Tone’s Tidings
September 2016 Issue 14
St Edmundsbury Male Voice Choir Patron: The Rt. Hon The Earl of Iveagh; President: Paul Deane Vice Presidents: John Balaam, Dr John Meers and The Very Reverend Dr Frances Ward
Registered Charity No. 1028123
This time round I thought, a word picture I will paint
About some towns in France, some old, some quaint.
The paper’s there and so’s the pen
The brain’s gone dead, and it was then
I realised, a tourist guide I ain’t.
Avignon
A city that is renowned for
being, in the Middle Ages, the
city of the Popes. The Palace of
the Popes, the Pont Saint
Benezet and a host of
museums to cover all tastes.
Add to the list the gastronomic
delights of the area, the ambience and you have plenty to fill
in your spare time hours. You may like to ride the Carousel in
the Place de l’Horloge.
Uzes
The premier Duchy of France is based
on a Roman fortress. The Bermond
Tower was built to withstand attacks
during the Feudal wars, but they never
came. The Place aux Herbes is the main
square of Uzes; you can imagine traders
selling their wares from the
undercrofts, which now house
restaurants and bars. During the
summer fair they run bulls, from the Camargue, up the main
street with all the young lads chasing them and trying to
wrestle them to the ground.
Nîmes
The Arena of Nîmes, the Tour
Magne in the Jardin de la Fontaine,
and the Maison Carree show the
importance of the city to the
Romans. The water supply for
Roman Nîmes started its journey
from Uzes and enters the city
near the Tour Magne. Close
to the Maison Carree is the
new Library, on the top
floor there is a coffee shop
with marvellous views across
the city.
Pont Saint Esprit
The Bridge of the Holy Ghost is
the name that this town has
proudly carried for the last
seven centuries. Until recently
the town had been suffering
under an unscrupulous Mayor,
but it is now beginning to
rebuild itself with at least
three restoration projects.
The Chapelle des Penitents is
now a theatre, the washing
place for the Hospice has been
restored and work is ongoing at
the Temple of St Pierre.
My first association with PSE
started in the mid 80s when
the Haverhill Music School
Orchestra visited the town
and has continued through
friendships made with the
Town Twinning Association.
Brief outline of the provisional itinerary Easter Monday 17 to Monday 24 April 2017
M 17 - Coach and then Eurostar to Avignon, coach to Hotel
Mercure Palais du Pape (base for the week)
Tu 18 - coach to Nîmes/Vauvert, concert in the evening
W 19 - coach to Uzes, concert in the evening
Th 20 - coach to Camargue, river trip including Dinner
F21 - sight-seeing around Avignon, concert in the evening
Sa 22 - coach to Pont St. Esprit, concert in the evening with
afterglow
Su 23 - free day, group meal in the evening
M 24 - coach transfer to station for 15:58 Eurostar to
St. Pancras (customs check at Lille), coach
Magical Mystery Tour??? If any Friend or supporter of the Choir would like to join us on the coach(es) to Hadleigh in Essex for our concert with the Orpheus Singers on Saturday 22 October, please
contact Concert Secretary Ivor Thulborn on 01284 719236 or [email protected] The Salvation Army Temple, 146-148 London Road, Hadleigh, Benfleet, Essex SS7 2PF
St Mary’s Church, Bury St Edmunds
Saturday 24 September
A review of the concert from our dear friend Margaret
Fielder:
Thank you SEMVC and the Haverhill Silver Band for your wonderful Harvest Festival of music on 24 September. All the best was gathered in, and your World Premiere of the Bacharach number beautifully sung. The programme was a delightful mixture of old and modern, light hearted and
classic. Then we were treated to the Silver Band’s amazing Liberty Fanfare, commanding immediate attention and delight, followed by the clinking Tea for Two (with cake we would hope) and An American Tale, bringing reminiscences of ‘Name that Tune’, such was the splendid compilation within. The Seal Lullaby brought tears….. such a beautiful piece. It was also particularly good to see John back in the fold playing for us again. At this time of year we all give thanks for the harvest of the land……to you, SEMVC and Haverhill Silver Band, for your musical harvest, we say Thank you.
Dates for your Diary Sa 22 October – Concert with The Orpheus Singers,
Salvation Army Temple, Hadleigh, Essex SS7 2PF Sa 19 November – Concert at St Lawrence’s Church, Little
Waldingfield, CO10 0SP Sa 26 November - BSE Christmas Fayre Th 15 December—End of term, Carols and Chips, BSE Rugby Club Fri 16 December – SEMVC Christmas Dinner, BSE Golf Club, Tut Hill 2017 Sa 18 March – Concert with Isleham Primary School Band,
The Beeches, Mill Street, Isleham, Cambridgeshire, CB7 5RY supporting community hall funding M 17-Mon 24 April – French tour tbc Su 14 May – Concert with Amersfoort MVC from Holland,
St Peter and St Paul Church, Clare CO10 8NY Sa 3 June – King’s Lynn MVC 60th Anniversary Mass Choir,
St Nicholas Chapel, King’s Lynn PE301NH tbc Sa 17 June – Woolpit Festival tbc Sa 8 July – St Mary’s Church, Redgrave, Diss IP22 1RJ tbc Sa 30 September – Concert at St Mary’s Church, Stratford
St Mary CO7 6LS in aid of church funds Sa 14 October - Three Choirs Festival with The Dalesmen MVC and Mansfield and District MVC, Derby Cathedral Centre, 18-19 Iron Gate, Derby DE1 3GP Sa 18 November - St Peter's Church, Market Hill, Sudbury CO10 2EA in aid of RAFA 2018 Sa 14 April – Concert with Suffolk Constabulary MVC,
Ipswich Th 12 July – Concert Elmswell Over 55s Club, Blackbourne
Centere, Elmswell, IP30 9GY
Reports and pictures for Tidings are welcome.
Please contact Chairman Tony Farr, 01440 704179,
'Twas ever thus.
The Roman Empire
*Cicero of the Roman empire wrote this about the situa-
tion during his lifetime :*
1. The poor, work & work.
2. The rich, exploit the poor.
3. The soldier, protects both.
4. The taxpayer, pays for all three.
5. The wanderer, rests for all four.
6. The drunk, drinks for all five.
7. The banker, robs all six.
8. The lawyer, misleads all seven.
9. The doctor, bills all eight.
10. The undertaker, buries all nine.
11. The Politician lives happily on account of all ten.
*Written in 43 B.C. , but valid even today
One of World Travel Awards winners
Titanic Belfast, which we visited as part of our Irish tour
earlier this year, has been named Europe's Leading Visitor
Attraction beating the Acropolis and the Eiffel Tower
amongst other famous attractions. Over 3 million visitors
have been since it opened in 2012. Ahead of the game as
ever!