Author: Siobhan Jones

You will likely need to log in again, and any old bookmarks may not work and need to be updated.

Hi all, some of you may have encountered a strange message about a security certificate when you have tried to log on to read the wonderful news about singing again. First, there is nothing to worry about. It was a purely technical issue, and there is no security breach. Second, even if there was, we do not have anything to steal apart from email addresses. We don’t have any other personal details on file. And third, it should now be sorted, but you will likely need to log in from fresh, and your old bookmarks may not work and need to be updated. Eagle-eyed choristers may notice that the address has changed from http://sheengate…. to https://sheengate….

Sorry for the inconvenience, any ongoing tech problems let Siobhan, Lesley or me know, and see you all soon.

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 14^th September – 14^thDecember with a one-week half term on 12^th October. Happily, subs will remain the same this term (£70).

We plan to continue with the repertoire we were working through before. The music, or details of where you can buy scores, is on the website.

In the meantime, you may be interested to know Christchurch are now routinely offering a Choral Evensong service at 5pm Sundays. All welcome.

We hope you have all had a lovely summer and are raring to go singing again. See you in September!

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 service will be held on Thursday 2^nd September 11am at St Mary Magdalen’s Catholic Church, North Worple Way, SW14 8PR and 12:40pm at Mortlake Crematorium. Refreshments will be at the Pig and Whistle from 1:30pm, 86 Sheen Lane SW14 8LP.   

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 – my number (Siobhan – altos) is 07887 648 422.

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 that everyone coming brings a bottle of whatever they prefer to drink (lemonade, vodka etc) and maybe a few nibbles. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions – my number (Siobhan – altos) is 07887 648 422.

That was going to be our last rehearsal day, but it is looking unlikely that we will be able to re-start this term. Obviously if this changes we will let you know and change plans.

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 signed it.

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 you posted if things change.

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 not give up hope! If you have not signed the petition (link may be found two posts below), or written to your MP, please do so. 

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.

Fingers crossed for next week. And keep singing, regardless of where you are and who might be listening!

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 have not done any of these things, please do! The more noise, the more our chance of getting things changed. Take a look at @ABCDTweets or the hashtag #ChoirsMatter to see the extent of the uprising.

Technically, it seems clear that we are actually able to sing together, because the law allows it. But with explicit (albeit not legally binding) guidance saying we cannot sing, we are still in a situation where we do not feel that we can meet. So, for now, Tuesday’s rehearsal is ‘pending clarification’ but, absent any new guidance, will not go ahead.

But please do not give up hope. Please keep your Tuesday evening open as long as you can, because if there is a reversal of guidance it will surely come out of the blue and with no notice. We will wait until Tuesday afternoon to confirm that the rehearsal is indeed cancelled if there is no change. And naturally if there is good news it will be posted just as quickly as the internet will allow.

Fingers crossed, keep practising at home, and we promise that Sheen Gate Choir will sing together again soon.