Recent Activities

Spring sharing - informal concert for families and friends

This featured a mixture of the songs we have been learning this term, along with some readings and more songs from Innocent Bystanders, all on the theme of  'Home'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parkinson's sing-along session

Foxhunter's Sports Pavilion provided a spacious and airy venue for this activity.  Some people from our local Parkinson's group came along, though they were outnumbered by Whitley Women.  The session started with tea and cake - thanks to several choir members who must have been busy baking.  The songs were mostly familiar to everyone and great fun to sing.  Gilly even got us doing the actions to 'YMCA'!

There will be another session in a few months, as all participants enjoyed the afternoon.  We hope more people from the Parkinson's group will give it a try.

Newcastle Cathedral

 We were one of a number of 'pop-up choirs' who sang in Newcastle on 22nd March.  As you can see, there was a good turn-out and the singing worked pretty well (even though we don't have things like backing tracks, as some of the other choirs did). Our main challenge for improvement is not to look so worried!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Village Court

 A little light rain at the start was, fortunately, the worst the weather had to throw at us. Definitely a relief, as two our our Christmas events had been cancelled due to high winds.  We started at the main gate and paused to sing as we walked along the main avenue, accompanied by an audience.  After singing at the green, there was mulled apple juice and nibbles in the Clock Tower garden.

Christmas singing around care homes

 This year, we thought that local care homes might appreciate some Christmas carols, so we went to Eastbourne House (on the seafront), Eothen (Whitley Bay) and Bygate Court (Monkseaton). At the first two, the residents stayed inside, but some waved from their windows or sat near the outside doors.  Eastbourne House kindly offered us hot chocolate and nibbles, which galvanised our walking to the next venue. At Bygate Court (which has flats for independent living), there were people at the windows and even a few outside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carols and tea with Parkinson's group

This event was really well attended by choir members and a great audience of friend, family and members of the local Parkinson's group that we are raising funds for this year.  Not only was the fund-raising successful - about £600 just from this event - but it also encouraged audience singing, in some cases for the first time in many years.

 

 

 It took a while to provide tea for everybody, but eventually all were seated and enjoying cakes from the amazing array provided by choir members.

 

 

 

Lantern-making at Cross Keys - 17th November

 Thanks to the hard-working group that turned up on Sunday, we will have some lovely, colourful lantern for our Christmas singing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Social at Tynemouth Golf Club - 15th November

The theme was pub games and the organising team found an amazing array. There were plenty of laughs and lots of chatting.  On balance, a tricky quiz at the end of the evening was perhaps more of a challenge than intended, but it certainly sorted out the knowledgable teams from the rest of us!

 
 Seaton Delaval Hall - 21st July

As in previous years, we finished the term with some singing at Seaton Delaval Hall.  Luckily, the weather was dry, if not actually sunny, so we sang outside the old stables to an audience of friends and relatives - though others may well have heard us!

Summer Concert in St Andrews - 13th JulyThis was our one chance to sing indoors and get all the songs right. I missed it, but by all accounts, we did well for an appreciative audience.  The raffle raised a good amount and the final total for the year was £5,000 for Us Active.  Sorry there are no pictures - you just had to be there!

Summer on the Green - at Village Court - 22nd June

We came to Village Court to sing and to have tea and cakes in the afternoon - very civilised.  In the evening, a small, but select group attended for strawberries and Prosecco, plus music from singers and musicians.  Between the two events, we raised £700 for our charity!

Whitley Bay Carnival - 25th May

 After some very wet weather, the sun shone for the Carnival.  This year we were not in the parade - instead, we entertained the early arrivals at Spanish City.  We even got some audience participation when we sang '500 miles'.

 

Although there was less funding than previous years, the parade still had lots of colourful outfits and some very impressive structures.