Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday August 6th 2026 - Emily's Farewell

The Barn hosted 40 of us, including a mix of singers from all three of our local groups (welcome all!) for a special session this month - our last with Emily there as our lead.  Sad as this was, the evening was also a joyful exhibition of some of our favourite songs, our combined voices all but lifting the ancient rafters, and our pleasure in singing with Emily!

We began with Emily recalling her start with us as something of a raw recruit herself in the "South Downs Songs" project workshops - and with both Chris Hare (the Songs Project founder) and Ann Feloy (project song teacher) also present as very welcome guests for the evening, they all received a round of applause with due congratulation and thanks for the work they did in creating the project, running the workshops and teaching the songs; all of which provided the strong foundation from which the SDFS was built. 

Emily then cited the 'training' CDs she still had from those days, with recordings made to support the teaching and learning in the workshops - and she suggested using a mix of a songs from these, learned by some of us in those early days, plus any other favourites we would like to sing during the evening. 

Our singing started with one the earliest songs in our collection, and a much loved favourite - "Rosebuds in June", before "Shepherd of the Downs" and "Drink Me Brave Boys".  Then came the "Smugglers Song", "The Nightingale", "Hard Times" and "The Sussex Wedding Song (Come Write Me Down".   After inviting further choices, a couple of songs were proposed by singers which are favourites to some but not to others, provoking an exchange of light hearted disagreement.  The first of these was "Eileen Aroon" - a song with Irish origins but nonetheless included in the South Downs Songs project because it was a favourite of one of Sussex's notable inhabitants - Hilaire Belloc.   The other was "Cruel Mother" - a long and harrowing tale of its time describing the distress and plight of an unmarried mother and her newborns.  Whilst acknowledging the nature of its content, Chris Hare reported it had been in the project because it is a very old song and the oldest documented song from the South Downs area found in preparations for the project.  Although both of these have not been sung much by many of us since those early project workshop days, both were sung this evening - and sung well - which just shows how deeply songs and music can go in our hearts and minds and still be recalled from our memories years later. 

Before taking a break we returned to another South Downs anthem well known and much used by us - another written by Belloc  - "On Sussex Hills".  Then in the break, with some extra refreshments provided to mark the occasion - time was taken to present Emily with some farewell gifts, and to share with her our gratitude for all she has done for the SDFS over the many years she has been with us - from the project workshops onwards, including the many events across Sussex at which she has led our singing, and especially for her leadership of the Worthing local group where we have been lucky to have her and to have prospered under her leadership since the workshops concluded.  She will be a hard act to follow!  Emily's words of thanks and reflection in reply carried with them a reminder of a very important ingredient - that whatever and whenever we sing, the experience for us, the words and meaning of the song, and the rendition received by listeners, will be enriched if we sing from our hearts. Wise words indeed.

So our singing resumed in time for a few more songs before the evening concluded.  From a variety of requests made we sang, again to lift the rafters, "Country Life", "The Turmut Hoer" and "Life of a Man". Then last but by no means least, the great Copper's favourite "Thousands or More", which provided a glorious finish to a happy evening of song but also a sad farewell. Many thanks to Emily and All.

Our next evening at the Barn will be on Thursday September 3rd - with summer beginning to fade and seasons changing - and still plenty to sing about.  If you are new to us but you'd like to join us to learn our songs by listening and singing with us, you'll be welcomed but please email to let us know before you attend. 

H.

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Lewes Local Group Report - Monday July 20th 2026

There were nine of us again this month at the Lewes Arms, with some regulars away due to illness, holidays, Morris dancing and caring responsibilities, and including a new singer from Southease.

The weather was slightly cooler than the heatwave of the previous two weeks, but still quite warm as we switched up the seasons to start on our autumn and harvest songs. As usual we took turns to choose from the twenty I had suggested.

 

We warmed up with “Harvest Round” (to the familiar tune of Hey Ho, Winter Snow, it sounded lovely in four parts), then carried on with “Woodcutter’s Song”, “Lammas Carol” (by Alan Wheeler from our Chichester group), “On Sussex Hills” (our new singer was familiar with Hilaire Belloc so we didn’t need lengthy explanations), “Where Stormy Winds do Blow”, “One for the Rook”, “Parting Song”, (sung in the middle of the session because that’s what the next singer requested!), “Hard Times of Old England” and “All Among the Barley”.

