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.

  

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.

Lewes Local Group Report – Monday May 18th 2026

Ten singers were at the Lewes Arms tonight, including a welcome return by founder member Adrian, now newly recovered from injury. Most of us will be at Alfriston Clergy House next week so we sang through many of the songs on the setlist.

We’d sung through half of the Alfriston songs last month so the first batch today consisted of ones I’d identified as least known and/or needing most attention and these were “Ebernoe Horn Fair”(an oldie not sung for a while), “England for Me” (one recently learned),  then back to old favourites “Farmer’s Toast”, “Green Grow the Laurel”, “Hares on the Mountain”, “Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun”, “Rolling in the Dew”, “Run of the Downs” and “Turtle Dove”. 

 

In the break we discussed singing at Saltdean Lido on the afternoon of June 20^th (a smaller event this time with a longer one planned to follow in 2027, seven of us can do this one, emails to go out to others shortly), Brunswick Festival in August (I’ve now spoken to someone who confirmed our invitation but we don’t yet know whether 15^th or 16^th), a future singing tour of local “painted churches” either in October/November or next year (Nick is going to take this forward),  harmony workshops (Ce will host and will come back with dates) and singing out with Ouse Valley Morris in place of our pub session in December (Ce & Rosie to take forward).

 

We then went round taking turns to choose from others on the set list and got through “West Sussex Drinking Song”, “East Sussex Drinking Song” (Adrian’s answer to Belloc’s West Sussex version with Adrian solo on the verses and all joining in on the chorus), “On Sussex Hills” (more Belloc!), “Rosebuds in June”, and “Smuggler’s Song” before rounding off a very pleasant and tuneful evening with “Thousands or More”.

 

Our next session will be on Monday June 15^th and we always welcome new singers. 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 May 7th 2026

Twenty-six singers gathered in the church next to our usual venue, whilst the Barn was in use as a poling station for the local elections.  Sadly Emily was unable to be there - or to sing at all, having lost her voice and needing to rest it - but we were, as ever, fortunate to have Alan and Amaryllis there to pick up her baton.   

From the variety of songs suggested as options for the evening, we managed to sing 15 songs and enjoy listening to 2 more. Our usual semi-circle formation was necessarily changed to fit the straight lines of the pews in the beautiful church setting - but with the very open space and acoustic where our voices rise to the amazing ceiling, spreading across two blocks of the central parallel pews made it a little hard to hear each other.  So it was agreed that if singing there again we should try using the right angle created by just the end of the central pews and the pews to the side.

In the first part of the evening we opened with "Twanky Dillo" before "Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun"; "Rambling Comber"; "Rosebuds in June"; "Follow Me Home" (joining men's and women's voices on the verses and the choruses); "May Day Carol"; "Our Captain Cried All Hands"; "Three Drunken Maidens"; "The Jolly Woodcutter", and the new song created by Amaryllis to the tune of 'Cruel Mother' - "The Loyal Lover".

In a break from singing together, Stephen A. spoke about plans underway in our Chichester SDFS local group to prepare a show for submission to the 2027 Fringe Festival in Chichester. (Application to perform at the Fringe opens in the autumn this year.) 

The plan being for a SDFS performance using the traditional songs famously collected in the Midhurst and Chithurst area.  Stephen has already gathered a large number of these and he is leading preparation of a narrative for the programme.   He advised that, if the application is successful, any singers (from any or all of our three local groups) interested in participating will need to make a commitment to attend the Chichester local group sessions to learn the songs - and also to attend some extra rehearsals to prepare the performance.  (The number of singers needed for the performance is not yet known and may be limited and shortlisted nearer the time, depending on the venue and other specifications as directed by the Fringe organisers.)

The songs identified for the performance will also be available for our Worthing and Lewes groups and all our singers to enjoy them as South Downs Songs - there is already a new songs tab on our Blog for the "Chithurst Songs" where they will be posted as they become available, with melody lines and lyrics that can be downloaded.  Stephen was persuaded to sing one of the songs for us - one which is already in our repertoire on the Songs and Recordings page of the Blog, but rarely used these days - "The Stedham Oysterman's Donkey' - a sad but humorous tale!

