Sutton Bonington CHOIR OFF THE THE USA.
Sutton Bonington Singers Choir are about to make an international name for themselves, with some of its members later this year to take part in a concert in the United States of America.
The Singers are a choir from the Sutton Bonington Campus of the University of Nottingham. It is comprised of students, university staff and people from Sutton Bonington and other local villages, giving it a super community feel.
The choir is student lead and usually performs three main concerts a year, alongside various other appearances in the local community.
Commenting on the news, Cameron Dee, the President of The University of Nottingham’s Sutton Bonington Music Society told the Echo: “We are very proud to have been offered the chance to sing as part of a massed choir of 250 singers from across the world”.
It will take place in the David Geffen Hall in the Lincoln Centre, in New York City in April this year.
The concert will be the music of composer William Todd and will be conducted by Dr James Meaders. It will be accompanied by a full concert orchestra. Will Todd himself will be there acting as Composer in residence.
Says Cameron: “This is a very exciting opportunity for the choir as we are by no means professionals and are from a range of backgrounds, both musical and non musical, which is really what gives the choir such great atmosphere.
Obviously this trip will unfortunately have its costs and because many of our members are students, we are looking to raise as much money to allow us to take as many members as possible, for what promises to be the trip of a lifetime!”
The trip will allow time for rehearsals and the opportunity to perform with a professional orchestra, not to mention some sightseeing!
The Singers were invited to perform in the concert by Distinguished Concerts International New York City (DCINY)when they announced Singers had been invited to participate in a performance of ` The Music of Will Todd’ which will be featuring the his music on the DCINY Concert Series in New York City.
This performance is planned to take place on Sunday, April 7, in the David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts under the baton of Dr. James M. Meaders and will feature Songs of Peace and No More Sorrows. These outstanding musicians will join with other choristers to form the Distinguished Concerts Singers International, a choir of distinction. Dr. Meaders will lead the performance as well as serve as the clinician for the residency, and Will Todd will be present as Composer-inResidence.
Dr. Jonathan Griffith, artistic director and principal conductor for DCINY states: “The SB Singes received this invitation because of the quality and high level of musicianship demonstrated by the singers as well as the exceptional quality of their audition recording.
“It is quite an honor just to be invited to perform in New York. These wonderful musicians not only represent a high quality of music and education, but they also become ambassadors for the entire community. This is an event of extreme pride for everybody and deserving of the community’s recognition and support.”
The singers will spend 5 days and 4 nights in New York City in preparation for their concert. “The singers will spend approximately 9-10 hours in rehearsals over the 5 day residency,” says Griffith. “Not all of the time is spent in rehearsals, since there is so much history and culture to see in New York City. However, the performance is the primary purpose for their visit to the city.”
SOAR VALLEY BUS NEEDS DRIVERS. A good deed for early in the New Year from Sutton Bonington residents would be to offer the highly respected Soar Valley Bus Needs charity some help by volunteering to be a driver for them.
Clive Goode, the chairman and drivers representative, says that thanks to their many volunteer
drivers over the past thirty-nine years, the Soar Valley Bus has successfully operated its fourteen scheduled, weekly services from Normanton to East Leake, Loughborough, Costock, Rempstone, Ratcliffe, Long Eaton and West Bridgford. It also operates private hire and day trips to affiliated groups.
But the message from the organisers is that a critical shortage of driver volunteers is putting these essential services at risk.
The New Year plea is: “Could you spare a couple of hours a month, so no single driver is overloaded? Come on ladies do your own shopping when driving a service!”
Jean Corliss, treasurer and Operations Manager, says the bus is for the benefit of all residents, young and old alike, for clubs and societies in the community to use and enjoy.
“If you have a DI category on your current driving licence, you are able to drive both our vehicles, which are as easy to drive as your car just a tad bigger! All training on the vehicle is completed in the village at no cost to you,” says Jean, who works tirelessly to promote the organisation and series its gives.
Jean says they have a driver rota so there is no need to worry about being tied down by a commitment. “If you can’t drive on a particular day for any reason however short the notice you’ll always be able to obtain cover.”
Anyone with some spare time to give to this vital community service, please contact Clive Goode on 01509 672860. His message is: “Go on, give it a go. You’ll enjoy it!!
JUMPER DAY. Christmas Jumper Day at the end of last year at Sutton Bonington Primary School, was says headmaster Lee Shilton, great fun and through it they raised £139.20 as a school towards Save the Children.
Adds Mr Shilton: “We should all be very proud for helping children who are lesser fortunate than ourselves.
In a note to parents, the headmaster says he had had the pleasure of attending the nativity performance at St. Michael’s church performed by the children at Sutton Bonington Pre-School Playgroup. It was a brilliant performance and the siblings of the performers, who were in attendance, were excellently behaved and great ambassadors for our school.”
In his message to parents, the headmaster added they were all so proud of the children for their performances in the productions of `Peace Child’ (Key Stage 2) and `Hey Ewe’ (Key Stage 1). “I wish to thank them again for their superb singing, dancing and acting and well done to the staff for their work in ensuring the children were fully prepared. The Christmas dinner and Key Stage parties were also excellent and thanks to the kitchen staff for providing such tasty food and friendly service.”
GARDEN WALKABOUT DATES. Sutton Bonington and Kingston on Soar Garden Walkabout have given early notice of the date for the 2019 event.
The total raised agt the 2018 event was £4507.05 and many thanks have been offered to everyone who opened their garden, provided refreshments, sold plants, ran the tombola and bric-a-brac stalls and all the other activities that helped to make the event in June such a successful and enjoyable event.
A particular thank you has been given to all their our volunteers for providing such a warm welcome to their beautiful gardens which looked at their best in June before all the hot and dry weather.
