The Church was packed almost to capacity for the seventh annual free Christmas Concert presented by the Ferryboat Entertainers. The varied programme consisted of seasonal songs, poems and comedy numbers. The evening commenced with the Company’s long-standing opening numbers, Ring Out The Bells, and Silver Bells.

There were several solos, performed by Mary Hughes (December), Pat Vanderwolf (The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot), Joe May (The Christmas Song and That’s What I’d Like For Christmas), Rachel Kenhard (I’ll Hang My Heart On A Christmas Tree), Maureen Keise (It Won’t Seen Like Christmas Without You), Alison Richardson (Little Donkey) and Pat Jasper (When A Child Is Born).

Comedy was provided by Mary Hughes and Pat Jasper dressed in bright red and green elf outfits with their amusing version of We’re A Couple of Elves (with apologies to the late, great Irving Berlin). Later, Rachel Kenhard and Sue Western “flew” in decked up as The Torpoint Fairy and The Cremyll Fairy and entertained everyone with The Fairy On The Christmas Tree, complete with tutu’s, wands, tiaras and wings! The whole Company variously entertained with Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer, Do You Love Old Santa Claus? and Must Be Santa, sporting the appropriate headgear - Santa Hats, Reindeer Antlers and Children’s head-wear. Yet another comedy version of The Twelve Days Of Christmas saw the ladies donning an assortment of comic hats, but unfortunately there were only eleven singers, hence Mary Hughes “volunteered” to take on two parts, much to the amusement of the audience when she got herself in a real pickle, juggling two hats!

Elizabeth Barker read a very entertaining poem, entitled All I Want For Christmas, detailing all the things she definitely did NOT want for Christmas, including advice from Delia Smith! Elizabeth’s second poem entitled The Carol Singers, was brief but appropriate for the time of year.

Three close harmony numbers were performed during the evening, entitled A Little Peace, The Christmas Bells and Let There Be Peace On Earth. A medley of up-tempo songs included Jingle Bell Rock, Merry Christmas Everybody and Rocking Around The Christmas Tree. The lively Lord of The Dance and that old favourite, White Christmas were also included.

The audience were invited to join in a seasonal medley including Winter Wonderland, Jingle Bells , Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer and other well-known numbers. The final part of the evening concluded with the ladies dressed in Victorian capes and hats, complete with artificial candles, entering the Church with Queen Victoria in full Royal regalia. Well- known Carols were sung by all and the highlight of the evening saw the ladies performing We Three Kings and playing hand-bells , with not a ding-dong out of place! The programme closed with We Wish You A Merry Christmas.

Refreshments were served in the first Interval and the Raffle took place in the second Interval, when the many prizes, donated by the Entertainers and friends, were rapidly despatched. The amount realized from the Raffle plus donations, amounted to over £203.00, to which the Entertainers contributed a further sum of £50.00, all monies going towards the purchase of a new boiler and heating system urgently needed for the Church.

The very successful evening, hosted admirably by Compere Joe May, was enjoyed by everyone present. The Summer Concert will hopefully take place on Thursday July4th, again in aid of the heating fund.

 

By Betty Begbie — Secretary/M.D.