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.