Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday July 17th 2025

14 singers attended the Chichester Inn for the June SDFS get together and this included two new potential singers – Julie and Ian, plus Sabina who was welcomed as a guest of Julia. 

In view of the new attendees, Alan decided to open the evening with a confident rendition of "Country Life" – one of our tried and trusted opening numbers!  "Hal and Tow" followed with a reminder to start with the chorus.  The relatively new "Rambling Comber" with harmony parts followed, remembering the unusual ending of the verse.  Alan felt that the group was doing really well with this newish song.  "Oak and Ash and Thorn" was sung twice to test the suggestion by Dave G that it needed to be sung a little more slowly.  Alan introduced a new possibility "England for Me" a song written by local songster Dave Toye which all seemed to pick up very quickly. This song is already on the SDFS Blog. With the reminder not to confuse it with the hymn, the group tried "Our Captain Cried All Hands" next which went well and all felt this should be included in the SDFS repertoire having been collected in Sussex by such a well known folk singer, Mrs Verrall.[
 
At this point, an enthusiastic visitor to the pub asked of we knew 'Jerusalem'!  To which Alan and Dave sang "Juicalem" a humerous skit written by Valmai Goodyear of Lewes Folk Club.  This was much appreciated and followed up by a rousing rendition of "Sussex By the Sea" provided a suitable finish to the first half of the evening.
 
The second half was opened with four verses of "The Jolly Woodcutter" with a reminder to repeat the last line at the end.  Following a request from Alan for suggestions, Dave G introduced a potential new song 'The Bonny Hawthorn' to the group.  He undertook to teach this to both Chichester and Worthing groups to see if it was liked by the SDFS.  The requests proceeded through "The Nightingale", "Three Drunken Maidens" (much enjoyed by all!), "On One April Morning" – which needs a bit more work and "The Rosebuds in June" which is well known by all.
 
To finish a busy evening, the group sang by request "The Parting Song" before leaving with a general feeling of a few hours well spent in good company!  
 
 
Anne S