Visit of Ocho Rios Steel Band - June 26th 2008

By popular request the Ocho Rios Steel Band visited us again this year on Saturday 7th June. Their concert was to help The Friends of St Mary Magdalene Church to continue their fund-raising for the upkeep and maintenance of the church.

 
In excess of sixty people attended and we all had a thoroughly enjoyable evening, with audience reaction giving evidence of how much the music was appreciated.   Phil Sutton, the band leader, invited two of the younger members of the audience to try their hand at playing some of the pans. Their efforts were given an enthusiastic response and they appeared to  enjoy the experience very much.
 
Phil and the band members also thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and they said that, to a great extent, this was because the audience here was so very warm and responsive and the refreshments were great too! It seems that they are looking forward to their next invitation.

Annual General meeting - May 15th 2008

Monday 2nd June at 7:30pm in the Church

AGENDA

1.           Apologies

2.           Minutes of last AGM (held on Monday 21st May 2007)

3.           Treasurer’s  report

4.           Chairman’s report

5.           Election of Officers

6.           Any other business

NOTE:  Anyone with an interest in our work to raise funds for the preservation of the church building will be most welcome to attend, especially if interested in joining in!

For further details please ring 01295 768964.

Roger Miles

(Chairman)

Friends' Supper - May 6th 2008

!t was an occasion when The Shunters came to St Mary Magdalene Church and what a splendid evening it was! 

On May 2nd the committee of the Friends of St Mary Magdalene held a “thank you” evening to show their appreciation for Friends’ support for the activities that have been arranged during the year in aid of the church renovations fund.

They gave the assembled fifty Friends a delicious supper, and after the refreshment came the entertainment.  The Shunters,  from Weedon Lois and Lois Weedon, gave the audience a rousing half hour of singing and guitar music.

Roger Miles, chair of the Friends, thanked everyone for their help over the year.  He also thanked Niki Phillips for arranging the entertainment, and committee members, particularly Julie O’Brien, for providing the excellent supper.   It was a "right royal spread"!

Successful Words & Music - January 5th 2008

We were delighted that our Words & Music for Christmas on Friday 21st December was such an enjoyable evening and that our new spotlights were so effective.  Plans for our 2008 fund-raising events were taken forward at our January committee meeting (see programme) and we are working on some new ideas so do watch for announcemnts as tickets go on sale.

Thanks to the past generosity of many people we were able to contribute £12,436 towards the cost of the recently completed urgent repairs. Now we must replenish our funds for the next phase of the work that was identified by the Quinquennial review.  Thus early in 2008 we shall again be leafleting the village to appeal for more support, and any suggestions of offers of help would be most welcome; do please contact me on (01295) 768964

Roger Miles (Chair of the Friends)

Gift to Church - December 2007

Thanks to a most generous individual donation and a gift from the Helmdon Young Husbands' Organisation we have been able to buy two spotlights for lighting performances in the church.  These shoud be in action at the next event which is the annual Words and Music for Christmas on Friday 21st of December.

Words and Music for Christmas - 7th December 2007

This popular annual event will take place in the church at 7.30 pm on Friday December 21st.

Tickets can be obtained from Roger Miles (01295) 768964 e-mail, or Vanessa Vicars (01295) 760477 e-mail.

Fantastic  Result For Fabric Fund - 19th September 2007

On Saturday September 8th over fifty members of the Friends of the Church gathered to watch the Last Night of the Proms on a big screen at Home Farm, by kind permission of Gill and John Watson.

The night was cool, but all thoughts of the weather disappeared when the programme interval arrived.  A delicious spread of jacket potatoes and salad followed by mouthwatering desserts, prepared by Niki Phillips and committee members, warmed us up for the rousing Albert Hall choruses to come.

Over £640 was raised by Friends of St Mary Magdalene for church repairs, a marvellous result.   Thank you, Gill and John, for your splendid hospitality.

