Local Group Report - Lewes - Tuesday January 18th 2022

Because The John Harvey Tavern is closed for three weeks for refurbishment, Tina ran another two ZOOM sessions.  On Sunday afternoon (16th) I was pleasantly surprised to find five of us.  After 20 minutes of chat, Tina offered us a list of 25 Wassail/Winter related songs and we managed to sing through 13 of them.  By maintaining a fairly slow pace, waiting a few extra beats between verses and singing solos when possible, the time lag didn’t cause too much trouble!  In fact Alan’s Wassail Round was enhanced by ZOOM’s time delay!

On Tuesday evening there were 11 singers (albeit 3 appeared at both sessions) and despite much talking and laughing about gardening, sea swimming and walking on the Downs, we sang 15 songs, but overall there were only 20 different ones:  “Come Stranger, Come Friend”, “East Sussex Drinking Song”, “Poor Froze Out Gardeners”, “Here We Come a’Wassailing”, “The Sussex Sugar Wassail”, “The Silver Apple Wassail”, “The Apple Tree Wassail”, “Wassail All Your Apple Trees” (Alan’s Round), “One For The Rook”, “The Fields Lie Silent”, “Ha’nacker Mill”, “Run of The Downs”, “Hard Times of Old England”, “The Magpie”, “Smuggler’s Song”, “Three Maidens”,  “The Sussex Wedding Song”,  “I Heard a Bird Sing” (Round), “The Parting Song” and “Pleasant and Delightful”.  

News from Boris - Plan B restrictions will be reduced and, as of Wednesday 26th January, face masks will no longer be compulsory.   And hopefully The John Harvey Tavern will be our venue once more.

Local Group Report - Worthing - Wednesday January 12th 2022

18 singers met at the Barn for a well spaced Sing - with coats kept on to manage the drafts from the open doors!  Hearty singing warmed us up, from seasonal songs to a meander down memory lane.  We started with “Sugar Wassail", then "Here We Come a Wassailing”, the "Gloucester Wassail" and the "Apple Tree Wassail”.  Emily reminded us of the Wassail round Alan had given us in pre-Covid times - which we revived and managed in 3 (or was it even 4!) parts after a few goes.   

After a break Dave sang for us another song from the Copper’s collection, “Two Young Bretheren”,  suggesting it could be one we all try another day.  The rest of the evening comprised requests - including songs learnt at the original project workshops but not often sung now at the Worthing sessions.  “Cruel Mother”, "Unquiet Grave” and "The Cuckoo” were mentioned but not sung, preferring instead “Three Maidens”; “Eileen Aroon”; "Old Adam”; the "Sussex Wedding Song” (Come Write Me Down), and "Rolling in the Dew”.  We then sang "The Nightingale” and, recalling some of the songs used in the more recent project "Belloc and Broadwood”, we finished the session with a rousing rendition of Belloc’s “The Winged Horse”.

Update re. Chichester Local Group session

The Chichester Local Group Session on Thursday January 20th has been CANCELLED.  

We hope to resume in February.

SDFS Sings in January 2022

Firstly - “Happy New Year” to you all !  Having said that, sadly Covid continues to ‘plague’ us, and heightened concerns about the latest variant have prompted us to review and consult with our singers on plans for this month.

Worthing Local Group

Responses to the consultation received from Worthing group singers described a majority wishing to go ahead with caution rather than cancel our January session.  So on those terms we will be meeting for very careful session at the church Barn in Goring on Wednesday January 12th as planned (starting at 7.30 pm and finishing by 9.30 pm).

Please Note - Whilst there are no legal restrictions on our meeting - and although the “Omicron" variant is reported to be milder than previous ones - safety measures are still strongly recommended to minimise risks (being mindful not only of those attending, but also of vulnerable others and the disruption due to infection rates in the wider community).   These measures include mask wearing (not necessary when singing - as per Govt. guidance), maintaining good social distances and good ventilation (so wrap-up warm in readiness for the doors to be left open!), and, if possible, checking for Covid with a test before you attend.  

Please DO NOT attend if you (or anyone you have had recent contact with) currently have a positive Covid test, or have any symptoms however mild which could be Covid related. 

If you are planning to attend please let us know by reply to the SDFS email address:  southdownsfolksingers21@gmail.com 

Lewes Local Group

Their usual venue ("The John Harvey Tavern") is undergoing refurbishment so not available this month.  Tina has kindly offered to host a substitute Zoom session, in addition to the extra Sunday session already planned.  Details to join the sessions are as follows -

Sunday January 16th - 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83448393748?pwd=ZG9YVmVGZlRzcVpmZkZiR2MrU3JKdz09

Meeting ID: 834 4839 3748

Passcode: 847775

Tuesday January 18th - 7.30 pm to 10.00 pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85061298720?pwd=bTFwZEJHV2UwSVpMMjZLZHJ5SEhjUT09

Meeting ID: 850 6129 8720

Passcode: 647927

Chichester Local Group 

Their last session at "The Chichester Inn" in December was cancelled due to Covid concerns, and it seems likely that the same will apply to their January session - but this has not yet been confirmed, so please watch this space for more details as soon as known.