Author: Siobhan Jones

Dear All I’m delighted to say Christchurch are happy for us to resume rehearsals this term.  Rehearsals will be on Tuesdays from 7:45 – 9:30 as before and term dates will be from 14th September – 14thDecember with a one-week half term on 12th October. Happily, subs will remain the same this term (£70). We plan to continue with the repertoire we were…… Read more →

Dear All  I am very sorry to inform those who do not already know that Tricia O’Neill’s husband has sadly passed away. I’m sure I speak for us all when I say our thoughts and prayers are with Tricia and her family. For those who would like to pay their respects Tricia has kindly let me share the funeral arrangements. The funeral…… Read more →

Reminder that the choir will be having a get-together for those who can make it on Tuesday 29th June from 7:30pm at 35 Deanhill Road, East Sheen SW14 7DQ. The football will be on! Please bring a bottle of whatever you prefer to drink and maybe a few nibbles. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions –…… Read more →

Dear All Tricia came up with an excellent idea – we might not be able to rehearse together, but luckily we can all have a drink together in the garden. So if you’d like the chance to catch up with other choir members please come to 35 Deanhill Road, SW14 7DQ on Tuesday 29th June from 7:30pm. May I ask…… Read more →

Dear All Sadly, after this evening’s announcement, it’s not looking promising for the remainder of our rehearsals this term (last one was due to be on 29th June). We’ll keep an eye on guidance in case this changes. No rehearsal tomorrow. Do write to your MP to make your feelings known and don’t forget the petition if you haven’t already…… Read more →

Dear All This is your weekly reminder to hassle your MPs to try to get the guidance for choirs changed. Don’t forget to sign the petition too (two posts below). There has been no change to guidance so no rehearsal this week (8th June). We had rehearsals planned until 29th June so not giving up just yet and will keep…… Read more →

Unfortunately, there has been no change as yet to DCMS guidance restricting rehearsals for amateur choirs. We did not have a rehearsal planned for this week (1st June) anyway as its half term, but we will continue to monitor the guidance and let you know if there is any change ahead of next week, 8th June. As before, please do…… Read more →

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 →