Author: chris.hawkins2015@yahoo.com

Dear All Despite plenty of publicity around this unexplained decision by DCMS, and despite lawyers saying that we are legally able to rehearse despite the guidance, we do not feel that it is appropriate for us to meet tonight. Please do not give up hope! If you have not signed the petition, or written to your MP, please do so.…… Read more →

Hello everyone I hope everyone is doing well. You are probably wondering what is going on with the rehearsal situation. Well, so are we. Choristers across the UK have been busy writing to their MPs, signing petitions and doing everything possible to make Oliver Dowden and DCMS understand just how wrong-headed their last minute change to guidance was. If you…… Read more →

Dear all First, sincere apologies for the confusion and mess of yesterday. You should know that it was not, for once, organizational incompetence, but something that affected choirs up and down the country. For weeks, DCMS (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) has been stating that singing is permitted in Step 3 of easing. There was even a moment…… Read more →

So I think we now understand how the government decided to do this. They didn’t want to postpone the easing of lockdown, because that would have been met with howls of disapproval. So instead, they quietly issued new clarification on what is allowed under Step 3 yesterday, at odds with what was previously indicated, and on the actual day that…… Read more →

It’s great that we are so close to being able to meet and sing again. There are some bits and pieces you need to know. Here they are: Covid protocols Please use hand gel at the entrance. Entrance is through the main door (NW corner) and exit is through the small door on the south side of the church. Seating…… Read more →

Yes, we are just 7 days away from singing together again. Thank you, Boris! I hope you have all been able to locate your music, or print off fresh sheets. We will send out a practicalities post at the weekend to give you everything you need to know, but for now – a chance to remind yourselves of just how…… Read more →

We had a scare this week when a DCMS minister incorrectly stated that amateur choirs singing again is step 4 of easing restrictions. Thankfully she corrected herself 24 hours later and we are therefore still on track for a May 18th restart. We met with the administrator at All Saints today to go over logistics. All very similar to what…… Read more →

Ladies and Gentlemen, I know we have been here before, but surely this time it is for real. We are getting ready to restart. Our provisional start date is Tuesday May 18, based on the third step down of restrictions which is due to occur on May 17. Dave is ready to go, with a program designed to ease us…… Read more →

2021. Not at all like 2020. Just in case you were wondering, we are not rehearsing this week. For a multitude of reasons. We are all hoping beyond hope that we will be singing together soon, so please watch this space, but until otherwise instructed please use your Tuesday evenings for bridge, book club, binge watching Netflix or whatever else…… Read more →

For those coming along, thank you! If you haven’t committed, please do come. The weather is going to be fine, and we owe it to ourselves to sing our little hearts out once more in 2020. Just easy, familiar stuff – the running order is at the bottom. If you don’t have 100 Carols for Choirs, your music pack is…… Read more →