Well, I am now having a bit of a rest after a very full and fulfilling fortnight. I am one of the choristers at St. Thomas' and I thought you should all know the fun we have had during this festive season.

As those of you who attend St. Thomas' regularly know the choir usually sing at least one anthem a week. Well on the Sunday before Christmas we sang over 7 anthems in one day!

Apart from the usual services we also had the Christmas Carol Service of readings and music, Midnight Mass and the Christmas Day service, singing at various nursing homes and the local hospital and raising money at 'The Fishermans rest'.

The start of our Christmas fun was when we were invited to Daphne (alto) and Ivor Johnston's for a party. Food and laughter were in abbundance. Some of the junior chorister became part-time waiters and the evening ended with a choir practiice at the house where regular choristers were joined by their partners and parents in singing. Grateful thnks goes to Ivor and Daphne for allowing an ever expanding choir to take over the house for the evening.

Simon Daish started off the annual carol service with the first verse of 'Once in Royal David's City'. In between lessons the choir, ably led by Fern (former organ scolar) and Martin Penrose (Musical Director of St. Thomas'), sang a variety of new and well known anthems. Itwas nice to see back in the choir Tom (former organ scholar on university hols) and Kathy (a rare day off for a manager of a shop)

Some chorister then spent Christmas week singing at various nursing homes in Lymington which culminated in a group meeting and spending an enjoyable two hours singing in various wards and the outpatients department at Lymington Hospital.

Midnight mass and Christmas Day services were tiring but enjoyable and many of us returned to sing for all services on the Sunday after Christmas.

The next Choir practice is on Friday 2nd January - what do they say about no rest for the wicked! - where new members are always welcome. At present we are on the lookout for sopranos and junior choir members although other voices will of course be always welcome.

A Chorister

A big thank you to everyone who contributed to the special collection on 29th July for the Flood Disaster Relief Fund which has been set up through the Church Urban Fund by Archbishop John Sentamu. The collection raised over £940 and the Mission Committee made it up to £1000.
If anyone else would like to make a contribution, please contact the Church Urban Fund directly, www.cuf.org.uk or 020 7898 1647.