Parkside, Burnthill Lane, Rugeley, Staffordshire WS15 2HX
Tel: +44(0)1889 801929
Mob: +44(0)7866 770360

E-mail: ece@paulspicer.com
Website: www.englishchoralexperience.co.uk

NEWSLETTER No.5

February 2021

Dear All

I am writing with two pieces of news and to keep in touch during these continuing hard times. First, I bring the sad news that the composer Eric Wetherell died on 31 January aged 90. Those who have attended the Abbey Dore weeks in 2018 and 2019 will remember him well and how much we all enjoyed singing his music some of which was jazz-inspired and brought great smiles to the whole group. Shall I compare thee? was a particular favourite. He was already quite frail when his wife, Liz, brought him over from Bristol where they lived. I had first come across him as a BBC colleague when he was Head of the R3 Department at Bristol when I was at Pebble Mill. His death is a sad loss personally and to the profession. I am so glad we were able to sing these pieces for him.

Second: Abbey Dore 2021. We are straining every sinew to make this happen in whatever way we are allowed to by July. The dates are 18-24 July (or 25 if we take part in a Sung Eucharist but that is by no means certain). I am sending you this advance notice so that any of you who may like to come to that course can make enquiries of your accommodation and make a provisional booking. It is quite possible that social distancing will still be required by then in which case we will have to limit the numbers we can accept. But we’ll deal with that as and when things are more clear.

The website will be going live soon with a booking form for the course. Deposits will NOT be required this time so that if it has to be cancelled, or we cannot accept a booking because of numbers, no refunds will be necessary. Those who have already paid a deposit for the 2020 course will obviously have that carried over. If you are not sure about it please mail me and I will let you know if this applies to you.

I very much hope that we will be able to have a happy singing week even if it is with limited numbers. I need to give advance warning that if we do have severely restricted numbers only part of my new commission will be programmed. As so many were kind enough to contribute, I want as many people as possible to be able to perform it in due course and, being the kind of piece it is it will be most effective when performed by the numbers it was intended for. I am in the middle of writing the last movement now.

When the website is live you will be sent an e-mail letting you know that the course can be applied to.

All good wishes to you all