Onwards in 2005
Robert Fielding rallies the choir family for another busy year
It has been good to see our new probationers in the choir doing so well and learning quickly. They are Finlay Martin, Sean Patterson, James Johnson and just in, Patrick Cooper (brother of Nathaniel). We require a certain kind of boy for the choir with abilities beyond those needed for singing. I think we have been fortunate in being able to add four more to those already doing an excellent job in our choirstalls.
Calum Cooper has recently been appointed to a senior chorister position as 'Chorister in charge of Probationers' - CICOPS. This position will mean that he has special responsibilities for the welfare of our probationers and it gives them a contact for any problems they have.
The gentlemen of the choir have continued to produce a well-rounded sound for us and I hope that you enjoyed their plainchant singing over Advent as much as I did. We are fortunate to have so many talented singers who unfailingly give of their time to support the Abbey choir. It is also amazing to hear their vast repertory of humorous stories and jokes. I was able to do this once again at the annual gentlemens' dinner at the Abbey Hotel. Here's one that can be published: What do you call a fish with no eyes? 'Fsh'!
FORAC are busy organising the Summer trip to Ripon Cathedral. This looks like it is going to be a wonderful visit and I am very much looking forward to working with the choir in this way once again. We look forward to meeting Tom Leech, a former chorister at Romsey Abbey who is now flourishing there as Assistant Organist.
Members of the FORAC committee are organising many events this year and the boys have already been to a pantomime Christmas Cat and the Pudding Pirates and played a table-tennis tournament this year under the guiding bats of the Newmans. Many thanks for the continued hard work putting the social programme together!
Now into Lent, with an early Easter this year, we have no time to rest. The choir librarian Mike Rowland continues to pile music up for us to rehearse and, as one set of music is neatly put away, another one appears! As well as all the work involved in this, Mike also recently wrote us a new mens' voices Amen for use at the end of Evensong.
It's a hard time for the boys, with plentiful portions of penitential polyphony and no light to play football before choir practice. As we move from the darkness of Lent to the bright light of Easter, we can look forward to more wonderful singing and good times ahead!