An Addition to Try - A New Verse for the Worthing Grower

Barbara has offered us an additional verse to her song, "The Worthing Grower". 

You can find the updated lyrics here, and on the Main Page using this Link, and on the "Songs Created by Us"  page. 

An Addition to Try - A Low Harmony for the Field Mice Carol

Alan has offered a low harmony at the end of the verses of the Field Mice Carol.  You can find a recording on the Main Page using this Link

Another Entry on our Miscellaneous page - added today

If you enjoyed the first series of the "Song Detectorists" - you can hear more from them on Radio 3 all this week.  Check our Misc. page for details.

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday October 16th 2025

15 singers attended the Chichester Inn SDFS singing session led by Alan.  
 
Before singing, there was consideration of whether or not the Chichester SDFS would like to get involved again in the 2026 Chichester Fringe event.  Alan indicated that he was not keen to lead this as it could end up being a very similar format to the one he put together for last year and thought that if someone else were prepared to take it on, he/she would come up with a different approach.  Steve A bravely said that he would like to design a suitable programme based around songs collected by a local Midhurst collector that he has been studying and would deal with the organizational stuff.  He would not however, like to do this as soon as 2026 but prefer to put this together for 2027.  Alan and all present agreed this concept and that it would be best to leave this for another year to allow time to learn new material.  Alan was happy to teach new material including tunes and lead during the actual event.
 
Reverting back to the evenings’ practice, Alan said he wanted to try out material that might be suitable to sing at the Weald & Downland Advent Market where the group was scheduled in November (23rd).  (Henny distributed wrist bands for the event at this point).  Following this Alan led the group through various potential Christmas/Winter songs.
 
"The Falmer Carol" gave a reasonable start, with the decision to leave out verse 3 (Then Towards) so it was not too long.  "Fields Lie Silent" proved as popular as ever with the group and this was followed by the song "When It’s Christmas Time", originally introduced by the Lewis group, which wasn’t quite so well known and sounded better sung briskly.  Amarylis had requested "The Friendly Beasts" be included in the W&D event. All agreed that a jazzy approach helped with this particular slightly unusual offering!  It became evident that some in the group didn’t really know Alan’s next suggestion of "The Ditchling Carol", so it would probably not be included in the set list.  
 
In the second half of the session, everyone confidently started with "Pentonville" and "Sweet Bells" with absolutely no need for words for either familiar carol!  "Masters In This Hall" followed, again best sung at pace and possibly with the help of a drum beat.  All remembered "Where Stormy Winds Do Blow" – a winter song - followed by "The Woodcutter".  At Lyn’s suggestion, the evening finished with the popular "Fieldmouse Carol" and Alan introduced the idea of a bit of harmony for the men in the chorus which he said he hoped could be practiced further at the next SDFS session.  (He promised to send this change to Steve for the Blog and hope that it could be learned at Worthing next Month.)
 
That brought the evening to a close and all agreed they were looking forward to meeting up for a curry as a pre-Christmas celebration before the November meeting in Chichester.  A big thank you to Chris and Lyn for suggesting and co-ordinating.
 
 
Anne Sartain

A Song To Try - Updated Version of Friendly Beasts

Amaryllis has offered the addition of some 'dooby doos' and clicks in the intervals between the verses of The Friendly Beasts (*) to go with the calypso/ jazz style of this song.

You'll find the updated lyrics here

*Song originally offered by Amaryllis last year (see post of 7th October)

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday October 2nd 2025

Singers assembled at the Barn early for the SDFS Annual General Meeting - before our usual singing session. There had been a number of apologies - including Emily who was very sorry not to be there, but needs at home prevented her from joining us.  The meeting comprised singers from all three of our Local Groups - and it proved to be a busy one, with various topics up for discussion in addition to the usual annual reports and elections.  Thank you to everyone for their contributions. 

After a break, our singing started a bit later than estimated, but we still had time enough for Alan and Amaryllis to turn our attention towards songs for the winter and festive season. 