Steel Band Concert - 9th June 2007

The Ocho Rios Steel Band concert in the church on Saturday 9th June provided great entertainment. The range of their repertoire, which included audience requests and virtuoso solos by their brilliant young drummer, surprised many. The Band's leader and conductor Phil Sutton wittily introduced each item and also passed on a good deal of  insight into how the drums are made and played.  Most of the band members have been together for a long time and their sheer joy in playing together was infectious.

The committee of the Friends of St Mary Magdalene are most grateful to everyone who supported this event and are delighted to report that a profit of £477 was made.  This is another step towards the £45,000 that needs to be raised to fund the current programme of essential repairs to the church building.

If you would like to add your support to the work of preserving the church building, which is such a focal point for our village community, then please contact:

Roger Miles (Chair) 01295 768964 or

Jean Humphreys (Treasurer) 01295 760898

Chairman's report for the 2007 AGM   - 23rd May 2007

At last year’s AGM several committee members retired, including Chris and Lynn Gartside, who as Chair and Treasurer respectively had given great service to the Friends. Everyone present was acutely aware of the consequences of these losses but there was a determined resolve to try to keep the Friends going. The new committee gradually came together, and has worked hard to deliver some good results that I am delighted to be able to report tonight.

Following Chris Gartside’s wise advice, we have not attempted to run a large number of fund-raising events. Our first two efforts were the old favourites, Last night of the Proms on 9th September and Words and Music for Christmas on Friday 22nd December. Both evenings proved very popular and profitable; we also learned a few lessons about how to do better another time. Our next event is the Ocho Rios Steel Band concert on Saturday 9th June. We shall be giving the Proms night another go in September but replacing it in 2008 with a concert of guitar and lute music.

Funds have also been raised from two other sources: membership donations and specific donations from individuals and organisations. The figures will be detailed in the Treasurer's report, but I should like to note some general points on these activities

Our 2007 membership appeal in February involved leafleting the whole parish; this time we did not set a subscription but simply asked for donations and provided forms for Direct Debit payments and Gift Aid declarations. The total received (£856) compares well with previous years:

                2006  Donations and membership           £1,000.00

                2005  Donations and membership               427.00

                2004  Membership subscriptions                 235.00                       

We received some most generous donations but it must be noted that only about 10% of the households that were leafleted did actually respond.

A Members’ Supper in the church on the 3rd of March was a most enjoyable evening. This idea had been considered in recent years and this time it was run more as a ‘thank you’ to members than as a fundraiser. This event cost our funds very little; some donations were received but also committee members and others contributed most generously to the provision of a superb hot meal. The committee has already resolved that this event should be repeated next year. 

Turning to our trustee responsibilities for the use of the funds we raise, it should be noted that the Parochial Church Council (PCC) have been reminded that £5,000 of the loan of £10,000 made in September 2005 and part repaid in June 2006, is still outstanding.

We have in hand a most generous individual donation of £500, which was given for the specific purpose of improving the lighting in the church. A request was made to the Helmdon Young Husbands Organisation (HYHO) for a share of the profits from the Helmdon Summer Ball 2006 to add to the funds available for this project. We have recently received £400 from HYHO and so planning for this work can go ahead.

The Helmdon Carnival is another regular event that brings people into the village and raises funds that are distributed to local good causes. We bid for a contribution to the large sum required for the current programme of church repairs and were delighted to receive a most welcome response of £450 from the Carnival Committee. It is excellent that village organisations can work together so well.

As most of you are well aware the latest Quinquennial report on the church building has identified that substantial works are needed at an estimated cost of about £45,000. We have already been able to assist the PCC by paying some architect’s fees (recently  £2,578.78).

We shall no doubt soon have to decide on further substantial spends from our funds as the work proceeds. It is important to note that the PCC are vigorously seeking grants from relevant charities and striving to boost their funds by all possible means. The PCC has the dual problem of meeting substantial running costs whilst also seeking to maintain the fabric of the church building; whilst we can sympathise with the former, our function is to assist them with the latter.

