Two Songs to Try - To Be A Farmer's Boy and Oats and Beans

You'll find two songs, "To Be a Farmer's Boy" and "Oats and Beans'" have been added to our "Other Songs to Try' page.

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday May 7th 2026

Twenty-six singers gathered in the church next to our usual venue, whilst the Barn was in use as a poling station for the local elections.  Sadly Emily was unable to be there - or to sing at all, having lost her voice and needing to rest it - but we were, as ever, fortunate to have Alan and Amaryllis there to pick up her baton.   

From the variety of songs suggested as options for the evening, we managed to sing 15 songs and enjoy listening to 2 more. Our usual semi-circle formation was necessarily changed to fit the straight lines of the pews in the beautiful church setting - but with the very open space and acoustic where our voices rise to the amazing ceiling, spreading across two blocks of the central parallel pews made it a little hard to hear each other.  So it was agreed that if singing there again we should try using the right angle created by just the end of the central pews and the pews to the side.

In the first part of the evening we opened with "Twanky Dillo" before "Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun"; "Rambling Comber"; "Rosebuds in June"; "Follow Me Home" (joining men's and women's voices on the verses and the choruses); "May Day Carol"; "Our Captain Cried All Hands"; "Three Drunken Maidens"; "The Jolly Woodcutter", and the new song created by Amaryllis to the tune of 'Cruel Mother' - "The Loyal Lover".

In a break from singing together, Stephen A. spoke about plans underway in our Chichester SDFS local group to prepare a show for submission to the 2027 Fringe Festival in Chichester. (Application to perform at the Fringe opens in the autumn this year.) 

The plan being for a SDFS performance using the traditional songs famously collected in the Midhurst and Chithurst area.  Stephen has already gathered a large number of these and he is leading preparation of a narrative for the programme.   He advised that, if the application is successful, any singers (from any or all of our three local groups) interested in participating will need to make a commitment to attend the Chichester local group sessions to learn the songs - and also to attend some extra rehearsals to prepare the performance.  (The number of singers needed for the performance is not yet known and may be limited and shortlisted nearer the time, depending on the venue and other specifications as directed by the Fringe organisers.)

The songs identified for the performance will also be available for our Worthing and Lewes groups and all our singers to enjoy them as South Downs Songs - there is already a new songs tab on our Blog for the "Chithurst Songs" where they will be posted as they become available, with melody lines and lyrics that can be downloaded.  Stephen was persuaded to sing one of the songs for us - one which is already in our repertoire on the Songs and Recordings page of the Blog, but rarely used these days - "The Stedham Oysterman's Donkey' - a sad but humorous tale!

Our singing resumed with a solo presentation from Alan, "St. George the Knight'" which was liked by many and may be added to the Blog's 'Other Song to Try' page - to be reviewed at a future session.  Thereafter we joined our voices to sing Barbara S' revised version of "Turnip Hoers" - "The Worthing Grower" - with Barbara explaining her addition of an extra verse to suit the cider making season. "Love and the Ball", "Run of the Downs" and "England for Me" brought us to a close, with many thanks to Alan, Amaryllis and all, for our evening of song.

We'll be back in the Barn as usual for our next session on June 4th.

Another Miscellaneous Page Alert

Chris Hare, writer and historian, who created and managed the 'South Downs Songs Project' (which launched us as the "South Downs Folk Singers") - has written a new book!  

Please consult our Misc.Page for more details. 

New post on our Miscellaneous Page

Have look to find outline details of an event due to be held at the University of Sussex on June 19th 2026, about Sussex Heritage and its Future.  

Of personal interest to the SDFS, Chris Hare, originator of the "South Downs Songs" project (from whence we came in 2013) and other songs projects since then, will be giving a talk there on the subject of folk songs.

Lewes Local Group Report - Monday April 20th 2026

Seven regulars were joined by four new singers this evening (from Seaford, Lewes and two from Storrington although they may go to Worthing in future as it’s nearer to them). Other apologies were received due to work and Morris dancing. Our singer from Bexhill needed to leave early for his train, so we agreed to sing straight through to 9pm before taking a break.

