Advent in Audlem

What a wonderful start to the pre Christmas week!

We were in the audience on Sunday night at St. James' for a tremendous concert, featuring Audlem Voices and the Cheshire Police Band. Arriving fashionably just before the start we were ushered to the front row so had a super view, and a close up of the drums in the Corps of Drums.

So many people there that coats had to be taken off for both coolth and room for shoulders. A well thought out programme nicely contrasted the band and choir parts but both equally superb.

The band got off to a cracking start with the "Christmas Festival Overture" and ended their first two sessions with the theme from that old Christmas perennial 'The Great Escape'.

The choir had a beautifully varied festive menu, old favourites and some new to me at least. It would be hard to choose a favourite but, no reflection on their brilliant accompanist, the unaccompanied carols were superb.

The 'Twelve or so Days of Christmas' was new to me and quite lovely. We in the audience had to try to strut our stuff for the four Carols/Christmas songs and it was a great relief to me at least that I was able to 'sing' out without being conspicuously out of tune such was my proximity to the band. Really gives you confidence to open the throat.

There were welcome refreshments during the interval and wonderful prizes in the raffle. Himself is anticipating enjoying the Jack Daniels we won, I'm for the chocolates.
I don't "wish it could be Christmas every day" but am glad that I live in Audlem (the place to be every Christmas).

Many thanks to Audlem Voices and The Cheshire Police Band for a wonderful evening. I must write down the bandleader's joke before I forget it.

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.