Mousehole Choir's Century
Just as a handful of Mousehole men met to sing carols in a net loft above a pilchard press near the harbour 100 years ago, and began the village male voice choir, so the centenary concert brought nearly 70 members to celebrate with equal enthusiasm at Paul parish church.
Hundreds packed the ancient building for this annual singing of new and traditional Cornish melodies; every charity concert programme had been sold in advance.
Down the hill the famed harbour lights with a special "1909–2009" decoration in the choir’s honour filled the village with colour and the men sang a special carol, The Christmas Lights Of Mousehole.
This festive concert almost completed the year’s events for the group under conductor Stephen Lawry, with deputy Portia Grant, accompanist Annette Turton and church organist John Harry.
The audience had their chance with five popular favourites in the 90-minute selection that included readings by Jon Pender, John Matthews, Trevor Walker and Melville Osborne. Two charities will benefit, Ellie’s Haven and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Jenna and Morwenna Matthews were guest singers and delighted with their phrasing and blend. And with the choir they helped bring the programme to a climax with Adam’s classic O Holy Night.
In The Stillness Of The Night and Child In A Manger Born were among their duets, accompanied by mother Katherine, as well as songs from their CD that has already raised £4,200 for the Children’s Hospice.
The choir were in fine fettle after their enjoyable and hectic, which included several Cornish arrangements by their musical director and a former conductor R J Maddern Williams. They ranged from Star Of Bethlehem to Ding Dong Merrily On High and Tom Bawcock’s Eve.
On Tom Bawcock’s Eve itself, choir president Douglas Williams unveiled a plaque to mark the centenary of Mousehole Male Voice Choir.
