2009

Framlingham, Suffolk August 17th - 22nd

Framlingham College was our base for the 2009 tour of Suffolk and an ideal choice it turned out to be. For most of the week we were the only group using the well appointed premises and had the run of the place to ourselves. The accommodation and food at the College were superb and the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. We were able to utilise the swimming pool, the squash and tennis courts and even played cricket under floodlights deep into the night! As well as relaxing and enjoying the facilities at the College, members of the Choir enjoyed further leisure time at Woodbridge, Yarmouth and the towns where we held concerts. They also did some Karting, Ten Pin Bowling and walking.

The three concerts went extremely well at Bury St. Edmunds Cathedral, Aldeburgh and Southwold, with decent sized and appreciative audiences, especially at Southwold where the nave of the large church was full. The main work we performed was Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’ and we are indebted to Victor Scott who accompanied us on the organ for this work at Bury and Southwold. We had to contend with a few difficulties at Bury due to the renovation work, but we managed to overcome these. We are also grateful to those people in Suffolk who helped us put on the concerts, particularly Jayne Whiteman, Joan Goldsmith and David Briggs.

Our post tour concerts at Erith and Meopham were also well supported, particularly at Meopham, where the church was full, and where the performance of the Gloria was enhanced by the Bexley Phoenix Orchestra.

A CD of the all the tour music is available for purchase on the website.

2008

Much Wenlock, Shropshire August 26th - 31st

The Choir undertook its first tour to Shropshire in August, 2008, staying at the delightful Wilderhope Manor Youth Hostel on Wenlock Edge. The venue was ideal, particularly as we had the sole use of the hostel. In addition to the usual fun activities such as Ten Pin Bowling and Ice Skating, members enjoyed a climb up The Long Mynd above Church Stretton - the Victorian’s ‘Little Switzerland.’