In closing I would personally like to thank all the committee members for their varied and substantial contributions; Wiggy Smith and then Niki Phillips have filled the Secretary role and Jean Humphrey has quickly mastered the Treasurer’s responsibilities. I must   particularly acknowledge Ann Smith who has so many other commitments as Churchwarden that she would like to stand down if we can recruit a new committee member, but Ann has assured us of her continuing help with our events. 

Roger Miles. 

Friends' AGM - 8th May 2007

The Friends of Helmdon church will be holding their AGM in the church on Monday 21 May at 7.30 p.m.. It is an opportunity to hear about our progress in raising funds for the restoration and repair of the church, also to add to our discussions of the way ahead. One or two new volunteers to join the committee would also be welcome, as would any specific offers of help.

Please contact a member of the Friends' committee for further information.

Members' Supper - 7th March 2007

The committee of the Friends of St Mary Magdalene, Helmdon's lovely old church, hosted a members' supper in the church on Saturday 3 March.  This was a celebration of the support that new and old members are giving to the Friends in 2007.  This year's membership drive is focused on the £45,000 that needs to be raised to fund the current programme of essential repairs to the church building.

With some rearrangement of the pews and chairs, the church was transformed into a fine banqueting hall and the beef casserole prepared by Head Cook Ann Smith was the centrepiece of a splendid spread to which others had generously contributed. There was much good humour and lively conversation, balanced by some sober inspection of the threatening crack in the stonework above the large East window.

If you would like to add your support to the work of preserving the church building, which is such a focal point for our village community, then please contact:

Roger Miles (Chair) 01295 768964, or

Jean Humphrey  (Treasurer) 01295 760898.

Last Night Of The Proms - 16th September 2006

The BBC's Last Night of the Proms

On Saturday 9th September a fine evening was the backdrop for this hugely enjoyable event, which was again held at Home Farm thanks to the generosity of Gill and John Watson. A record party of 80 people gathered in the candle-lit, flag bedecked courtyard in front of the old farmhouse for an open air, large screen presentation of the traditional music, singing and flag waving. The high quality sound and pictures were thanks to the technical wizardry of Chris Gartside, and a crucial input from wiring consultant, John Brackenboro. During the interval a fish and chips supper was served and a very well supported raffle was drawn with the added excitement of checking numbers by candle and torchlight! Throughout the evening fine wines and other drinks were provided thanks to the sterling efforts of Jean, Tony and Tom Humphrey; Tony's late shipment of extra fine white wine was greatly appreciated and the stalwart beer drinkers did their bit too.

The Friends Committee are most grateful to everyone who supported this event and to all those who helped with the preparations for the evening and clearing up afterwards; several hundred pounds was raised and has been added to the funds needed to maintain the fabric of the Church. Well done everyone.

Roger Miles (Chair of the Friends)

Why not find out more about the Proms in readiness for next year!

Show Your Support For Helmdon's Oldest Building - 17th July 2006

14th Century parish church.

At the Annual General Meeting of the Friends on 4th July a new committee was elected, comprising Roger Miles, Ann Smith, Wiggy Smith, Nikki Phillips, Vanessa Vicars and Liz Woolley. Their first meeting will be on Monday 31st July at Wiggy’s.

The new Committee will probably run a limited number of events in the first year so that they can become established. Some of the outgoing committee have offered their help if required, but new faces would be welcomed to bring in fresh ideas.

You certainly don’t have to be a churchgoer, because the main aim of the “Friends” is to make sure that the ancient building stays beautiful and well maintained. Remember that the building is available to all of us, to be used for many purposes – quiet contemplation, musical events, meetings or anything similar that you can think of.

If you are willing to help by being co-opted onto the committee, by helping on an ad-hoc basis or in any other way, please contact a member of the new committee.

Thank you,

Chris Gartside (ex-chair)

Old Time Music Hall - 18th March 2006

Bill England and Chris Gartside - "Two Helmdon Mashers" from the top of Church Street.

