The seventh Home Counties Sacred Harp Singing Day was held on Saturday before the third Sunday in February.  Chairman Sheila Girling Macadam called the class to order at 10:00 am leading 34b, and offered the opening prayer.  The following officers were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman--Sheila Girling Macadam; Secretaries--Edwin Macadam and Sofi Mogensen; Chaplain--Michael Walker; Arranging Committee--Mandy Townsend and Nick Hall; Pitchers--Rachel Jordan, Michael Walker and Erin Johnson-Hill.  Leaders: Edwin Macadam 47t; Sofi Mogensen 52t; Rebecca Over 30b; Nick Hall 391; Erin Johnson-Hill 171; Rachel Jordan 344; Toby Goss 300; Michael Walker 144; Mandy Townsend 475; Matthew Parkinson 73t; Steve Fletcher 328; Steve Brett 122; Edwin Macadam 181; Sofi Mogensen 84; Sheila Girling Macadam 173; Nick Hall 273; Erin Johnson-Hill 283; Toby Goss 159; Rebecca Over 428; Rachel Jordan 182; Michael Walker 172.

RECESS

Steve Fletcher called the class to order leading 272. Leaders: Steve Brett 35; Mandy Townsend 217; Matthew Parkinson 354b; Adrian Bolge 107; Sofi Mogensen 31t; Nick Hall 183; Toby Goss 354t; Rebecca Over 562; Erin Johnson-Hill 204.

A joint memorial lesson and sick and housebound lesson was conducted by Michael Walker, reflecting on the text of Cardinal Henry Newman's hymn 'Lead Kindly Light'. Michael led 566 for the following deceased: Carlene Griffin--GA; Josie Hyde--AL; Jeff and Shelbie Sheppard--AL; C T Williams--AL; Ted Alderson, Irene Owen and Veronica Shrub, all of Tatsfield, Surrey; Steve Arch, Joan Bell and Don Bishop, all of Lewes, Sussex; Peter Stone--Oxford; and Mona Wetherall--Scholes, Leeds; and for the following sick and housebound: Jackie Saunders--Eynsham, Oxon; Mary Ware--Billericay, Essex; Peter Gatenby--Warwick; and Patricia Price--Sutton, Surrey. Michael closed the lesson with prayer.

Leaders: Sheila Girling Macadam 330b; Matthew Parkinson 472; Rachel Jordan 480; Steve Fletcher 192; Mandy Townsend 203; Steve Brett 430; Michael Walker 250; Adrian Bolge 496; Nick Hall 145b; Edwin Macadam 510; Rebecca Over 433; Sofi Mogensen 102; Erin Johnson-Hill 512; Steve Fletcher 411; Matthew Parkinson 113. Rebecca Over offered thanks for the midday meal.

LUNCH RECESS

Toby Goss brought the afternoon session to order leading 228. Leaders: Steve Brett 89; Edwin Macadam 444; Rachel Jordan 538; Sheila Girling Macadam 553; Adrian Bolge 148; Mandy Townsend 163t; Sofi Mogensen 275; Michael Walker 292; Nick Hall 454; Erin Johnson-Hill 434; Rebecca Over 456; Steve Fletcher 383; Matthew Parkinson 198; Edwin Macadam 528; Toby Goss 163b; Sheila Girling Macadam and Isla Grace Halls led The Wheels on the Bus (arranged by Mick Verrier); Rachel Jordan 474; Mandy Townsend 72b; Steve Brett 58; Adrian Bolge 142; Sofi Mogensen 481; Toby Goss 288; Nick Hall 73b; Michael Walker 111.

RECESS

Erin Johnson-Hall called the class to order leading 81t. Leaders: Rachel Jordan 373; Rebecca Over 290; Mandy Townsend 302; Matthew Parkinson 230; Steve Brett 282; Steve Fletcher 85; Sheila Girling Macadam 556; Edwin Macadam 466; Adrian Bolge 156; Sofi Mogensen 209; Michael Walker 134; Toby Goss 178; Nick Hall 452; Rachel Jordan 155; Erin Johnson-Hill 382; Rebecca Over 435; Mandy Townsend 37b; Steve Fletcher 378b; Steve Brett 277; Edwin Macadam 191.

Announcements were made and invitations extended to other Sacred Harp singing events around the country.  Sheila Girling Macadam, Edwin Macadam and their granddaughter, Isla Grace Halls, thanked all those who had contributed in any way to the success of the day, as well as everyone who had taken the leap of faith to make the journey in such extreme weather conditions. They led 347 as the closing song.  Edwin Macadam, reflecting on the hardship being experienced by so many in the floods which had deluged much of the south of England, closed the singing with prayer.

Chairman:  Sheila Girling Macadam;
Secretaries:  Sofi Mogensen and Edwin Macadam