2018/19 A Busy Year

When the church's Viscount "Grand Opera" digital organ gave up the ghost in a rather dramatic way on the first Sunday in Advent 2017, the Church Council was faced with the choice of having it repaired, if possible, or seek a replacement.  The latter path was chosen and after a visit to Viscount's Showroom in Bicester, Oxfordshire by our senior organist with an adviser, a new Viscount Envoy 35F was purchased.  This instrument features the 'Physis' digital system, which produces its very realistic pipe organ sounds not so much from the digital samples of its predecessor, but rather creates the sounds from a plethora of finely adjustable parameters.  Once it had arrived in March 2018 and been voiced to suit the accoustic of the Chapel, it soon won general approval of the congregation.

Organists Alan & Wendy

Naturally, this purchase would rquire quite a few fund raising events throughout 2018 and 2019, but, while these events mean a lot of work for the members, and raises several hundred pounds, they also have the pleasing effect of drawing the community together and enhancing our sense of fellowship.  Many of the events had a musical slant, very appropriately.  We began with a Concert from our very own Songbirds Quartet with a very varied musical programme and ably assisted by comic duo of Labey and Arnold - our answer to Morecambe and Wise, or was it Laurel and Hardy??! -  They also added their fine baritone voices in a selection from"Les Miserables"

Next came a performance by the 'Les Conteurs Singers' a popular local choir with a wide ranging repertoire of songs from the shows, folk and modern day classics.  On this occasion they also brought with them a visiting a capella choir from Salford.  This event was followed by another fine local choir, The Amity Singers also featuring Judy one of our Church Stewards.  They also have a wide repertoire of both classical and lighter music much enjoyed by their audience.

Before Christmas we enjoyed a capacity attended, 'Flower Arranging' evening with our very own Margaret Le Cornu and her family.  Between them they demonstrated how to produce a magnificent range of floral arrangements suitable for Christmas, from table decorations to impressive pedestal arrangements.

Into the New Year and Alan produced a musical extravaganza, with help from the Songbirds, our comedic pair and fine solo items from Mark Labey, all held together by Local Radio compere, Tim Pollard.  This was yet another well attended and much enjoyed evening of superb entertainment.

Finally, in May, to coincide with the Island's Leration Day celebrations, member, Trevor Green, gave us a very entertaining and instructive evening of personal recollections seen through the eyes of "An Occupation Boy"  All of these events raised magnificent sums and soon the new organ was paid off. Our grateful thanks to all who worksed so hard to produce these evening and to all who attended made this programme such a success.