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.