All posts by Joyce Burton

Happy New Year

The Papworth and Elsworth WI Choir wish all friends and supporters a Happy and Healthy New Year.  We extend these wishes to everyone in the community and would like to invite all ladies to come along and sing with us.  We have lots of fun and enjoyment with our singing  lessons which take place in the Papworth Studio on the 1st 2nd and 4th Wednesday in the month at 7.30pm – 9pm.  You do not have to read music,  even if you feel you cannot sing  just come along,  give it a go and you will surprise yourself.  This club is open to non WI members of whom we have several to date.

Lyrical Voices sang at their musicians wedding.

 

Group singing is cheaper than theraphy, healthier than drinking and certainly more fun that working out.  It is the one thing in life where feeling better is pretty much guaranteed.

Home Meadows Care Home at Toft

What a lovely, amusing and interesting afternoon the choir spent with the residents of Home Meadows during December.  We chose a rendition of songs to sing to the residents initially and then invited everyone to join in and sing the  more familier Christmas Carols we all know and love.

Afterwards we spent a little time talking with our audience over a  cup of tea and it was surprising to learn of their life stories.  One of the ladies had written a book of wartime England. Two other gentlemen were musicians and another drank beer with the Crays during the sixites, absolutely fasinating and why its so important to visit these care homes.  All in all a very lovely way to spend an afternoon and we hope  at the same time we were able to bring a little joy to the reesidents.

 

 

 

 

Our 5th year at Ely Cathedral

Once again we were privilieged as well as delighted to sing at The Royal Papworth Hospital and Ely Cathedral Carol Service on Sunday the 11th December.  Our members arrived for a morning brunch in the Almonry Cafe, where we always enjoy excellent food and good service.  At 1pm we entered the Lady Chapel for our warm up, ready for the service to begin at 1.30pm .  Our carol is not well known but is a very pretty song,  ‘Blackbird with one White Feather’  which tell’s of a blessing from long ago.

We then met up with all the congregation and enjoyed a mince pie and mulled wine,  what    a fantastic day and perfect way to celebrate the coming of Christmas.

The |Lady Chapel

Afternoon of Music and Song

 

 

Well, what a turnout on Sunday 9th June and we easily filled every chair in our Village Hall. ‘Lyrical Voices’
the Papworth and Elsworth WI Choir hosted a musical afternoon at the hall raising money for The Royal Papworth Hospital and the local Day Centre. They started with their rendition of ‘Be Our Guest’ introduced by our very supportive compare Bert Bartlett who’s french incidently is second to none!
Rachel on the Flute then played two very moving pieces ‘Chanson de Matin and Jesu Joy of Mans Desires. This was followed by
‘Silver Lining’ playing four songs on the keyboard and guitar. The Papworth Handbells were next on with ‘Carousel’, Polaris and Teddy Bears Picnic.
We then enjoyed a 30 minute break while tea and delicious cake was served up by some of our very own WI ladies.
‘Sing Papworth’ started our second half with ‘Londonderry Air’, ‘Lowlands’- a traditional english shanty and ‘Chatanooga Choo-Choo’ a really great performance. Next on, singer Lucy with Sam Fallon on Guitar with their own version of ‘Toxic’, Layla, and Landslide, well done to this very young brother and sister duo. Debs and Gerry our Saxophonists played soothing melodic music such as ‘Moon River’, ‘Autumn Leaves’, ‘As Time Goes By’ and more.
‘Lyrical Voices’ sang once again and finished with ‘World in Union’ when all the performers and audience were invited to join in. This was a fitting end to a very communal afternoon. Thanks were said to all performers, our compare, tea ladies and everyone who supported these good causes. Finally and not the least, to our wonderful musicians Jan and Penny for putting up with us all while we try to learn our words and music.

Our Visit to Ferrars Hall Care Home

On Sunday March 17th the Choir were pleased to visit Ferrars Hall Care Home in Huntingdon to sing to the residents. The care home has special significance to the Choir as one of the residents was until very recently a member of the Papworth and Elsworth WI. It was a lovely sunny afternoon and the Choir looked really cheerful in their cerice coloured blouses.

The residents joined in to well known songs such as ‘Lullaby of Broadway’, A Nightingale sang in Berkeley Square’ and ‘The Lambeth Walk.
The Choir also entertained them to songs as ‘Be my Guest’, ‘Hine Ma Tov’, ‘Fly me to the Moon’. All in all a very pleasant time and before leaving we were able to sit and chat to the residents.