The Garden Walkabout this year will be 15-16 June and organisers hope that as many gardeners as possible will consider opening.
FINAL SERVICE OF REV BROCK. Popular Sutton Bonington minister the Rev Michael Brock will be attending his final service there on Sunday this weekend, January 13,
Parishioners are aware that Michael is retiring this month and he and huis wife Carolyn are moving to Loughborough to live in their daughter’s house while she moves to Holland.
This Sunday will be his last service and Sutton Bonington is holding a Joint Service at St James’ Church, Normanton on Soar at 11am, followed by a lunch at Normanton Village Hall.
If anyone would like to contribute to a leaving gift, contributions can be left at the Post Office, at any church services, or at Beth Clarke’s house, 16 Gables Lea. Please write Michael Brock on the envelope. Cheques should be made out to `St Michael’s with St Anne’s PCC’, with `Michael Brock’ written on the back. FAREWELL TO REVD MICHAEL BROCK Revd Michael Brock will be retiring in January and he and Carolyn will be greatly missed in our two parishes.
On Sunday 13 January we will be holding a joint service at 11am St James Church with our friends from Sutton Bonington. There will be no service at 9.30an on that day, All are very welcome to this service at which Normanton on Soar Village Choir will be singing a special item.
The service will be followed by a buffet lunch in the village hall to which all are invited.
This will be a special occasion so please come along. We will be presenting a gift to Michael to thank him and Carolyn for all they have done whilst here.
If anyone in Normanton on Soar would like to contribute to this gift please pass your contribution to Brian Archbold, The Willows, Butt Lane, Normanton on Soar. Cheques should be made payable to St James Church Normanton on Soar PCC.
MENS ASSOCIATION At 7.30pm on Monday, January 28, the Men’s Association will be holding its Annual Quiz preceded by a short AGM at the Kings Head Sutton Bonington. Included in the evening will be a fish and chip supper [£7 per person]. Free transport from Normanton. For more details and to book a place [we have to pre-order the supper] please call John Herrington 01509 646240 by Monday, January 21, at the latest.
Mountsorrel
ST PETER’S PARISH CHURCH. All are warmly invited on the evening of Sunday, January 20, 2019 ( The 2nd Sunday after The Epiphany) to the Parish Church of St Peter (Market Place) Mountsorrel (LE12 7BA) for a traditional service of Epiphany “Choral Evensong” at 6pm.
The officiant will be the Parish Priest, the preacher Fr Darren, the assistant-curate and refreshments will follow the Office in the Antill Vestry.
Quorn Joan Bloodworth 01509 620481 mail@joan99.plus.com
CHURCH. Services this Sunday at St Bartholomew’s Church are; 8.00am Holy Communion, 10.30am Service of the Word. Both services are with Rev D Bowler. At 4.00pm in the church room is Messy Church.
There is not an evening service this week.
BOOK. For Your Tomorrow’ by Sue Templeman is a unique, high quality publication that details the lives of the 78 brave young men from Quorn who died in WW1, and provides a window on life in Quorn at that time.
This edition of the book is fully revised from the 2014 edition and contains 104 pages, over 300 illustrations. It is in a softback, perfect bound format. `For Your Tomorrow’ can be purchased direct from Sue Templeman on sue@ quorndon.com or 01509 412112. Price £12, or £16 posted in the UK.
Alternatively it is stocked at Quorndon Formal Hire on Quorn Cross in the centre of the village. Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 12pm to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm.
Oaks in Charnwood
PLOUGH SUNDAY SERVICE. All are welcome to the Plough Sunday Service, January 13, at 4 pm at St James the Greater Oaks in Charnwood, Oaks Road, LE12 9YD.
The service will be taken by Rev Lydia Humphreys with Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, the first Bishop of Loughborough delivering the sermon.
It is hoped to bring a traditional Plough into church as in previous years which will be blessed along with members of the farming community.
A representative from Mount St Bernard’s Abbey will be joining us too. Light refreshments will be served afterwards in the adjacent Oaks Storer Hall.
Please confirm your attendance for the service and refreshments afterwards (with any dietary requirements) to Mary Hayward Tel No 07545 817664
FAMILY SERVICE. Please join us at St James the Greater, Oaks in Charnwood for Family Service Sunday, January 20 at 11am. Tea, coffee and biscuits available after the service. Please follow us on Facebook. com/ StJamesTheGreaterOaksInCharnwood
MOTHERS UNON. Our first speaker for 2019 is Andrew Webster with Treasures in the Attic on Monday, January 21 at 2.30 pm in the Oaks Storer Hall, Oaks Road, LE12 9YD.
We will have a short service as usual followed by Andrews talk. Refreshments and a raffle will conclude the afternoon. Visitors and members from other Mothers’ Union branches are most welcome.
Wysall
FILM NIGHT. The latest of the Wysall Film nights took place in the village hall on Saturday when the film
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) was shown. The bar was open and beer and wine was served.
LOST MINUTE BOOKS. A plea has been made by the parish council at Wysall for help in finding two lost minute books of their meetings.
Clerk Mike Elliott says the periods covered are 1970 to 1988 and 1994 to 2008.
“If anyone has these please let me know. We require to make our records fully up to date.”
Mike can be contacted on 0115 937 6506.
West Leake
BRASS BAND. Hathern Brass Band were at West Leake St Helena’s Church to present a pre-Christmas concert.
A good number of people attended the event and refreshments were served midway through the programme of music which included carols and music from the shows.
Rempstone
NEW YEAR WALK. A New Year walk coupled with a breakfast is being staged in Rempstone on Sunday this weekend, starting from the village hall at 9.30am.
The route will be along Wysall Lane and should be timed at about one hour for the participants. Breakfast will be served from 10am.