YOU BOUGHT ME TIME

The title of a poem by Arnie Hanenberg, formerly of the Royal Canadian Air Force, who dedicated it to fallen comrades known and unknown. It formed an emotional centre piece to our concert at the Bomber Command Memorial on Sunday 21st September. Read by our compere Phil Howells and followed by exceptionally sensitive performances of ‘Tell My Father’ and ‘World In Union’ by the choir this concert, our third of the tour, proved to be a highlight for many.
 
Friday saw our long awaited visit to Lincoln Cathedral which resulted in a thrilling and powerful performance before a large audience in this most magnificent of settings with its superb, albeit challenging acoustics. We met and overcame the challenge in the company of the first class RAF Waddington Military Wives Choir.
 
Saturday evening’s sold out event being a complete contrast held in the more modest All Saints Church, Clipstone was shared with Mansfield and District Male Voice Choir. The choirs combined for three items which were especially well received by the very responsive audience. Sempre, an excellent five piece female close harmony group, provided a lively contrast.
We take away a whole variety of memories from the tour but they will surely include the magnificent setting of the Cathedral, the warmth of our reception from choir and community in Clipstone and the warm welcome and emotionally charged and thought provoking visit to the Bomber Command Memorial.
 
(Written by Peter Edkins)