A full house crammed into the Reading Room on 18th March for the Old Time Music Hall arranged by the Friends. They were obviously looking forward to seeing the village talent, which is normally hidden away. Unfortunately those people couldn't attend, but the second team were on hand and performed admirably. Seriously, a lot of hard work was put in by many people to bring the event together in a relatively short time, and thanks must go to all of them.

It was clearly obvious, as one act flowed seamlessly into another, that many hours of rehearsals had taken place (and had been a complete waste of time.)

After the whole company entered doing the Lambeth Walk, individuals and groups performed a series of songs, monologues and dances. These were interspersed with communal ditties from the early 1900's, with the audience doing most of the work in this part. Some of the performers are shown in the pictures, clearly enjoying themselves. We didn't take photographs of the audience, but judging from the compliments at the end, they all had a good time as well. As can be seen, the understated curtains played a key role in the event.

In the interval sausage and mash with onion gravy was served by the catering team of Caroline King, Sally Phillips and Lynn Gartside - all dressed in appropriate serving maid outfits of the time. The bar was ably set-up and manned by the team from the Bell Inn.

The event raised over £500 for continuing maintenance of the Church building.

The performers were (in alphabetical order),

Will Adams
Ellie Barnes
Natasha Brown
John Coatsworth
Barbara Cox
Sophie Cox
Martin Cox (piano)
Bill England
Peter Fell
Chris Gartside
Kathy Quiney
Jess Quiney
Louise Stothard
Paul Stothard
Vanessa Vicars
Ross Vicars
Liz Woolley
Conrad Woolley (props)

More photos >>>

Helmdon Church Resounds To The Sound Of Gospel - 17th September 2005

The church was packed.

It’s doubtful whether Helmdon Church has seen anything like it for a long time, if ever!

On Saturday night (17th September 2005) the enthusiasm and sheer joy of the Wood Green Gospel Choir had everyone in a full church on their feet, clapping and joining in.

The audience hardly needed encouragement from the leader, Colin Vassall, as he guided the singers through their repertoire of traditional and more modern pieces, including songs such as “Oh, Happy Day”. An unexpected addition was their version of “Oh, come let us adore him”, normally heard at Christmas.

The choir as a whole was beautifully balanced with an amazing range, from soft and gentle harmonies one minute to powerful vocal solos the next, bringing to mind artists such as Al Green, Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston. The group of ten singers included a drummer and a keyboard player, augmented by some of the groups children who could be seen getting into the spirit of things at the back of the choir.

The event was organised by the Friends with the aim of bringing a different form of music into the church. Judging by the reaction, a repeat next year should be equally popular. A significant sum was raised from the event, which will go towards the continuing upkeep of the church. Thanks are due not only to the members of the Wood Green Choir, but also the members of the Friends committee who made food for them on their arrival. Particular thanks are due to Gareth Dean for the loan of his drum kit, Towcester Rock School for the loan of PA equipment and especially Viv Watson who brought the whole event together. Last but not least the members of the audience for their support and enthusiasm.

Helmdon Open Gardens - 26th June 2005

One of the splendid gardens

Eleven Helmdon gardens throughout the village were opened to the public on Sunday 26th June, raising funds for the Friends of St Mary Magdalene. It was a beautiful afternoon which helped to show off the gardens to their best, as can be seen by the example in the picture. Almost without exception, the owners were very modest about their efforts, but the visitors were very impressed by the quality and range of displays, varying from a vegetable garden to courtyards and mature areas with large trees and shrubs. One owner even confessed to having a pond stocked unintentionally with frogs, but we saw more fish than frogs!

Together with the £3 entry fee, teas and plant sales at Elm Cottage raised the total proceeds for the day to over £360. We want to sincerely thank all the owners who allowed us to include their gardens at West View, Cock-a Bulls, 7 Field Way, 22 Bell Close, 1 Shortlands Close, Saturday House, 26 Station Road, 32 Station Road, White Gates, I Hintons Close and Station House. We appreciate how much work went into the preparations and on the day itself."