Our singing resumed with a solo presentation from Alan, "St. George the Knight'" which was liked by many and may be added to the Blog's 'Other Song to Try' page - to be reviewed at a future session.  Thereafter we joined our voices to sing Barbara S' revised version of "Turnip Hoers" - "The Worthing Grower" - with Barbara explaining her addition of an extra verse to suit the cider making season. "Love and the Ball", "Run of the Downs" and "England for Me" brought us to a close, with many thanks to Alan, Amaryllis and all, for our evening of song.

We'll be back in the Barn as usual for our next session on June 4th.

Lewes Local Group Report - Monday April 20th 2026

Seven regulars were joined by four new singers this evening (from Seaford, Lewes and two from Storrington although they may go to Worthing in future as it’s nearer to them). Other apologies were received due to work and Morris dancing. Our singer from Bexhill needed to leave early for his train, so we agreed to sing straight through to 9pm before taking a break.

We started off with more of the songs for imminent events at Stanmer, Oldland Mill and Alfriston Clergy House. First was the Copper Family’s ”When Spring Comes In” (with a reminder to pronounce “love-lie” in the local way, and a singer mentioning the Coppers’ album “Come Write Me Down” available on Spotify). This was followed by “May Day Carol”, “Oldland Mill” (with Ray explaining how it was written by his friend Stuart Leon and how we came to be invited to sing it at the mill, which we now do each year, the next time being 3^rd May) and Kipling’s “Bee Boy’s Song” (with a singer letting us know that Rosie Hodgson & Rowan Piggott, whose harmonies we use, now have a whole CD of songs relating to bees)

 

We agreed to try a new song, which has been sung previously at Chichester and Worthing but not yet at this session, “England for Me” which was learned quickly, liked and enjoyed.

 

Back on familiar ground we continued with “Country Life”, “Ale Glorious Ale, “Ha’nacker Mill” (one new singer is reading Belloc’s book “The Four Men”, while another’s parents are buried next to Belloc at West Grinstead), “Smuggler’s Song”, “Magpie” (after we mentioned how David Dodds wrote it after hearing an old lady say “Good morning, Mr Magpie, how’s your wife today?” another new singer said she had heard that you should also blow it a kiss to drive away sorrow), “Pleasant and Delightful” and “Rosebuds in June”.

Next, we looked at the other new song on my list, “Buttercup Joe”. Again, this was quite simple to learn, it reminded us of others in our collection, and it was well received.

 

Our last batch of songs consisted of “East Sussex Drinking Song” (with an explanation of its origins as Adrian Figgess’s answer to Belloc’s West Sussex original, and the wistful reference to the Beechwood Hall Hotel in the last verse),  “It is the First of May”, “Nightingale”, “On Sussex Hills”, and “Thousands or More”.

 

By now it was 9:50pm. I commented that I was surprised and impressed that we had got through all the songs on my proposed list, including two new ones, and asked if we should take requests to fill the last ten minutes. At this point we realised that we had sung through without taking the agreed break at 9pm and everybody had been too polite to mention it so ended early!

 

We had a good balance of high and low voices with some glorious harmonies, a very satisfying session all round.

 

Our next session will be on Monday May 18^th and we always welcome new singers. Come along for a free taster session any time, just bring your voice and your enthusiasm.

 

 

 Tina

 

Change of Venue for the Worthing Group Session in May

Please Note - The Worthing Local Group will NOT be using the Barn for its session on May 7th.

The Barn is being used as a poling station for the local elections - so for this month only we have been kindly offered and will be using the church next-door for our singing instead.  The acoustics are lovely and the singing will be just as good!

(To join us please come to the front door of the church - NOT via the Barn.)

So still at the same time, and postcode, but temporarily in a different setting - and we'll be back in the equally lovely Barn again, as usual, for our meeting in June. 

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday April 16th 2026

9 singers attended the March 26 Chichester Inn SDFS singing session.  A small but enthusiastic group led by Alan.  
 
Alan announced that at this session, he would be trying material that was proposed for the Fishbourne event, coming up on 2^nd May and Steve A would continue introducing the proposed songs for next year’s Chichester Fringe bid – Steve W confirmed that these are now located on a new part of the SDFS Blog – The Chithurst Songs. 
 
So to start the evening off in a rousing fashion, the group sang "Ale Glorious Ale" – sung with feeling!
There was a discussion about "The Young and Saucy Sailor" in relation to Fishbourne and this was removed from the potential set list as it was felt not enough people would know it, although it had been tried at Chichester on a few occasions.  "The First of May" was sung enthusiastically and all agreed it was a fitting song for the Fishbourne event – the day after May Day.  
 
