One Sunday at Southwell

A lovely sunny morning and we were S’well bound,

Upon the 4th of August, t’was a Sunday,

Hils and me and David C went at sparrow crack.

(The choir went there last Monday.)

We made good time, tho’ Silverstone was hairy!

Twin towers of the minster came clear to see,

This great and lovely church in a small town.

We were glad Car Park and Loos were free!

Over to the minster, there’s the choir!

Smiles, hugs and happy greetings,

Good to see old friends again

Journey's end in happy meetings.

We sat in 13th Century Quire

Fine carved Victorian stalls our seats

Eagle Lectern, found in a pond, brass 16th Century.

Introit sung, ethereal sound, Martin kept the beats.

Words cannot tell the beauty of the song

Clear and sheer glory of the singing.

So proud were we of OUR CHOIR

Whose voices there set heaven ringing.

We learnt of problems in the week

Nick Brown with asthma stricken

After a night of rain and thunder

Katharina organist, Martin conducts, choir didn’t sicken.

But David J was often seen to go alone

To speak to cows in fields nearby,

He always took his mobile phone

So p’raps t’was more than met the eye!

Lunch with our friends, Evensong glorious

Introit “Locus Iste” loved so well!

And dear old “Rose responses” and

“Collegium Regale” to feast our ears as well.

Then tea with the Dean in the Sacrista Prebend,

A speech from the Dean, they had lost their Precentor,

But our own Chris Reed (who was not ordained)

Did the honours and stood in as Cantor.

A gift from the Dean for the choir raised a cheer

And he said “Thank you, and come back next year!”

Esmé Few, 10/08/02