With plans in mind for our performance at the Weald and Downland Museum's Advent Market on November 23rd, Alan led us for "Falmer Carol"; "When It's Christmas Time"; "Field Mouse Carol"; "Pentonville" and, by popular demand, "Sweet Chiming Bells".  None have been sung by us as a group since this time last year, but they were revived with relative ease, especially the last two favourites.  Alan's survey of singers present demonstrated that not all knew "Season's Turn"- nor did they have the lyrics available. (They are on the SDFS Blog).  So we did not sing it, but added it to the 'need to learn' list - for more use next year we hope.  He then sang for us "Sing We the Virgin", which was appreciated, but generally not favoured as an addition to our performance songs at this time.  

Amaryllis took the reins for "Friendly Beasts", set to her new calypso style tune, with all singers together highlighting the "I" start to each verse.  Whilst singing, the rhythm led some to add 'dooby doos' in the intervals between the verses - resulting in a slightly jazz feel to the song as well.  This was liked and taken up for all to do together - using a finger click immediately following each one (Doo,click - Bdoo, click - Bdoo,click - Bdoo,click).  (This has now been added to the "Other Songs to Try" page on our Blog).  

Our singing for the evening concluded with "The Woodcutters Song", with Amaryllis leading and keeping up a brisk and bright pace with the warming vigour of a winter walk!  And on that posiitive note we headed home on a not at all chilly early autumn evening - with more winter and festive songs to look forward to at our November session.  Thanks all.   

H

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday September 18th 2025

11 singers attended the Chichester Inn kindly led by Dave G on this occasion.
 
At Dave’s request, Henny updated the group on forthcoming events – cancellation of Petworth in view of bad timing and confirmation that the Weald & Downland event was still scheduled and essential wrist bands would be issued in due course.
 
Following this, the group of eleven launched into the first of eleven songs!  "Country Life" was the usual good opening number with advice from Dave to keep it sprightly but ensure words could still be heard.  Ale Good Ale was a rousing follow up before moving on to practice a couple of the newer additions to the repertoire – "England For Me" where it was generally agreed that removing the verse referring to Cornwall made it more relevant to Sussex and evened up the verses at the end, this was followed by "Come Stranger Come Friend" tried in various keys.  More work was probably required to get these “performance ready”.  Back to the familiar with "Jim the Carter Lad" with advice from Dave to keep it light!  "On Sussex Hills" came next, sung with usual gusto and the first half concluded with "To Be a Farmer’s Boy".  With several suggestions on word emphasis and that the last line be omitted, Dave commented that he was pleasantly surprised how well everyone knew this and brought the first half to a finish. 
 
Before the start of the second half, Dave sang a sample of Dave Webber’s "Lady of Autumn" song, with the thought that this was particularly suitable for late Autumn.  The group liked it and he undertook to get words and demo to Steve W for inclusion on he “Songs to Try” blog.
 
In view of Armistice Day coming up, Dave selected a couple of suitable songs:-
"Follow Me Home" with men and women joining in separately, following some clarification of lines it went well.  "Home Lads Home" came next in a similar theme with the group remembering to lower the volume in the more poignant verses.  
 
At Alan’s request, the group practiced Amaryllis’s version of "Tommy" which was likely to be sung at the upcoming Arundel Orchard performance.  
 
Reverting to a song not often tried, Dave led the group through the Coppers "Birds on the Spray".  To Assist Steve W played Tina’s version of the song which can be found on the SDFS blog. Finally the evening was concluded with the men taking the lead on "Hard Times of Old England" and all singing a rousing "Pleasant and Delightful".
 
Everyone thanked Dave for his efforts on putting together an interesting evening and leading the group efficiently through it, not an easy task!
 
 
Anne Sartain

A Song to Try - Sing We The Virgin Mary

Alan has offered this traditional seasonal song - "Sing We The Virgin Mary".

You'll find the lyrics using this link .

You'll find the tune using this link .

A Song to Try - My Lady of Autumn

Here's a new song offered by Dave Garrard - "My Lady of Autumn".   It is written by Dave Webber and Anni Fentiman, members of the folk band Beggars Velvet.

You'll find the lyrics using this link .

SDFS at the Fernhurst Furnace Open Day - September 14th - also CANCELLED

Very sadly the currently volatile weather, particularly the forecast for tomorrow Sunday September 14th, has taken its toll again. With few singers now available for this event we will unfortunately NOT be singing at the Fernhurst Furnace Open Day as planned, and we have given our apologies to the organisers there.

The venue and event is one of our favourites, so we're sad to miss it this year - but we wish them well for tomorrow and we look forward to singing there again in September 2026.