Steve A then introduced the first of the potential Chithurst songs – "Valiants All".  He led the group through the song and following a fair amount of discussion, sorted out the various word scanning issues that arose.  He stressed the need for all to use the same timing and following this, the group had another go at the song and it seemed to be progressing pretty well.  He followed this with the more familiar "Stedham Oysterman’s Donkey" which certainly Chichester attendees had tried in the past.  It was agreed that the version of the song that has been on the SDFS website for sometime was the one that would be used.
 
For the last song of the first half, the group tried "The Cuckoo" and after some discussion about words to stress, felt confident that this could be included in the Fishbourne set.
 
Before the start of the second half of the evening, Henny checked with Alan the song list for Fishbourne and it was decided to add "Rose Buds in June" as a reserve.  
 
Carrying on with the new Chithurst possibilities, Steve A introduced "Mayner’s Whip" by singing it through.  It was felt that the tune was possibly a bit tricky for the choir and Henny suggested trying the words to the tune of Three Drunken Maidens with a further suggestion from Alan that perhaps Steve could recite this old traditional local tale as a poem with all singing the last lines to this tune.  This arrangement seemed to work very well!
 
As a great finale the group finished with "Oak and Ash and Thorn" – a further proposal for singing at Fishbourne on 2 May.
 
 
Anne Sartain 

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday April 2nd 2026

With songs suggested by both Alan and Amaryllis and Emily's leadership when singing them, we enjoyed a dozen songs from our SDFS repertoire old and new. The sociable mood was set by "Ale Glorious Ale" to start, followed by an old favourite from our songs original project days "Come Write Me Down" (aka the "Sussex Wedding Song") with men's and women's voices in the conversation. 

The Spring season and approach of May was then celebrated in song by "Hal an Tow", "It is the First of May", "When Spring Comes In" and the "May Day Carol".   A rural theme continued with "Searching for Lambs" and "Brisk Young Ploughboy".  "Birds on the Spray" was next on the list, but few singers were familiar with it and so on this occasion preference was given to other options, with agreement to come back to it at a future session.  So we moved on with "Hares on the Mountain", another song shared between men and women' voices in a teasing conversation. 

A break gave time for chat and refreshment - and reminders about coming events, our social gathering at the Barn on April 11th, and an invitation to join with others in reviving the "Stork Song" at this year's Stork Fair in Storrington on June 23rd. 

"Riding on a Donkey" opened our second half - a song revised with new verses by Alan specifically for use at an event we attended at East Clayton Farm (where donkeys and donkey walks feature ). It has since become a favourite and has a seasonal reference in it alluding to the donkey's role in Palm Sunday.  "Rambling Comber" followed with harmonies revived to enhance it - and finally, from various choices still on the proposed list but with time running out, "Turtle Dove" was agreed to and sung as our last song of the evening.

Our next Worthing SDFS group session will be on May 7th - BUT - watch this space, because May 7th is now also a local election day and the Barn may be in use as a poling station.  We will confirm an alternative venue as soon as known - this may be the church next door, which has kindly been made available to us in the past - but this is yet to be confirmed.. 

 

Lewes Local Group Report - Monday March 16th 2026

There were eight of us tonight, including the return of the two new singers from last time, with five apologies received from others prevented by illness, dog sitting and Morris dancing. We started with seasonal spring and outdoors songs and worked our way alphabetically through those likely to be on the set lists at Stanmer Apple Blossom Day, Oldland Mill and Alfriston Clergy House. Some of these were repeats from last month so we could check and practise harmonies. 

  

First was Kipling’s “Bee Boy’s Song”, then “Birds on the Spray” from the Copper Family’s collection and “Country Life” with my usual reminder that the vibe we are looking for is more Poldark and less Songs of Praise. “Ha’nacker Mill” was sung after a discussion about Hilaire Belloc (not known to all present) and a recommendation to look out for his own poignant rendition of this online. Similarly, with “It is the First of May” we mentioned the charming video online featuring the woman with her guitar. To take us to the break, we turned to a general favourite popular at any time of year, David Dodds’ “Magpie” and we recounted for the newer singers the story of how he wrote it after being in a car with an old lady who greeted a passing bird in the traditional country way “Good morning, Mr Magpie, how’s your wife today?”. This led to a discussion of the TV series “The Detectorists” which featured the song, and then to the more recent “Small Prophets” by the same writer. 

