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 ijthulborn@btinternet.com 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,

lolandtony@talktalk.net

'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!