28th and 29th November 2015

Botleigh Grange This year, the Choir provided much festive music for the Botleigh Grange Hotel, ranging from singing at their Christmas Fayre, providing a Christmas Eve mini concert to residents and singing to welcome guests for Christmas evening socials, all of which was very well received, (especially the bar get-together for the choir on Christmas Eve)!  From fake snow, to an Abba Tribute Night, the chance to sing at a different venue for us was great fun. PS:  The wardrobe mistress provided us with a new winter ‘uniform’ – red and white santa hats, grey ponchos (for the ladies!), and tartan scarves for all – very Christmassy!

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Our what now seems annual carol singing event at Brambridge garden centre was again great fun.  It’s always a pleasure to sing there as the shoppers are most generous in both their compliments and  donations to our charity collections.  This year over the Christmas period more than £670 was put in our collection tins and we were pleased to split the amount between Southampton Hospital League of Friends and the Countess Mountbatten Hospice – our sincere thanks to everyone for their generosity.

Whilst we were at the garden centre, we were able to enjoy not only some Christmas shopping, with all the tempting wares for sale, but also the cafe/restaurant, which sells the most delicious cakes.

Our abiding memories of our time at Brambridge are two fold – the little girl who danced to our carols for over 20 minutes and the rainstorm, for which we had to move the piano and ourselves in order not to be drenched!  Not even a storm of such ferocity could drown us out!

Charity Collection

Our main concert at Hedge End Village Hall proved a winner once again.  Both the matinee and evening performances were to a packed hall, bedecked with Christmas lights and decorations to welcome in the festive season.

Well known carols for audience participation, interspersed with a wide range of Christmas music from the choir, filled the hall with festive cheer.  ‘Little Drummer Boy’, the haunting ‘Midwinter’ jolly ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Christmas Shopping Blues’, were just a small part of what was a varied and extremely well received concert.  In addition, the younger members of the audience were treated to a toe tapping dance routine by the ‘DM Dance School’ and a certain gentleman with a red suit, white beard and VERY full sack of presents arrived to start off the Christmas holidays.  Rory’s saxaphone ‘set’ was brilliant and the multi-talented Bethany on the trumpet and piano, provided yet more musical magic.  We ended the show with the 38th rendition this year of ‘The Most Wonderful Time of the Year’  !

Charity Collection

A very warm welcome from the Reverend Robert Sanday from St Edward’s Church, Netley, was received by audience and choir alike.

Netley chapel is an outstandingly beautiful building and dressed with lights and a huge Christmas tree; the tone of Christmas was truly set. Traditional carols by candlelight, interesting and lyrical pieces by the New Music Makers conducted by David Farnell, and choral works by the Hampshire County Youth Chamber Choir all added to the festive spirit of this wonderful place. We have been invited to sing here again for Christmas 2016 and look forward to it very much- especially as the evening ended with mince pies and sherry!

Join the festivities at the switching on of the Hedge End Village Christmas Lights. A perfect start to the Christmas celebrations for all the family, with seasonal entertainment provided by local choirs and musicians.