United Artists - Brinsworth House
19th December

What a wonderful way to end our year of singing with a visit to our old friends at Brinsworth House. The Victorian mansion was all lit up for Christmas, inside as well as out. The residents were all ready for us, the stage was set, and the evening's entertainment began.

We were very happy to be sharing the programme with our previous director Mr. Mike Spiller and his quartet 'Swanning Around'. This made our seasonal programme extra special. Two songs from them started off the evening, we followed on with some lively singing of Java Jive, and Alexander's Ragtime Band, then a change of mood with Catch a Falling Star, Lullaby and Always.

Swanning Around came back in after an impressive change of attire, looking splendidly Christmassy in their scarlet shirts. They sang some new songs from their repertoire and as the strains of Shenandoah faded away, we slipped in quietly behind them, in our contrasting tones of silver and green.

It was time for a selection of well known Christmas Carols, and Phillip invited the audience to join in as well, if they were feeling like it. We sang O Come All Ye Faithful, Hark the Herald, the Coventry Carol with its changes of mood, O Little Town of Bethlehem and other favourites. The Chorus usually have their little red books to remind them of the words but we managed with the help of lip synchronising from our MD to manage without them. Very good training for those memory cells.

Swanning Around gave us a fruitilly jazzed up version of Jingle Bells, which was a great success, and all together we sang White Christmas as a finale.

The Company repaired to the Bar for a glass or two of mulled wine and the chef's selection of very appetising Christmas fare. More songs were sung
and glasses raised. A wonderful end to a fun packed year of singing for us at Thameside, and for our colleagues at Swanning Around. Combining the quartet
with the choir proved to be a great success and we hope that we will be able to work together in the future.

A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone, and see you all again in the New Year, hopefully in good voice and ready for another exciting year of singing.