We started off with more of the songs for imminent events at Stanmer, Oldland Mill and Alfriston Clergy House. First was the Copper Family’s ”When Spring Comes In” (with a reminder to pronounce “love-lie” in the local way, and a singer mentioning the Coppers’ album “Come Write Me Down” available on Spotify). This was followed by “May Day Carol”, “Oldland Mill” (with Ray explaining how it was written by his friend Stuart Leon and how we came to be invited to sing it at the mill, which we now do each year, the next time being 3^rd May) and Kipling’s “Bee Boy’s Song” (with a singer letting us know that Rosie Hodgson & Rowan Piggott, whose harmonies we use, now have a whole CD of songs relating to bees)

 

We agreed to try a new song, which has been sung previously at Chichester and Worthing but not yet at this session, “England for Me” which was learned quickly, liked and enjoyed.

 

Back on familiar ground we continued with “Country Life”, “Ale Glorious Ale, “Ha’nacker Mill” (one new singer is reading Belloc’s book “The Four Men”, while another’s parents are buried next to Belloc at West Grinstead), “Smuggler’s Song”, “Magpie” (after we mentioned how David Dodds wrote it after hearing an old lady say “Good morning, Mr Magpie, how’s your wife today?” another new singer said she had heard that you should also blow it a kiss to drive away sorrow), “Pleasant and Delightful” and “Rosebuds in June”.

Next, we looked at the other new song on my list, “Buttercup Joe”. Again, this was quite simple to learn, it reminded us of others in our collection, and it was well received.

 

Our last batch of songs consisted of “East Sussex Drinking Song” (with an explanation of its origins as Adrian Figgess’s answer to Belloc’s West Sussex original, and the wistful reference to the Beechwood Hall Hotel in the last verse),  “It is the First of May”, “Nightingale”, “On Sussex Hills”, and “Thousands or More”.

 

By now it was 9:50pm. I commented that I was surprised and impressed that we had got through all the songs on my proposed list, including two new ones, and asked if we should take requests to fill the last ten minutes. At this point we realised that we had sung through without taking the agreed break at 9pm and everybody had been too polite to mention it so ended early!

 

We had a good balance of high and low voices with some glorious harmonies, a very satisfying session all round.

 

Our next session will be on Monday May 18^th and we always welcome new singers. Come along for a free taster session any time, just bring your voice and your enthusiasm.

 

 

 Tina

 

Change of Venue for the Worthing Group Session in May

Please Note - The Worthing Local Group will NOT be using the Barn for its session on May 7th.

The Barn is being used as a poling station for the local elections - so for this month only we have been kindly offered and will be using the church next-door for our singing instead.  The acoustics are lovely and the singing will be just as good!

(To join us please come to the front door of the church - NOT via the Barn.)

So still at the same time, and postcode, but temporarily in a different setting - and we'll be back in the equally lovely Barn again, as usual, for our meeting in June. 

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday April 16th 2026

9 singers attended the March 26 Chichester Inn SDFS singing session.  A small but enthusiastic group led by Alan.  
 
Alan announced that at this session, he would be trying material that was proposed for the Fishbourne event, coming up on 2^nd May and Steve A would continue introducing the proposed songs for next year’s Chichester Fringe bid – Steve W confirmed that these are now located on a new part of the SDFS Blog – The Chithurst Songs. 
 
So to start the evening off in a rousing fashion, the group sang "Ale Glorious Ale" – sung with feeling!
There was a discussion about "The Young and Saucy Sailor" in relation to Fishbourne and this was removed from the potential set list as it was felt not enough people would know it, although it had been tried at Chichester on a few occasions.  "The First of May" was sung enthusiastically and all agreed it was a fitting song for the Fishbourne event – the day after May Day.  
 
Steve A then introduced the first of the potential Chithurst songs – "Valiants All".  He led the group through the song and following a fair amount of discussion, sorted out the various word scanning issues that arose.  He stressed the need for all to use the same timing and following this, the group had another go at the song and it seemed to be progressing pretty well.  He followed this with the more familiar "Stedham Oysterman’s Donkey" which certainly Chichester attendees had tried in the past.  It was agreed that the version of the song that has been on the SDFS website for sometime was the one that would be used.
 
