Letchworth Methodist Church Hall
Letchworth
Herts

10th and 11th September 2005

Saturday 10th September

The tenth United Kingdom Sacred Harp Convention was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by Chairman Ken Baddley leading 49t. Chaplain Alan Weeks offered the opening prayer. Leaders: Cath Tyler 59; Margaret Gillanders 203; Sheila Girling Macadam 535; Rachel Jordan 474; Chris Brown 441; Cheryl Foreman 492; Ian West 32t; Gary Rogan 299; Judy Whiting 171; Ronald Bornick 454; Meg Larson 452; Beverly Coates 481; Emily Verrier 146; Andrew Snyder 163b; Vivian Rogan 282; Phil Tyler 300; Mandy Townsend 318; Margaret Bornick 162; Nick Hall 515; Bruce Coates 565; Steve Fletcher 29t; Paul Setford 495; Bobbie Goodell 473; Edwin Macadam 547; Helen Brown 99.

Recess

The class resumed singing with Cath Tyler leading 228. Leaders: Bernard Collard 217; Mick Verrier 95; Dave Townsend 148; Ken Baddley 147t; Margaret Gillanders 142; Rachel Jordan 501; Chris Brown 29b; Cheryl Foreman 430; Ian West 566; Gary Rogan 319; Ronald Bornick 448b; Meg Larson 200; Beverly Coates 448t; Andrew Snyder 216; Vivian Rogan 178; Phil Tyler 332; Mandy Townsend 480; Margaret Bornick 268; Nick Hall 497. Alan Weeks returned grace for the noon meal.  During the lunch recess an alternative sing was held. New and recent compositions by Paul Setford, Tony Singleton, and Mick Verrier were sung, and earlier editions of songs by New England composers were introduced by Sheila Girling Macadam and Paul Setford.

Dinner on the Grounds

The class was brought back to order by Edwin Macadam, leading 350. Leaders: Helen Brown 352; Bruce Coates 34t; Steve Fletcher 150; Paul Setford 101t; Bobbie Goodell 123t; Bernard Collard 362; Mick Verrier 383; Judy Whiting 212; Dave Townsend 117; Sheila Girling Macadam 198; Alan Weeks 151; Ken Baddley 34b; Margaret Gillanders 186; Cath Tyler 155; Rachel Jordan 528; Adrian Bolge 72b; Chris Brown 31b; Cheryl Foreman 475; Ian West 312b; Gary Rogan 129; Ronald Bornick 334; Meg Larson 147b; Beverly Coates 176b; Andrew Snyder 504; Vivian Rogan 56t.

Recess

The class reassembled with Mandy Townsend leading 40. Leaders: Phil Tyler 338; Margaret Bornick 236; Nick Hall 143; Edwin Macadam 538; Helen Brown 556; Bruce Coates 46; Steve Fletcher 85; Dave Townsend 551; Paul Setford 273; Judy Whiting 68b; Bernard Collard 128; Bobbie Goodell 410t; Mick Verrier 209; Alan Weeks 73b; Sheila Girling Macadam 183.  Announcements were made. Ken Baddley led 347 as the closing song. Chaplain Alan Weeks offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Sunday 11 September

The Sunday session was called to order by Chairman Ken Baddley leading 34b. Chaplain Alan Weeks offered the opening prayer.  Leaders: Judy Whiting 33b; Cath Tyler 477; Alan Weeks 40; Helen Brown 283; Chris Brown 267; Rachel Jordan 287; Cheryl Foreman 354t; Ros Clements 192; Ronald Bornick 178; Bob Lilley 133; Ruth Steggles 452; Gary Rogan 384; Mandy Townsend 82t; Beverly Coates 532; Phil Tyler 428; Margaret Bornick 182; Andrew Snyder 542.  A business session addressing the topic of the formation of a steering group for the United Kingdom Sacred Harp Convention was held.

Recess

The class was called back to order by Ros Clements leading 84. Leaders: Alan Weeks 352; Sheila Girling Macadam 112; Nick Hall 127; Vivian Rogan 32t; Edwin Macadam 528; Cath Tyler 47t; Hannah Land 147t; Bruce Coates 361; Steve Fletcher 126; Meg Larson 330b; Dave Townsend 31t; Paul Setford 120; Bobbie Goodell 358; Mick Verrier 201; Adrian Bolge 370; Bernard Collard 42; Chris Brown 38b; Ruth Steggles 200; Helen Brown 278t.  Steve Fletcher and Nick Hall conducted the memorial lesson. Rachel Jordan led 288 in memory of those who have gone before.  Ken Baddley gave the sick and housebound lesson. Judy Whiting led 72b in their honour. Alan Weeks gave the celebration lesson. Ted Brown offered grace for the noon meal.  During the lunch recess an alternative sing was again held. New and recent compositions by Paul Setford, Tony Singleton, and Mick Verrier were sung, and earlier editions of songs by New England composers were introduced by Sheila Girling Macadam and Paul Setford

Lunch recess

Edwin Macadam called the class back to order leading 497. Leaders: Cheryl Foreman 107; Ronald Bornick 117; Ros Clements 510; Gary Rogan 276; Emily Verrier, the newly-married Anna Baldini, Hannah Land, and Sally Sumner 146; Hannah Land 454; Bruce Coates 39b; Mandy Townsend 106; Phil Tyler 105; Jenny Ellis 86; Beverley Coates 472; Andrew Snyder 313b; Vivian Rogan 235; Bob Lilley 551; Margaret Bornick 455; Nick Hall 496; Anna Baldini 272; Sheila Girling Macadam 365.

Recess

The class took a recess in order to bid farewell to six of our twelve visitors from the USA, who had to leave to catch their plane home to Texas. Ken Baddley spoke of their charm, courtesy and warmth, and how much the class had appreciated the spirit in which they had joined in our convention. Beverley Coates responded on their behalf, saying that it was easy to love the songs, and the people who sing them.  The class was reconvened by Ruth Steggles leading 299. Leaders: Mick Verrier 367; Paul Setford 45t; Steve Fletcher 269; Dave Townsend 434; Bobbie Goodell 196; Adrian Bolge 491; Meg Larson 549; Bernard Collard 63; Helen Brown 436; Rachel Jordan 189; Cath Tyler 499; Judy Whiting 373.

Ken Baddley thanked the Arranging Committee, Secretaries, Chaplain, the Memorial Committee, and all officers who made the convention run smoothly; the Kitchen Brigade under Jenny Ellis, Ann Weeks, and Ros Clements for their unstinting efforts, pointing out that Ros had also spent the day before the convention in cleaning the venue. Ken further thanked Helen Brown, Rachel Jordan, Dave Townsend, and Mick Verrier for providing such accurate pitching over the two days of the convention; Mick Verrier for providing music for the alternative sings; and those who had provided food in the usual generous way.  Ken Baddley led 347 as the closing song then offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman - Ken Baddley; Secretaries - Margaret Gillanders and Judy Whiting.