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Singing for Jilly

SEPTEMBER 15: Members of the Croydon choir made a spirited and affecting appearance at the Cecil Court care home in Kew on Monday September 13. 

The fifteen who sang for Jilly at Cecil Court

One of the care home residents, Jilly, is the partner of choir tenor Dick Jones, who organised the event.

Jilly sang along to several numbers and she and other residents gave resounding applause when the choir completed its performance.  Two numbers in the second half proved particularly popular: the triumphal operatic piece Nessun Dorma, and a swashbuckling rendition of the Song of the Jolly Roger, sung as an encore, when the choir donned eye-patches and waved a pirates’ banner.

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Jilly and Yorkshire photo

Jilly was moved to receive a photograph showing her and Dick during the choir’s Yorkshire tour in 2008 which had been signed by the fifteen members taking part.  She pointed out several choir members to her carer. 

Jilly, Dick and that photo

The choir, conducted by choir Apresmeister Dave “Banners” Bannister, sang 12 numbers in all, concluding with The Soldiers Farewell. The singers were mostly regulars in the choir’s informal walking group, who stopped at the care home during a six-mile outing from Barnes to Richmond. Two newcomers to the group for the occasion where Gerry Upjohn (second tenor) and Mike Sharpling (base).

 

Choir swashbuckles with Jolly Roger (photos by Katrina Keel)

As well as calling in at Cecil Court, the 15-strong group managed to visit no fewer than four pubs en route.  A full report of the walk appears in the Choir Walking Group section on this website.