  

During the break there was further wide ranging discussion regarding the social for all three groups on April 11^th; the suggestion from the committee regarding other events such as a canal barge trip e.g. at Chichester (welcomed); anyone else willing to join me as a Lewes rep on the committee (no); a possible harmony workshop in Lewes (generally keen, perhaps a Saturday combined with a trip to Lewes Folk Club in the evening); a suggestion for a singing tour of local “painted churches”; who could lead a session if I were unavailable at any time (3 people tentatively agreed to give it a go); a reminder to bring new local songs to teach others; and the discovery that one of the new singers knows the man in the red jacket who was at our Brighton Unitarian Church event and invited us to the Brunswick Festival (she gave me his mobile number to take this forward). 

  

Back to the singing we carried on with others from the probable set lists: “May Day Carol”, “Oldland Mill”, “On Sussex Hills”, “Pleasant and Delightful”, “Run of the Downs”, and ”When Spring Comes In”. The remaining time was then filled with singers’ choices of “Green Grow the Laurel”, “Hal an Tow”, “Loyal Lover” and ending, as we often do, with, “Thousands or More”. 

  

Our next session will be on Monday April 20^th, and more singers are always welcome. Come along for a free taster session any time, just bring your voice and your enthusiasm. 

  

 Tina

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday March 19th 2026

Some confusion over dates, a tyre puncture on the way to Chichester, and assorted other causes or commitments somewhat limited the number of singers meeting for our March sing at the "Chichester.Inn".  Nonetheless it was good to share the evening and some songs (chosen by request) with those able to be there.  

Although he was having a busy week, Alan was there to advise and assist (thanks for this Alan) - and the first request was for one of his songs "Lammas Carol", not chosen by him but benefitting from his expert direction.  "England For Me" was next, followed by "To Be a Farmers Boy" which has been rather neglected and not often sung by us.  Alan spoke about "Bold Reynard", another song we haven't used.  He noted that a dislike of fox hunting has deterred its use - although the song's narrative is actually about an old and unwell fox seeking his own death. A sad song either way… but an interesting perspective to maybe reconsider, and then adopt it after all.

With invitation and encouragement from the group, Julia and Nicola revisited for us their beautiful duet of a song (written by Julia) used at the Chichester Fringe event we did last summer - "The Holly King and the Oak King" - which was much appreciated.  With a refreshment break incorporated at some point, the rest of the session continued with "Love and the Ball"; "Loyal Lover"; "Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun" and "Fields Lie Silent". A look towards the return of spring cited at the end of the last of these prompted the next request, "It is the First of May". 

Nearing the end of our session we went back to a song from our early South Downs Songs repertoire, "Old Adam", before a song added in the recent past,"The Rambling Comber" - and to conclude our mixed bag of choices, we managed the "Song of the Sussex Downsman" before heading our ways home.

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday March 5th 2026

Emily led us through a list of songs proposed for the session that had been shared with singers before our gathering; this advance notice was generally appreciated.  Without any public performances due in the very near future the list was free of any specific event related 'song set' to rehearse, and gave us time to sing a song or two from our extensive SDFS collection which deserve more attention, revival and then future use.  It also gave us a chance to look beyond the grey end of winter skies and sing about brighter seasons ahead.

We began with "The Cuckoo".  We now include the fourth verse, rather than just repeat the first to finish with as we used to do. Emily offered a fifth verse to finish the song in cheerful mood; we look forward to hearing it again at a future session and to adding it to this otherwise 'trad' song.  We continued with "Ebernoe Horn Fair"- earlier than its usual summer airing, but to revive it in good time after having not sung it for a while.  Emily congratulated the few men present for the quality of their singing in this conversation song - with the women's voices making a strong response, as the narrative requires!  Using the Copper family's version of the lyrics we sang "The Lark in the Morning" with, as ever, some comments about the words, including whether or not larks rise or fly from their nests! Next was the majestic sound of "The Oak Tree" song, enjoyed by all, as were the gentle tones of "Searching For Lambs" before, by contrast, "Three Drunken Maidens" picked up the pace, and "England for Me" carried us to a break after brief repetition of  a few lines to correct and confirm the scanning.

As well as chats and quaffing, the break gave time to consider plans for our public events this year (plus the SDFS private social "Springtime Revels" on April 11th).  Sign-up sheets listing our draft programme for 2026 were available for singers to make their choices and volunteer to sing out.  (All the proposed events are listed on the Diary Dates page of this Blog - and singers from all three of our local groups are invited to let us know if they'd like to sing at any of them - and also, if they'd like to attend our "Revels" on April 11th - RSVP asap!)

