Carols at Christchurch last night....

[Fab Foodie]

The other week, the ever fabulous Mrs FF obtained 2 £15 tickets for Carols at Christchurch Cathedral Oxford last night. En-route on the bus we bumped into pals Sheena and Peter coincidently also going to the same event (they had £30 tickets). We didn't know what to expect really, some Carols obviously, some to listen to and some to join-in with. But there was more, much more....
It was in aid of McMillan nurses and featured as well as great caroling, various festive readings, poems and skits performed by some top-class people: Broadcaster and R4 presenter Harriet Cass, Actors Freddie Jones (Elephant Man/Dune), Jeany Spark (Linda Wallander of the series) and Tom Ward (Harry Cunningham of Silent Witness).

Now in the cheap seats we didn't really see the choir (except on a screen) or the Pulpit where the speakers did their bit. Sheena and Peter however had a clear view of the action (and as it happened we had a clear view of them). Neither me nor Mrs FF bothered to read the rather thick program. So it wasn't until the end when we met Sheena again that she excitedly told Mrs FF that Tom Ward was the 'hunky/sexy (apparently) etc.etc' bit of male fluff from 'Silent witness', whereapon he was standing just feet in front of them both. With a bit of judicious barging they managed to get within frotting* distance and accompanied him out of the Cathedral.

Mrs FF's been in quite a swoony lather about it all day, almost woke the girls to tell them.... it must be her age or hormones or something. Jeany Spark was quite nice too

Anyhow, for £15/head it was a damn good quality night out!

 

[andyoxon]

The other week, the ever fabulous Mrs FF obtained 2 £15 tickets for Carols at Christchurch Cathedral Oxford last night. En-route on the bus we bumped into pals Sheena and Peter coincidently also going to the same event (they had £30 tickets). We didn't know what to expect really, some Carols obviously, some to listen to and some to join-in with. But there was more, much more....
It was in aid of McMillan nurses and featured as well as great caroling, various festive readings, poems and skits performed by some top-class people: Broadcaster and R4 presenter Harriet Cass, Actors Freddie Jones (Elephant Man/Dune), Jeany Spark (Linda Wallander of the series) and Tom Ward (Harry Cunningham of Silent Witness).

Now in the cheap seats we didn't really see the choir (except on a screen) or the Pulpit where the speakers did their bit. Sheena and Peter however had a clear view of the action (and as it happened we had a clear view of them). Neither me nor Mrs FF bothered to read the rather thick program. So it wasn't until the end when we met Sheena again that she excitedly told Mrs FF that Tom Ward was the 'hunky/sexy (apparently) etc.etc' bit of male fluff from 'Silent witness', whereapon he was standing just feet in front of them both. With a bit of judicious barging they managed to get within frotting* distance and accompanied him out of the Cathedral.

Mrs FF's been in quite a swoony lather about it all day, almost woke the girls to tell them.... it must be her age or hormones or something. Jeany Spark was quite nice too

Anyhow, for £15/head it was a damn good quality night out!

Sounds good. Tom Ward is probably one of the reasons mrs ao is still an avid watcher of Silent Witness.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Sounds good. Tom Ward is probably one of the reasons mrs ao is still an avid watcher of Silent Witness.

Whatever you do, don't let Mrs ao get qet within 100 metres of him in the flesh....

 

[yoyo]

Christ Church Choir - always a pleasure to hear. Your post brings back great memories of a similar event in December 1999. It was our youngest son's final year as a chorister there. He was head soloist and held forth in spite of a cold. There were no screens then, so even to the parents the choir was invisible but we could hear them. We were behind the pulpit and got to see all the celebrities who were reading. We had no idea that Jeremy Paxman was so small until that evening.

You ought to try to get tickets for the Carol Services - 23rd December @7.30 or 3pm on 24th. The Christmas Day Communion Service is also an excellent musical feast.

 

[Globalti]

Frottage.... hmmmm, I remember......

 

[Fab Foodie]

Frottage.... hmmmm, I remember......

Not you, surely...

 

[Fab Foodie]

Christ Church Choir - always a pleasure to hear. Your post brings back great memories of a similar event in December 1999. It was our youngest son's final year as a chorister there. He was head soloist and held forth in spite of a cold. There were no screens then, so even to the parents the choir was invisible but we could hear them. We were behind the pulpit and got to see all the celebrities who were reading. We had no idea that Jeremy Paxman was so small until that evening.

You ought to try to get tickets for the Carol Services - 23rd December @7.30 or 3pm on 24th. The Christmas Day Communion Service is also an excellent musical feast.

Fabulous!
I'll look into the service on the 23rd but I reckon it'll be sold-out by now.

In my Exeter Cathedral Choir days, the highlight of the year was the Bishop Grandisson Service on Christmas Eve. Carols and procession around the Cathedral (which is quite a distance to walk!). The place was always packed and it must heve held a fair number of people. I look back on it with great fondness as I'm certain your youngest does.

 

[yoyo]

Tickets aren't sold for the Caarol Services - they are applied for. The other way to get them is to know someone connected; chorister parents, lay clerks, etc. We never used our full ticket allocation (6 tickets) for tow choristers and we usually gave our spares away.

Carols at Exeter sound good. Cathedrals do have such amazing traditions at Christmas. Our sons still talk about what happened in Christmas week with great fondness. The AB examiner that is coming to do this term's exams is going to take up the position of Head at Exeter in April.

Do you still sing anywhere?

 

[Fab Foodie]

Tickets aren't sold for the Caarol Services - they are applied for. The other way to get them is to know someone connected; chorister parents, lay clerks, etc. We never used our full ticket allocation (6 tickets) for tow choristers and we usually gave our spares away.

Carols at Exeter sound good. Cathedrals do have such amazing traditions at Christmas. Our sons still talk about what happened in Christmas week with great fondness. The AB examiner that is coming to do this term's exams is going to take up the position of Head at Exeter in April.

Do you still sing anywhere?

Thanks for the ticketing info.

I don't sing anywhere now other than in the bath and occasional church visits, primarily because I have too much other stuff to fit in when I'm not travelling for work (which is a lot at the mo).
Mrs FF took up singing and has done over a year now with ADMS having never sung before in her life. She loves it too, though I think a few lessons are required just to improve her confidence and technique.
I'd actually like to sing in a Gospel Choir, there are a couple locally, though I'd be happy adding to the Tenor ranks at ADMS to keep the Mrs company (She's of the Mezzo/Alto persuasion).

http://www.adms.org.uk/

 

[Speicher]

Whatever you do, don't let Mrs ao get qet within 100 metres of him in the flesh....

@Fab Foodie - Does Mrs FF know that Tom Ward is in "Death comes to Pemberley".

 

[Fab Foodie]

@Fab Foodie - Does Mrs FF know that Tom Ward is in "Death comes to Pemberley".

She's already dribbling in front of the telly watching it on i-player
Cheers!