11 January 2009
Warm welcome for Romsey Abbey bravehearts
2010 Epiphany Supper takes on a Scottish theme
On Saturday 9 January, despite icy roads and freezing temperatures, some 70 people ventured out to attend the Friends of Romsey Abbey Choir's annual Epiphany Supper. Held in the Abbey's Church Rooms, the event raises funds for the choir's singing holiday, which in August takes it to Newcastle, Hexham and Carlisle cathedral, tying in with a sponsored walk along Hadrian's Wall being organised by George's Trust.
Fittingly, this year's theme was ‘Bonnie Scotland' and those attending were piped in by choir mum Jean Martin. She and fellow mums and wives laid on a hearty stew followed by a choice of desserts including chocolate bread and butter pudding and raspberry cranachan – a confection of oatmeal, raspberries, whisky, honey and whipped cream.
Joe O'Brien, who is organising the sponsored walk in memory of his son George, both acted as MC for the entertainment that followed and contributed several items to it, including a poem by W.H. Auden imagining life as a soldier on Hadrian's Wall and a hilarious parody of Scotland the Brave .
Joseph Yandell and Simon Grant, boys in the choir, performed vocal and piano solos and, later , all the boys sang pieces including Andrew Lloyd Webber's Pie Jesu , Butterflies and moths by Andrew Carter and John Rutter's Star Carol . The full choir rounded off the evening in style with Ian Wicks' up-tempo arrangement of We three Kings . Ticket sales and the well-supported raffle raised nearly £600.
Choristers singing at FORAC Epiphany Supper