Amaryllis brought a new song to us, "The Lost Lover", with lyrics written by her to the tune of "The Cruel Mother", but relating a less tragic tale. This was welcomed but it also prompted some humour in response to the rendition of a line reporting the lost lover had "gone up north". This humour reminded Emily of other songs which have intentionally raised a smile - primarily the witty "Three Moles" song written by Gordon from our Chichester group.  She hoped Gordon would be present to entertain us with it at our Revels social evening - and it was also suggested that we should all learn and use it as a SDFS group song.  

From there we welcomed the coming seasons with "Summer is A'Comin' in Again", before trying a song new to many, if not most - "Love and the Ball".  This lyric, from an old poem set to a tune by our own Alan W, tells of a couple teasingly competing with and for each other in the traditional  Sussex game (and played elsewhere too) of stoolball.  Alan introduced us to this song a while ago and it has been regularly sung in our Lewes group sessions but less so in Chichester - and not at all in the Worthing group.  When reminded of it and then tried, with guidance from Alan and Emily, it was liked and we agreed to use it more.  Discussion ensued about whether it should be sung in unison as a group or shared between male and female voices - to be tried again and concluded at future sessions.  Description and discussion about stoolball itself prompted Emily to suggest we try a small scale soft ball version of it for fun at the Revels social in April - watch this space!

As we approached the close of the session, we sang  "Come Stranger Come Friend" - and (although not in the SDFS' 'official' repertoire) followed this with a request for an old favourite, "Rolling Home", to finish.  Thanks All - and we'll be back at the Barn on Thursday April 2nd.

H.

 

Lewes Local Group Report - from Monday February 16th 2026

On arrival I found a gaming group in the upstairs room and, after checking with the landlord, found our dates had not yet been confirmed for the year. We decamped instead to Sandria’s house (many thanks to her, and to her partner who had planned a quiet night in alone with the Winter Olympics!). Some of us went on ahead to set up while others waited to taxi latecomers. There were nine of us, including two new singers from Brighton and Lewes who said they had been nervous about coming along for the first time but felt very welcomed and enjoyed the unexpected adventure!   

I’d brought along word sheets for 26 songs, mainly concerning spring and the outdoors, plus a few from the general list that I keep on rotation throughout the year and a couple of newer items. With no imminent events we took it in turns to choose. 

  

The first three were old favourites “Hares on the Mountain”, “Oak Tree Song” and “Searching for Lambs”. Somebody then chose from the list a song we had not done at Lewes previously but which I and others had sung at the “Belloc, Broadwood and Beyond” project a few years ago – the whimsical Hilaire Belloc song “Delicate Flower” which has nothing to do with flowers and a lot to do with the alleged treachery of women!  In a similar courtly vein, next was “Love and the Ball” concerning stoolball, the predecessor of cricket, which in Regency times was played on the green outside “Ye Olde King & Queen pub” where some of us attended the Brighton sessions of the original South Downs Society project. We have singers in the group who played stoolball at school in Uckfield and at Woodingdean in Brighton (one of tonight’s new singers) as well as someone’s friend who still plays it in Plumpton. The jaunty tune (by Alan Wheeler from our Chichester group, based on an earlier poem) seems well suited to the quaint language and the love story in the poem. 

  

As we started later than usual, we had a very brief tea and comfort break then carried on, leaving any notices to be dealt with later via email.  We continued with two more seasonal songs, “Birds on the Spray” from the Copper Family and the traditional “May Day Carol”, then “Nightingale” (again, nothing really to do with the bird, but about an apparently married soldier, his fiddle and his sweetheart), and another outdoors song “Run of the Downs” with words by Rudyard Kipling describing several prominent local heights, set to a tune by Amaryllis Gunn from our Worthing group. We rounded off the evening with “Oldland Mill”, a recent song from 2009 by local singer-songwriter Stuart Leon concerning the restored mill at Keymer, where we frequently perform this song. This led to a discussion about folic acid being added to flour before we said our goodbyes and headed home. 

  

Our dates have now been confirmed at the pub for March to November (we will discuss options for December nearer the time). The next session will therefore be on Monday March 16^th when we will continue with mainly spring songs. More singers are always welcome, regardless of experience. 

