr Ritesh, father of one of the trebles, who also updated my supply of paracetamol and ibuprofen.  So I am relying on others for the report about this special day.  The good bits started with four of the young Lay Clerks heading to St Paul’s for singing lessons with my friend Patrick Craig, who is an Alto Lay Vicar at St Paul. In have yet to hear from Nicholas, Marco, Charlie or James, but Patrick was very complimentary about their singing. This is what he said: Such a
10 comments
Read more

And now the deadline is hours away...

Dear Reader! What an amazing fortnight we have had! We have rehearsed every Saturday as well as Friday. And sung on Sundays.  We travelled to Victor Harbour to sing to a capacity congregation for Lessons and Carols. Yamba had a ball.  We have done our Christmas Rounds - Lessons and Carols, Midnight Mass and Christmas Day. Precious Lillian was privileged (and rather nervous) to bring the sweet Baby Jesus into the Cathedral at Midnight Mass. She performed her duties beautifully. Zoom in to the second picture and you can see just how wonderful she was.  And now there are bags of robes and music in my front room, ready for the 6:45am departure.  Dear Reader, Please remember us in your thoughts and/or your prayers (whatever works for you) as we prepare for this big adventure.  Off we go. Christine 💖
3 comments
Read more

Worcester - that’s a wrap

  Dear Reader Well, that’s a wrap. After a free morning to shop, skate, scoff scones or the like, we boarded the coach to Worcester. Annabel Crompton continued the proud tradition set by her late father, the beloved Prof David Thomas, and shared history and interesting information about the Cathedral, always including the South Australian connections. We had a very warm welcome from the Interim Dean, Canon Stephen, and Anita the Virger. On the musical menu was Hunt Versicles and Responses, Howells in G Canticles and Be Present O Merciful God  by Australian composer, Owen Elsley. I thought the Anthem went particularly well. We sang two psalms, 131 to a Willcocks chant and 132 to a chant by a random (will update later). Turns out the second chant was by Richard Massey. David played a beautiful postlude, Rhapsody by Daniel Cook (b1979). When we arrived in Worcester it lived up to the reputation England has for wet and rather miserable weather, so we headed straight into the building out o
7 comments
Read more