Croydon Choir brings sunshine to Caterham Festival
John Ward Turner writes: On a lovely balmy Sunday, June 2, two dozen members of Croydon Male Voice Choir met up to sing from the steps of Caterham Community Centre, soaking up the year’s first hint of summer warmth, as well as the appreciation of the many visitors attending the ever-popular annual Caterham Festival.
CMVC boys take to the steps in Caterham (photo John Ward Turner)
With the High Street closed to traffic, hundreds of locals and others who had come from further afield enjoyed a wide range of entertainments, including the Northdown Drummers, ‘giant games,’ a dunk tank, market and foodie stalls, even circus skills and acrobatics. Plus CMVC, of course.
The CMVC boys took to the steps at 2pm, belting out a selection from their diverse repertoire including Can’t Help Falling, Let it be Me, American Trilogy, Battle Hymn, Walk Alone, Jolly Roger, Anthem, the Hallelujah Chorus, Cohen’s Hallelujah, a WW1 Medley, Saints, African Prayer, Rhythm of Life, Soldiers Chorus, Speed your Journey, Finlandia, Angels, Bring Him Home and Take Me Home, ending with the resounding choruses of Nessum Dorma.
The view from the choir - entertaining the crowds in Caterham High Street (photo JWT)
As the temperature reached 22 degrees during the afternoon, a welcome change from a chilly 11 degrees the day before, ‘mad dogs and Englishmen’ (and Englishwomen) were afoot aplenty at the festival. Meanwhile the choir’s ladies moved amongst the enthusiastic crowd with collecting buckets, raising a generous contribution for the Marie Curie cancer care charity.
After the performance, Caterham resident Jerome Wright commented: "The choir brought colour and a great sound to the festivities." Festival commitee member Colin Samuels, who had invited CMVC to take part, found thirsty choir members afterwards in a nearby pub, and told them: "You were brilliant."
The choir’s next choir, on June 15, is in nearby Caterham Valley, in the St Johns the Evangelist Church, starting at 7.30pm.