Bulletin No 1, April 2004
Introduction
This is a new start for the orchestra and I want to wish Steve and John all success and happiness in their coming trials. I much look forward to their new direction. I felt a bulletin at the beginning of a term would be a way of passing on my thoughts and those of your committee who always meet then. It would also spread information of general interest and invite discussion.
It would be good to have contributions from all members – I know well there are several talented correspondents around already.
Dates for your Diary
Summer term: You have had these dates: April 24, May 1, 8, 15, 22, Whitsun half-term break 29, June 5, 12, 19, 26. However FALO must be a week earlier on the 19th June, as Steve Wellman has to be away on June 26. Shall we continue as a full orchestra with John Tims for one week more, or call it a day?
Ufton Court Open Day: Sunday May 16th 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. An opportunity to share that historic home-from-home of ours with your families and friends. ‘Admission: Adults £2, Children £1. Self-guided house tours. Medieval Society. Children’s activities, including archery Refreshments. Souvenirs.’
Autumn Term: SMO will resume on September 18th.
SMO at Ufton Court Weekend: October 15-17th. Your views on the form this should take would be welcome. We have tended to concentrate on a major work on Saturday morning and on Sunday, but filled in Friday and Saturday evenings with lighter pieces when full attendance can never be guaranteed. Light music does not please everyone for it depends on a full body of strings to balance the wind for its best effect. Have you any preferences or suggestions?
Report on Committee Meeting 18th April 2004
Finances
Beansheaf charges have increased despite our Treasurer’s protests. There has been no increase in subscription during the six years of David Short’s careful tenure, but we might have to raise it from £55 to £60. However he hopes to postpone this by reducing costs, ingeniously by trimming our hours to between 10.15 a.m. and 12.45 p.m..
Membership
We are always grateful to Nancy for keeping our membership list up-to-date, but it is up to everyone to inform her of any changes and any useful additions like an e-mail address.
Librarianship
Nick has done a splendid job for Raymond, distributing and collecting in all the parts, but he wants to step down and for the moment John Tims has said he will happily take over. However, he will surely have enough with his share of the conducting, so it would be much appreciated if someone would volunteer and spread the load of running things.
Publicity
Keep on the lookout for any new recruits. We can always do with more strings to balance better with the wind. Alison works hard up-dating publicity through the press and leaflets in libraries and so on, while Shirley’s skills spread the Word via our website.
Social Events
Lynne as Social Secretary would be delighted to welcome us again, as would Nancy with her swimming pool, but you might be amused to sample Antony and Sue’s garden for a change. Finding a suitable date to suit all is always difficult: Saturday or Sunday, after FALO or when? We all need to look at our diaries for contending dates before we vote.
News & Comment
Raymond’s Farewell at Ufton has been of course the big event of our year, a unique occasion to pay tribute to our founder and director for thirty-three years, with such a variety of music explored in a warm, friendly atmosphere. It was proper to hold it at Ufton where some of our happiest hours have been spent, with all the space and facilities for such a gathering. That over 90 people came to share in the event, with many old members and their partners, was an added tribute to Raymond, but gathering over £800 was a magnificent gesture. We had encouraged him to believe we could give him recordings of all Mozart’s Operas (Phillips edition), but the surplus as a cheque he is putting aside for ‘somewhere special’ with Leonora, who has done so much to support him and us as an unfailing appreciative audience at FALOs. We all enjoyed particularly the Florida Suite of Delius that Raymond chose for all the old hands to join in playing finally. Such an approachable tuneful set of pieces in which all could join and never wanted to end! Everyone should know that the considerable cost of hiring such nice new parts was his own last gift to the orchestra.
He was greatly touched by the black book of photographs, with the short history, catalogue of works played, and hand-written tributes, all so elegantly compiled by Shirley and Mike. The slide show from them was clearly much appreciated, and we have a record of the day from many cameras including that of James Watkins, the professional who took those originals of the early days in black-and-white. The Reading Chronicle was alerted by Alison, who accepted most of her admirable press release as copy and sent their staff photographer. So we have a fine shot in the paper of Raymond and the orchestra in the barn for the public send-off he deserved, together with a bit of publicity for the brighter future of the orchestra. Then John Tims and his brass ensemble set the properly rousing tone heralding the excellent lunch and tea that Lynne had laid on so well with Jean Chapman as caterer, and crowned by the handsome and delicious cake she made inscribed with Thank you, Raymond. And we have David Short to thank for stretching the budget to make possible our drinking of a very acceptable bubbly toast. And Lynne and David can always be relied on to round things off on an amusing note with their patter songs.
Raymond wrote to me: "Tuesday: I have just about returned to earth after an unbelievable Saturday, a family Sunday and a very busy Monday. I don’t know quite how to thank you for all the generosity you have shown to my family. … On the day I was quite astonished at the mellow atmosphere evident among the assembled, the work that had gone into the ‘black book’ and the over-generous top-up cheque. I feel very humble when I think of all the industry and imagination that went into an experience which I shall never, ever forget. On behalf of Leonora, myself and my family my heartfelt thanks for all your work on the great day."
Ruth Thatcher who has so often sung with us and played percussion was sorry not to be with us and sent her greetings to all. She is slowly recovering from the removal of her large brain tumour, but still has problems and gets tired, so that work has been difficult.
Ken was also very sorry not to be with us but felt he must lie low to get over this nasty viral infection of the inner ear, which must be especially sensitive to his own instruments.
Frances and Steve Betts wrote to thank for a wonderful day and how well done it was and how fitting to be at Ufton Court. "It was very strange seeing so many familiar faces again as if time had stood still. Nobody seemed to have changed. We wish you many happy hours of music-making." Other founder members, Sandra and John Scott said the same.
Janet Hodgson enjoyed the "great gathering and being able to introduce Colin to a group of people who have always been a large happy family," whilst thanking us for the effort.
For myself it was a wonderful excuse to catch up with so many old friends, a number of whom could not be with us, like Helen and Philip Housden, Guy and Liz Hundy, and Don Gill.
Antony