  

 Tina 

 

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday February 19th 2026

12 singers attended the February 26 Chichester Inn SDFS singing session, led by Alan. 

At this session, the group would be considering some of the new material that was being proposed by Steve A for the 2027 bid to take part in the Chichester Fringe.  All being based on lesser-known material collected in the Chithurst area by Dorothy Marshall and Clive Carey. 

To start, Alan led the rousing England for Me (Dave Toye) which, with slight adjustments to the chorus, went pretty well.  Steve W agreed to adjust the words on the website to ensure that it matched what had been agreed.  This was followed by "Rambling Comber" with Alan reminding the group of the various harmonies available.  Stephen A then introduced the first of the potential Fringe material "The Young Recruit", following line by line practice, the whole song was worked out and sung.  Alan suggested it be introduced to the Worthing sessions as well.

There was discussion at this point about the necessity of attempting to keep all three groups of the SDFS (Worthing, Chichester and Lewes) singing the same versions of the SDFS songs and where possible working along similar practice lines for each session.  Tina from Lewes had sent Alan her proposed practice list and Alan undertook to do the same for Chichester.  Henny also agreed to let the Worthing group know in advance of the sessions, which songs, decided by Emily, Alan and Amaryllis, were to be practised or learned, so they could, if necessary, listen to the recordings on the SDFS blog before the practice

With this in mind, Alan then led the group in "Love and the Ball" which had been practised at Lewes but not much at other sessions.

The second half of the evening started with another of the potential Fringe songs, "Stedham Oyster Man’s Donkey".  Stephen A again demonstrated this (which is apparently a true tale from Stedham!)  There was some discussion about the length of the song and the importance of hearing the words. The group felt that it would be good to perhaps have different individuals or pairs of singers for each verse, the whole group to join in the choruses and the last verse.  Following a quick try, this idea was confirmed and also the thought that an instrument to accompany it would ensure the key was maintained!

The last part of the evening was devoted to requests.  Dave G suggested "Loyal Lover" which the group tried and then again with just the ladies who were encouraged by Alan to keep the rhythm going.  "Our Captain Cried All Hands" followed – as a song not often sung and in view of the season "When Spring Comes In" was the penultimate song of the evening before a rousing "Rolling Home" to finish. 

As a footnote to the Chichester Fringe material, Steve W is creating a new page on the blog called “The Chithurst Songs”, where lyrics and recordings will gradually be assembled. 

Anne Sartain

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday February 5th 2026

Although the miserably wet weather on a winter evening again probably deterred some folks, we still mustered 21 singers for our February gathering.  We began with notices about possible dates for a SDFS social evening at The Barn in April or May - then a summary of the public events likely to be on our calendar this year - and last but not least, ideas for managing our song repertoire to help keep more in circulation, for our pleasure in singing them and to be ready to share them with others at our public performances.

With Emily's support and guidance we began our singing with a few songs from those chosen by Tina (our lead in Lewes) for a lunchtime performance in Brighton some of us would be singing at the next day.  Foremost was  "The Brave Eleven", which uses a traditional folk tune and the words of a poem commemorating a shipwreck off Worthing a hundred years ago.  It is regularly sung by Tina with the Lewes Group but is not known by many in the Worthing Group.  However, most of the singers due to contribute to the Brighton event knew the song from their singing sessions with our 'cousin' group the 'Secret Shore Singers', where it features as a sea song.  So for some we polished off the rust to get the tune and pace right, and for newcomers it was an introduction to the song - and maybe it will be used more often at future sessions at the Barn.

From there we returned to more familiar territory with a few more songs also on the set list for Brighton: "Home Lads Home", "Hard Times" and "Where Stormy Winds Do Blow" - all were revisited and refreshed in readiness.  After a refreshment break, the collection of dues and yet more time to chat, "Three Drunken Maidens" enabled us to make a definite move away from the sombre or wintery songs we had opened with.  Our thoughts also turned towards brighter days ahead with "When Spring Comes In".  A mixture of requests filled the rest of the evening - "Life of a Man", "England for Me", "Old Adam" and "The Lark in the Morning" (the latter, by popular demand, using the words Alan gave us when first introducing the song).  These took us towards "The Parting Song" and the close of the session.

March now beckons, with clocks going forward, longer daylight and, we hope, better weather!  We'll be at the Barn again for our next sing there on March 5th - hope you can join us then.

H.