What comes to mind when you say the word stalwart? A broad knotty oak beam that stops your house from falling down? An unfussy shepherd keeping his flock more or less in line? A football manager from the lower divisions, one eye on survival, the other twinkling with a vision of what might be – United at home in the cup?
My thesaurus’s synonym for stalwart is David Illingworth.
He was all these things and more, and the choir is learning to be without him. I first met David and Sheelagh as fellow choral students, singing with Len Williams at Holmfirth High School. We did stuff like ‘Skye Boat Song’. I had him down as a bass. He certainly spoke like one, and occasionally sang like one, as some of us baritones do. We enjoy the odd low note. Some even decant to the basses.
How many people know that baritone Ray Burkinshaw wants to be a Mike Samms singer.
We pilgrimaged to Wrexham last October to perform with Cantorion Colin Jones. Technically awesome, but am I alone when I experience the welsh choir tingle factor for two songs and then wonder where it’s gone?
The Royal Albert Hall practices at Lindley were excellent. Malcolm Fairless was enthusiastic, very musical and earned a better concert than he got. Watch out for the Gledholt Choir Members though. They do get excited if you don’t stack their chairs correctly.
Enough has been said of Stowe School. But what a great place for young people to learn to play cricket and rugby. The library was impressive too. One of those where many of the bookcases were locked and barred. Presumably to stop the books from getting out?
I left practice one autumn Tuesday in 2003, as I usually do, to pick up my car outside the vet’s. So did Barry Meers. It’s a thing we do regularly. We’ve built dry stone walls, and rode a mountain bike marathon, and now we walk to the vet’s. He says, “Look at Mars.”
I think, what’s he on about? I say, “Really.”
He knows I’m humouring him, “Yes, really,” he says. I finally cotton on it is actually Mars. Barry’s an astronomer.
Which links smoothly to the last item. The choir is being invaded by Woodsome Hall golfers. Are there any more closet enthusiasts?
Could be a Christmas Carol. 2 stars a gazing (Clive and Barry)
Caravanners (Richard’s in this one)
Doctors/lecturers (Martin, Eric)
Crown green bowlers (Richard’s in this)
Rugby League (Richard’s in that one as well, with Terry)
Rugby Union (Geoff Gill, Ibbo)
Cricket (Rupert, Ken Jagger, Alan Hicks)
Any singers? (Richard maybe)
Would there be merit in compiling a directory of choir members, their interests and preoccupations? If you needed your plumbing doing you’d know where to go. The editor has made a start by requesting one singer profile per issue.
