The fifteenth
Annual Oxford Sacred Harp Singing Day was held on Saturday before the fourth
Sunday in June. Chairman Sheila Girling Macadam called the class to order at
10:00 am leading 34b, and Dilwyn Scott offered the opening prayer. The
following officers were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman--Sheila Girling
Macadam; Vice Chairman--Edwin Macadam; Secretaries--Sofi Mogensen and Nick Hall;
Arranging Committee--Mandy Townsend; Pitcher--Rachel Jordan. Leaders: Edwin
Macadam 171; Rachel Jordan 47t; Steve Fletcher 40; Nick Hall 61; Sarah Hill 77t;
James Percival 192; Jenneith Codrington 37b; Steve Welch 52t; Sofi Mogensen 31t;
Toby Goss 468; Rebecca Over 395; Marjorie Brown 102; Richard Percival 313b;
Mandy Townsend 203; Ed Long 48b; Jan Lawrence 28b; Joe Vickers 32t; Sheila
Girling Macadam 564; Rachel Jordan 173; Edwin Macadam 444; Steve Fletcher 481;
Nick Hall 455; Sarah Hill 401.
RECESS
James Percival
called the class back to order leading 312b. Leaders: Steve Welch 38t; Susannah
Gill 89; Sofi Mogensen 332; Toby Goss 288; Jenneith Codrington 300; Richard
Percival 515; Alison Brown 457; Rebecca Over 197; Ed Long 56b; Val Wallace and
Joe Vickers 84; Jan Lawrence 141; Marjorie Brown 228; Mandy Townsend 318; Sheila
Girling Macadam 553; Nick Hall 454; Sarah Hill 565b; Joe Vickers 569b; Rachel
Jordan 200; Steve Fletcher 448t; James Percival 198; Jenneith Codrington 474;
Steve Welch 354t; Sofi Mogensen 276; Edwin Macadam 236; Richard Percival 473.
Marjorie Brown offered the prayer before lunch.
LUNCH
The afternoon
session was brought to order by Sheila Girling Macadam 362. Leaders: Guy Hayes
and Sarah Hill 38b; Adrian Bolge 107; Susannah Gill 547; Alison Brown 504; Mandy
Townsend 147t. Steve Fletcher and Martin Williams conducted the memorial
lesson, reflecting on the journey through this world and beyond, with Richard
Percival reading the names of the following: Gordon Divers--Bridgemere; John
Stone--Lewes, Sussex; Evelyn Mayers--London; Matthew Oliver--Didcot; Derek
Wood--Ruskington, Lincs; John Barry--Ringmer, Sussex; Nonie and Peter
Murray--Scotland; William Durkin--Marlborough, Massachusetts. Steve Fletcher
led 545 in their memory. Mary Welch spoke for the sick and housebound, relating
the story of young professional soccer player Fabrice Muamba, who had suffered a
cardiac arrest during a football match in London, and of the prayers of
thousands for his recovery. She read his favourite psalm, Psalm 121. Antonina
Spittal read the names of the following sick and housebound: Hilary of Lewes,
Sussex; Carol Beaton--Freckleton; Ted Alderson--Tatsfield; Josie Hyde--Alabama;
Alice Wadsworth--Wareham; Elsie Heritage--Stevenage; Abigail Williams--London;
Gail Thornicroft--Shropshire; Andrea Fletcher--Peterborough; Kath Mountstephen--Bristol;
Dennis Lanfear--Bristol; Anne Robinson--Darlington; Pat Corp--Barry, Wales.
Steve Welch led 68b and Sheila Girling Macadam closed the memorial with prayer.
The class resumed singing with Wendy Stone leading 82t. Leaders: Rebecca Over
285t; Marjorie Brown 497; Ed Long 428; Jan Lawrence 333; Joe Vickers 485; Edwin
Macadam 550; Steve Fletcher 117; Rachel Jordan 155.
RECESS
The final
session commenced with Nick Hall leading 183 to commemorate the 75th anniversary
of the world steam train record set by 'Mallard'. Leaders: Sarah Hill 500;
Steve Welch 350; Joe Vickers 344; Marjorie Brown 69t; Susannah Gill 472; Richard
Percival 535; Jenneith Codrington 503; Wendy Stone 528; Jan Lawrence 479; Sofi
Mogensen 440; Steve Fletcher 49b; Mandy Townsend 178; Rachel Jordan 146.
Announcements were made and invitations extended to other Sacred Harp singing
events around the country. Sheila Girling Macadam and Edwin Macadam thanked all
the officers, committees, and anyone who helped in any way to make this singing
possible, and led 347 as the closing song. Edwin Macadam offered the closing
prayer, after which the class was dismissed.
Chairman--Sheila Girling Macadam; Vice Chairman--Edwin Macadam; Secretaries--Sofi
Mogensen and Nick Hall |