The Church Resounds Again To The Sound Of Fiori - 12th June 2005

A rapt audience in the church on Friday 10th June were entertained by some beautiful music by Fiori Musicali. We were invited to imagine ourselves at the French court in the 18th century, listening to quartets specially written by Telemann. The programme included pieces which were probably unfamiliar to most of the audience and which featured some fascinating sections, all beautifully played. The performers were Penelope Rapson - Musical Director (harpsichord), Katy Bircher (flute), Andrea Morris (violin) and Ruth Alford (cello). The picture shows Penelope introducing one of the pieces.

The seating was organised in a different way, with the performers in the centre of the church, and Fiori commented that this, in conjunction with the effect of the new heating, produced a wonderful performing space with superb acoustics. Something to remember for future musical events in Helmdon!

Our thanks go to Fiori Musicali for once again bringing wonderful music to Helmdon. Thanks also to the 100 or so people attending and helping to raise funds for the upkeep of the church building.

www.fiori-musicali.com

Mix & Match Concert - 14th March 2005

A very enjoyable "Mix and Match" concert was held in the Church on Friday March 11th, performed by "AnnaBee" - Anna Mackennas and Bee Aczel. The first "Movement" was the transporting of the piano from Bee Aczel's home up to the Church on Friday, using Anna's horse box and John Plunkett's gammy leg. The concert itself was, as the title suggests, an assortment of different items. In the first half short classical items and self written pieces were interposed with "standards" from the 1920s and 1930s. After a supper in the interval, the second half was taken up by a musical quiz comprising a range of film theme tunes, some of which were immediately identifiable and some not, at least to the writer! After a good deal of audience participation, including a little heckling from some quarters, the winner on points was Fiona Mason who took home a bottle of wine for her efforts.

Despite a slightly disappointing attendance, partly due to a clash with the School Disco and Paul and Morag's wedding anniversary, the event raised around £150. Many thanks go to Anna and Bee for their efforts in putting together such a varied and interesting programme.

Three days after the concert, the second movement was played, being the reverse trip of the piano down Church Street!

Vivamus - 14th July 2004

Vivamus performing under the direction of Joseph Nolan, with page turning by David Mason

The Vivamus choral concert held on August 14th was an outstanding success in every way - the singing, the location and the weather were all superb. This was the second time that the London choir had travelled to Helmdon to perform in the garden of David and Fiona Mason - many thanks to them for organising and hosting the event. The Vivamus repertoire included standards by the likes of Cole Porter and Fats Waller, extending to a My Fair Lady medley and also to more traditional songs.

The extended interval was a great opportunity to enjoy a picnic and nearly all the 80 or so people attending took advantage.

The event raised over £450 for the Friends funds, which will be required later in the year when the "Quinquennial" survey of the Church is carried out.

Burglar Bill - 5th June 2004

Burglar Bill examines the swag with Burglar Betty.

There was a spate of burglaries in Helmdon on Saturday 5th June as the Pandora's Box Theatre Company rolled into town with their adaptation of best-selling children's book "Burglar Bill".

The story follows the fortunes and mis-fortunes of Burglar Bill (Rob Tofield) as he tries to avoid the attentions of wouldbe thieftaker, PC Good (Emily Stoke).

But Burglar Bill has a life changing experience when he nicks a small brown box that had been left outside a house. He takes it home to open it and gets more than he bargained for when he finds a baby inside.

Burglar Betty becomes Mrs Bill and Burglar Bill becomes Bakery Bill!

It turns out that the baby belongs to widow Burglar Betty (Emily Stoke) who manages to make an honest man of Bill by convincing him to give up his life of crime and marry her.

Suffolk-based Pandora's Box started touring with the Burglar Bill show in 2003 and have been all over the country. The play is intended to educate children aged 3 to 8 in a fun and entertaining way. The show mainly teaches children that stealing is both illegal and antisocial but also contains messages about good versus bad, and even that cleaning your teeth is fun! Many interactive songs helped get the message across to the large audience of Helmdon children - all of all ages.