 

During the break we discussed: Saltdean Lido (a small group took part in a short performance, plans for a larger, longer contribution possibly next year); Newhaven Fort, Brunswick Festival, Stanmer Park and Oldland Mill (all sadly cancelled for different reasons); Alfriston Clergy House (going ahead on September 26^th with autumn and harvest songs); harmony workshops (interest in doing these in both Lewes and Worthing); and a planned singing tour of “painted churches” (Nick is already looking into this, and our new singer knows the vicar at Southease so they will collaborate taking this forward).

 

With glasses replenished we continued with “Pleasant and Delightful”, “Brave Eleven”, “Fields Lie Silent”, “Seasons Turn”, “Home Lads Home” (the first early outing this year for this beautiful but tragic tale of lost lads and horses from a Hampshire village in World War I), “My Downland Remembered” (another from our own Alan Wheeler about an ancestor who was transported to Australia for the theft of unwinnowed oats), and ending as we often do with “Thousands or More” (our new singer is very aware of the Coppers too, as one of her friends sings with the Young Coppers).

 

Our next session will be on Monday August 17^th. New members are always invited to come along and try us out, with seasoned singers and complete novices being equally welcome. We’re a group who come together to learn, enjoy and share the songs rather than a formal choir with the expectations that can sometimes come with that. Come along for a free taster session any time, just bring your voice and your enthusiasm.

 

Tina

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday July 16th 2026

A quiet "Chichester Inn" hosted us again for another sociable gathering to meet and sing. 11 singers, including David G as our helpful guide, managed a total of 18 songs from those proposed by Alan for a forthcoming event he will be leading (at Amberley Chalk Pits Museum in August).  Greetings and catching-up when we first gathered were concluded by a few singers raising their voices in "Country Life" - and from there, with a refreshment break at half-time, it was singing (with some convivial chat between songs) all the way. 

"Ale Glorious Ale" suited our meeting in the Inn before we moved on with a range of rural themes. "All Among the Barley" (with a start note of C-D, rather than A as some had it listed ); "Brisk Young Ploughboy" (A-D);  "England For Me" (which all thought better when sung in a bright and "bouncy" way), and "Ebernoe Horn Fair" (sung as a "jaunty" conversation between men and women's voices).  Then "Magpie" (this time sung by women and men together) before "Lammas Carol"; "Green Grow the Laurels" (with a suggestion by David that the chorus lines be more lilting with notes held for longer) - and last but not least "Sussex by the Sea", which brought us to the break.  

We resumed in rural settings with "One for the Rook"; "On Sussex Hills"; the always beautiful "Oak Tree Song" and then, still in the woods, "Oak and Ash and Thorn".   We discussed the jollity of "Three Drunken Maidens" but time was getting short, so they didn't join us at the Inn for this session and instead we chose "Pleasant and Delightful", not sung for a while.  Then by popular choice, although it is a little 'off message' as not really a South Downs song - "Riding on a Donkey".  Our session closed with what is something of an anthem for us, taken from the Copper family's song collection - "Thousands or More". Thanks to all for your voices and company - and thanks again to David for being our guide for this session. 

H. 

Lewes Local Group Report - (from Monday June 15th 2026)

Nine singers gathered at the Lewes Arms this month, with others absent due to holidays and illness. We welcomed a new singer who currently lives in Germany but may be moving back to the UK soon and will join SDFS if he does so. He was accompanied by his mother, who lives in Brighton and said she was there purely as the chauffeuse as she cannot sing. We all thought she sounded perfectly fine singing along with all the songs all night so we hope she might reconsider.

We went round choosing in turn from the seasonal songs list. In the first half we sang “Ebernoe Horn Fair, “Magpie”, “Hares on the Mountain”, “When Spring Comes In”, “Turtle Dove”, “Sussex Wedding Song”, “Run of the Downs”, “Rosebuds in June”, “Smuggler’s Song”, “England for Me”, (quite recently learned but remembered and sung well), “Summer is A-Coming In Again” (with the new final two verses), “Farmer’s Toast”, and “Green Grow the Laurel”. Our visitors on their free taster session were relatively new to folk music and particularly to folk songs from the local area, so we spent some time talking about the songwriters and the history of the songs, and of our group.

 

In the break we mentioned singing at Saltdean Lido where five or six of us will be taking part in two mini sets on June 20^th as a trial run for a possible longer appearance with a larger group of singers in 2027; Newhaven Fort on 12^th July; Brunswick Festival which is awaiting confirmation for 15^th or 16^th August. Future plans which are awaiting more information include singing in local “painted churches”, harmony workshops and our December session possibly with Ouse Valley Morris.

 

We continued with “It is the First of May”, “Rolling in the Dew” and “Pleasant and Delightful” before deciding to leave slightly earlier than usual and bringing the evening to a close with “Thousands or More”.

