Some info from David Revels regarding Oxford

24th July 2006
Dear Gents,

I expect you are getting very excited about the trip to Oxford.

As you will no doubt recall (from a correspondence just before Christmas) there is a rehearsal this Wednesday evening at 7pm - the boys will be rehearsing from much earlier in the day - in preparation for the trip. I have scheduled the rehearsal to last until 8.30pm but am certain that we will be able to finish a little earlier.

The flight departs from Belfast City Airport at 1235 on Friday 28th July getting into Birmingham at 1340. We need to check in 90 mins prior to departure as it is a block booking! This is obviously very important.

The return flight leaves Birmingham 1st August at 2005 arriving at 2110. A coach has been hired to transport us door to door on both occasions.

There is a slightly amended itinerary as follows:

Saturday
1030 – 1200 Warm up and rehearsal
1200 Walk to Christ Church Meadow
1230 – 1330 Lunch (Christ Church Meadow)
1400 – 1600 Rehearsal in Christ Church Cathedral
1600 – 1800 Free time
1800 Evensong at Christ Church Cathedral (by another visiting choir)
1930 Dinner
2130 Bed for trebles

Sunday
0700 Breakfast
0900 Rehearsal (tbc)
1000 Matins
1115 Eucharist
1330 Lunch at St Stephen’s House
1430 – 1600 Free time (resting time)
1645 Rehearsal at Christ Church Cathedral
1800 Evensong
1930 Dinner for Boys
2030 – 2200 Free time
2200 Bed for choristers

Monday
0800 – 0900 Breakfast
0900 – 1300 Group activity
1300 – 1400 Lunch
1400 – 1645 Free time
1645 Rehearsal
1800 Evensong
1930 – 2030 Dinner
2030 – 2230 Free time (and then bed)

The music list is well-known to us and features:

Matins
Responses - Clucas
Venite and Te Deum sung to chant
Jubilate - Britten

Eucharist
Setting of Mass - Darke in F
Ave verum - Byrd

Evensong
Clucas
Stanford in C
Give us the wings of Faith - Bullock

Accommodation has been arranged for those who requested it:

Richard Campbell
Alan Campbell
Edward McMullen
David McElderry
Mark McGuire
Steven Irwin

I hope that this clear. Should you have any queries please contact me on 07713085908.

Many thanks and looking forward to seeing you all on wednesday evening!

Yours ever

David R

Christ Church Cathedral tour 2006 - update

Dear All,

I am writing to seek confirmation and commitment for the Choir trip to Oxford:-

28th July – 1st August 2006.

The proposed route will be a flight to Birmingham and a coach ride to Oxford. We will be staying at St Stephen’s House which is a Theological college on the outskirts of Oxford (Marsden Road c.25 mins walk from the city centre).

Accommodation is in single and twin-bedded rooms all of which come with laundry and towels. Full board has been offered i.e. breakfast, lunch, dinner and bed for the duration of the stay with the option for packed lunches (and an appropriate reduction in price for this provision). Choir parents are encouraged to come along and I know that some parishioners are keen to be part of the outing; accommodation will be offered to choir parents within St Stephen’s House.

I urgently need names and deposits from all the choir members and parents who wish to come along.

If I am not already aware that you are going, please e-mail me by clicking HERE and let me know with deposit of £60 payable ASAP per person.

Also, here are a few new dates to be added to your diaries:

Friday 10th March 2006 at 12.00. Memorial Service for Charles Brett at St George’s
Friday 7th April 2006 – Presentation to Canon McDonald. Choir will be singing a few of his favourite choral pieces between lectures.

Saturday 27th May – McGuinness Wedding (time to be confirmed).

Many thanks

David Revels

Idea for a Trip

The Lay-Clerks of Christ Church Oxford - spot anyone you know???

Plans are underway for a full choral trip to be organised for next summer to Christ Church Oxford. David has already secured the date of 30th August 2006 for us to sing Sunday services as the "visiting choir". You will no doubt realise that David spent a few years in Christ Church as a lay-clerk and has utilised his connections to enable us to visit there.

What some of the Choristers may not realise is that Christ Church Oxford is the place where all the Great Hall scenes of the film "Harry Potter" were filmed by Warner Brothers.

This trip is still in development and a week around this booking has to be built so more on this to follow. David proposes to either have a trip starting the week before the 30th July and finishing on the Sunday or else the week after the 30th July as he would like to get bookings in other venues, one of which may be St George's Windsor.


Once more is known I will post it up for everyone. Further consultation will be taking place between David, the Parents Comittee and the Vestry.

Mark