For the last song of the first half, the group tried "The Cuckoo" and after some discussion about words to stress, felt confident that this could be included in the Fishbourne set.
 
Before the start of the second half of the evening, Henny checked with Alan the song list for Fishbourne and it was decided to add "Rose Buds in June" as a reserve.  
 
Carrying on with the new Chithurst possibilities, Steve A introduced "Mayner’s Whip" by singing it through.  It was felt that the tune was possibly a bit tricky for the choir and Henny suggested trying the words to the tune of Three Drunken Maidens with a further suggestion from Alan that perhaps Steve could recite this old traditional local tale as a poem with all singing the last lines to this tune.  This arrangement seemed to work very well!
 
As a great finale the group finished with "Oak and Ash and Thorn" – a further proposal for singing at Fishbourne on 2 May.
 
 
Anne Sartain 

Spring into Summer 2026

As the seasons continue to turn and Spring moves into summer, our SDFS public performances resume with a number of events in April, May and into June.

On Sunday April 26th  we will singing at the "Apple Blossom Day" in Stanmer village, near Brighton, - singing at 2.00pm

Then in West Sussex, on Saturday May 2nd we'll be at a springtime event at Fishbourne Roman Palace, near Chichester - singing at 12.00 and again at 2.00pm.

Back in East Sussex - Sunday May 3rd sees us at Oldland Mill, near Keymer again for their open day - singing at 1.45pm.

And still in East Sussex on Saturday May 23rd, we'll be performing at the National Trust's Alfriston Clergy House in support of their anniversary celebrations - singing at 12.00 and 2.00pm.

Then looking ahead to Sunday June 14th - we'll be back to sing at the Weald and Downland Living Museum, near Singleton north of Chichester- at 12.00 and 2.00pm 

All these and other events we have planned for 2026 are listed on the Diary Dates page of this Blog (and they will be flagged on this post page as the year goes on) - and our local group sessions continue each month in Lewes, Worthing and Chichester. 

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday April 2nd 2026

With songs suggested by both Alan and Amaryllis and Emily's leadership when singing them, we enjoyed a dozen songs from our SDFS repertoire old and new. The sociable mood was set by "Ale Glorious Ale" to start, followed by an old favourite from our songs original project days "Come Write Me Down" (aka the "Sussex Wedding Song") with men's and women's voices in the conversation. 

The Spring season and approach of May was then celebrated in song by "Hal an Tow", "It is the First of May", "When Spring Comes In" and the "May Day Carol".   A rural theme continued with "Searching for Lambs" and "Brisk Young Ploughboy".  "Birds on the Spray" was next on the list, but few singers were familiar with it and so on this occasion preference was given to other options, with agreement to come back to it at a future session.  So we moved on with "Hares on the Mountain", another song shared between men and women' voices in a teasing conversation. 

A break gave time for chat and refreshment - and reminders about coming events, our social gathering at the Barn on April 11th, and an invitation to join with others in reviving the "Stork Song" at this year's Stork Fair in Storrington on June 23rd. 

"Riding on a Donkey" opened our second half - a song revised with new verses by Alan specifically for use at an event we attended at East Clayton Farm (where donkeys and donkey walks feature ). It has since become a favourite and has a seasonal reference in it alluding to the donkey's role in Palm Sunday.  "Rambling Comber" followed with harmonies revived to enhance it - and finally, from various choices still on the proposed list but with time running out, "Turtle Dove" was agreed to and sung as our last song of the evening.

Our next Worthing SDFS group session will be on May 7th - BUT - watch this space, because May 7th is now also a local election day and the Barn may be in use as a poling station.  We will confirm an alternative venue as soon as known - this may be the church next door, which has kindly been made available to us in the past - but this is yet to be confirmed.. 

 

A Song to Try - The Lost Lover

Amaryllis has offered a new song, "The Lost Lover" for us to try.  

You'll find the lyrics, written by Amaryllis, on our "Other Songs To Try" page. 

The song is sung to the traditional tune “Cruel Mother” (Trad. Roud No.9), which you'll find on our 'Songs and Recording" page.