Tag: December

  • Deck the Mall

    Deck the Mall

    The Saddlers Centre is our local shopping destination. They have a public piano. Last month I was honoured to be asked to play the public piano at its post-lockdown re-launch, and when Becki the lovely person who manages the centre asked me if I did any Christmas music. Evidently, the answer is “yes”… and so…

  • Hold very tight please

    Hold very tight please

    Brass bands clearly have something in common with brass monkeys – an aversion to low temperatures. So it was last Sunday we found ourselves stomping our feet to keep warm and wearing more than the usual number of layers at Aldridge Transport Museum in Aldridge. Great Barr Brass performed two sets of traditional carols, Christmas…

  • Civic Carolling

    Civic Carolling

    Just a quick note to say how much I enjoyed the Civic Carols last Sunday at St Matthew’s Church. The Christmas Choir were stunning, and it was a privilege to lead them from the organ, wearing what can only be described as my new favourite jacket. Thanks to everybody in the choir. You are all…

  • While Shepherds WHAT?

    While Shepherds WHAT?

    Annually, we have been going into pubs and singing carols. Between 2012 and 2022 there was a whole separate project and we printed up special carol sheets once we realised that everybody could then join in! With a regular (annual) event comes the traditions. Singing the wrong words (washing socks, Frank was incensed, Let us…

  • DO NOT BE AFRAID

    DO NOT BE AFRAID

    Much of the work we undertook in lockdown seems to have passed into history so quickly. Communal art, recordings, projects and initiatives to keep communities together even when we couldn’t meet in person. One such idea was DO NOT BE AFRAID, the installation of six angels in the ceiling space of St James’ Church, Hill…

  • Following the Star

    Following the Star

    Well, we’ve reached Advent, and I for one am exhausted. Post-lockdown, we always knew this year would be hard but I didn’t expect so much change. If you’d like to get involved in anything going on between now and Christmas, this is a rough list of what I’m up to and where you can catch…

  • Deck the Mall

    Deck the Mall

    If you’d like to join us for a little carolling on Saturday 10th December, please drop by the Saddler’s Centre in Walsall at 2pm. The Saddler’s Centre recently reintroduced their public piano in the central area of the shops, right by Walsall Railway Station. We’ll gather there for half an hour of singing and then…

  • Glory and Grace

    Glory and Grace

    It’s coming up to that time of year again when we can dust off the old classics and rehearse our Advent and Christmas repertoire. It’s also time to scrabble around for new material to keep our minds busy and our voices fresh… but where to begin? I’m certainly not qualified to tell you where to…