 

Our next session will be on Monday July 20^th. New members are always invited to come along and try us out, with seasoned singers and complete novices being equally welcome. We’re a group who come together to learn, enjoy and share the songs rather than a formal choir with the expectations that can sometimes come with that. Come along for a free taster session any time, just bring your voice and your enthusiasm.

 

Tina

 

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday July 2nd 2026

We welcomed two new singers this month for a summer evening of songs at the Barn, with the Barn doors open for some cooling air.   But before our singing, the session began with a few notices - including the sad news from Emily that, due to increased demands on her time, our August session will be her last with us. Sadness, albeit with a lot of understanding too, and mostly huge appreciation for what Emily has contributed to the South Downs Folk Singers, were shared in the responses from those present.  Emily reflected upon her time with the SDFS and recalled her involvement with the original South Downs Songs Project workshops, and noted how little she knew about the songs then and how much, with us, she has learned and enjoyed since. She then invited and suggested song choices from the still growing SDFS songs collection for us to sing together this evening.  

Some - "One for the Rook"; "All Among the Barley" and "Lammas Carol" - were also with an eye on a future event Alan will be leading ("Celebration of Sussex" at the Amberley Chalk Pits Museum, August 29th).  One other suggested by Alan was not well known to many of us, so he performed it as a solo - "Season's Turn" - with some support on the choruses.  Thereafter songs were by request, with a mix of some from our early days and favourites that have been added since. These began with one of the oldest from the original Songs Project, and taught to us there by Emily (not forgetting Ann and Chris Hare!)  - "Old Adam".   Followed by more choices - "The Nightingale"; "Turmut Hoers"; "Drink Me Brave Boys" and "Shepherd of the Downs".

After a convivial break we resumed with "Birds on the Spray" and "The Oak Tree Song"  before "Run of the Downs" (albeit with a little confusion about the verses).  Another song from the 'old days' of the Songs Project followed, "Ebernoe Horn Fair" then one added since "Searching for Lambs".  For it's place in the history of the South Downs we sang the "Song of the Sussex Downsman"- in the early 1900's it's writer Arthur Beckett campaigned successfully to ensure their protection, which much later enabled them now to be a National Park.  In singing this we also remembered a much missed and respected fellow singer and friend of the SDFS. Keith, for his musical knowledge and his exacting care in how this song should be sung. 

As the evening moved towards its close we sang another 'classic' from the Copper songbook and our Songs Project days - "Thousands or More" -  before the last but not least for the evening "The Parting Song".  It tells of the joy of singing together, the sadness of parting and hopes of meeting again, which we will do in August to sing more songs - and to bid farewell to Emily as our lead.

  

Footnote to an "Other Song to Try" - John Fitzpatrick's Original Version of "St. George, The Knight"

Since Alan's version of "St.George - The Knight" was posted on 25th May 2026 we have received a message from John Fitzpatrick (the songwriter), including his original lyrics.

You will find John Fitzpatrick's message and his original lyrics as a footnote to the entry for "St.George - The Knight" on our "Other Songs to Try" page.

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday June 18th 2026

14 singers, including 2 newcomers, met at the Chichester Inn this month, with Alan finding time from a busy week to be there to lead us.  

Voices were loosened up by "Country Life"  before "England for Me".  Then, with some introductions about the "Ebernoe Horn Fair" which still happens in the village on July 25th, we sang the song, with men and women in unison for a good sound.  "Loyal Lover", a gentle and beautiful song came next, and having not sung it for a while we agreed it needed more work to revive it.  Stephen A  updated us on his progress with assembling the "Chithurst Songs"- and spoke about "Phoebe and the Dark Eyed Sailor" for which he has yet to confirm the correct tune.  (This song is not to be confused with "The Dark Eyed Sailor" which features in the sea songs collection of the SDFS' cousin the "Secret Shore Singers".)  So work on this, and "The Young Recruit", were left for a future session and instead we sang "Valiants All" and "The Stedham Oyster Man's Donkey" again to consolidate preparations so far - and agreed to reduce the length of the latter by coupling the verses to have fewer choruses. (This modified version will be added as an option to the SDFS Blog songs page in due course).  

For its energy and fun we moved on with "Three Drunken Maidens" before talk began of having a refreshment break. In this pause Steve W briefed all about a response received from John Kirkpatrick about the SDFS using his song "St.George the Knight", a version of which Alan has recently shared with us.  (Both versions will soon be available on the SDFS Blog's "Other Songs to Try" page.)  A request was then made for "Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun" which the women dully sang with the men's voices joining in, a little randomly, as the song progressed. Alan noted this and gave reminders and advice to improve future renditions.  

