On Saturday 7 January, we held our annual Epiphany Supper. In view of our visit later this year to Gloucester Cathedral, this year’s event took the Cotswolds as its theme. After carols sung by the choir, parents served a delicious meal that they had prepared earlier, comprising ‘Cotswold’ Chicken Casserole and desserts of ‘Cirencester’ Apple Cake’, ‘Cheltenham’ Chocolate Roulade or ‘Tetbury’ Trifle.
This was followed by some piano solos by Nicolas Newman and Simon Grant, a humorous poem recited by Henry Roberts and before the main entertainment, a surprise item: a jazz piano arrangement for four hands of God rest ye merry gentlemen, played by Simon and the Vicar.
As has long been the custom, the choir and friends conclude the evening with a light-hearted play. This year’s caper was based loosely on the P. G. Wodehouse short story, The Great Sermon Handicap, about a wager among Bertie Wooster and his friends concerning which local clergyman would preach the longest sermon. This enabled us to weave in some references to clergy in Romsey; we were grateful to both the Vicar and the Revd Terry Stokes for making cameo appearances.
Rob Gower, however, stole the show as a very pompous visiting Bishop whose sermon was brought to a standstill by misbehaving choirboys – our boys certainly relished their part! – who had been bribed by the local bookie. Needless to say, Jeeves had inside information and ensured Bertie came out on the right side of the ledger…
 'Bishop Rob'
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 'Bishop Rob' delivers comical sermon
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