After that we took the break - and it took a while for various chats to conclude and attention to return to the singing when we were otherwise ready to resume.  Alan reminded singers of the melody and harmonies, high and low, for "The Rambling Comber".  Our first attempt to recreate these was rather ragged with perhaps an imbalance in volume between the harmonies and the melody, and the melody getting a bit lost.  A second attempt was better - but still disappointing and not as good as it had been when done in the past - so more work needed there too!   "Our Captain Cried All Hands" came next, followed by "The Oak Tree Song", by which time concentration and voices were running low.  "Oak and Ash and Thorn'" was suggested to finish but it faltered at the start and Alan, already weary before he came, felt he'd had enough and decided to leave a little early.  So a sociable evening but not an entirely successful sing concluded, and we hope to do better in July!

H

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday June 4th 2026

Our 'Barn session' in Worthing (Goring) this month was supported by 19 singers - and Emily was able to return to lead us although still taking care of her voice which is gradually recovering.  We had a list of songs from Amaryllis, prepared for the sets some of us will be singing at the Weald and Downland Living Museum on Sunday June 14th.   We sang most of them simply for the pleasure of singing, but following Amaryllis' advice on a few and with Emily's patient guidance, and occasional repetition, we also worked to improve our singing of them where needed.  

"Old Adam", one of our oldest songs learned in our early songs project days, was the first of these - with the three men present doing an able job on the men's lines - with 16 women singing in reply to them!   It prompted some discussion of the start note which had made some notes a little high to reach. The start notes of some others we sang were similarly modified slightly to make them more accessible for the tune and harmony singers present.   "Jim the Carter Lad" was next with "crack"s and claps working well in the choruses, before "Hares on the Mountain" in which we tried to maintain a lighter mood and brisker pace.  "Ale Good Ale" and "Sussex by the Sea" (the latter using the revised words created by Amaryllis with a more rural theme) were next - with the popular "Three Drunken Maidens" in hot pursuit.   After them the mood was  calmed again by the beautiful "Oak Tree Song".

"Country Life" brought everyone's attention back to singing after a break, and the second half continued with "England for Me", "Oak. Ash and Thorn" and "Rosebuds in June".   The final choice for the evening was "The Magpie" which concluded the session. Thanks to Emily and all who attended - rest your voices when you can, enjoy the songs again in the lovely setting of the Weald and Downland Museum if you are going  - and we'll be back to enjoy singing at the Barn again for our next meeting there on July 2nd. 

 

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday May 21st 2026

Alan was away but David kindly offered to lead us for our May session at the "Chichester Inn". A dozen singers gathered and we enjoyed singing our way through fourteen songs -. opening with  "Country Life" then "Twanky Dillo", a couple of old favourites, before another well suited to our venue, "Ale Glorious Ale".

"Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun" was shared between men and women's voices as we always do and it was as lovely as ever - but we had a few problems with the new tune used for "Run of the Downs" so decided it was best left for another day!  Instead we shared another gentle downland song "Searching for Lambs" before two old favourites from our original 'South Downs Songs' project repertoire - "Ebernoe Horn Fair" before we took a refreshment break, and 'Rolling in the Dew" when resuming refreshed  We haven't sung them for a while and both were a little faltering to begin with until their tunes came flowing back.

Stephen A  was invited to take the notional baton to update and progress our work on songs from the "Chithust Collection" being assembled towards a possible programme for the Chichester Fringe Festival in 2027.  (They can be found under a dedicated tab on our SDFS Blog.)   We sang the most familiar of these, the jaunty but sad tale of the "Stedham Oysterman's Donkey", before also singing "Saucy Sailor" then "Valiants All" - with ongoing discussion about the different versions of "Saucy Sailor" and the imagery in the words of "Valiants All".  

With more Chithust songs, and probably discussions about them, to come at future sessions we moved on with a song adopted from the 'Belloc and Broadwood Songs Project' - the "Turtle Dove" - before "Sussex by the Sea" changed the pace and mood.  As a bit of an afterthought and by popular request, we sang "Rosebuds in June" for our finale - and all enjoyed singing it again after not perhaps having done it and ourselves justice when it was last shared!  So on that positive note we concluded with thanks to David, Stephen and all!

We'll be back at the Inn on June 4th - and we hope to welcome back Alan and Anne after their triumphant appearance with "Cotillion" in the Chichester Fringe Festival the evening before. (Tickets still available!) 

H.

A Song to Try - St.George the Knight

Alan has offered a song for us to try, "St.George the Knight" written by John Kirkpatrick.  You'll find it on our "Other Songs to Try' page.