Get out and sing in 2015

It’s official – singing is good for you. A number of scientific studies from around the world have demonstrated singing – especially in a choir with other people-  has a number of definite health benefits. More.

You have missed your chance to join Milborne Port Opera this year (more about their upcoming show soon), but there is a local choir in Wincanton which ticks all the boxes.

Spectra Musica, which rehearses in Wincanton Methodist Church on Tuesday evenings,  came together at the beginning of 2006 and, over the years, it has steadily grown and has developed a wide repertoire.

This chamber choir is building a reputation for the refreshing diversity of its programmes and the quality of its performances as shown by the enthusiastic reception of its audiences.  In addition to the three concerts presented each year, the group has also enjoyed performing at charity and private events and recently hosted another successful “Come and Sing” day.

Spectra Musica rehearse on a Tuesday evening in the Methodist Church in Wincanton, and are always ready to welcome newcomers, particularly basses. If you would like to know more, contact Elizabeth Carter: 01747 841431.

On February 28th 2015 there will be a wonderful opportunity to meet their new Musical Director, Peter Leech when he takes the next ‘Come and Sing’ Day in the Cheap Street Church in Sherborne.  Peter is an extremely talented and experienced musician who will be leading us in Lotti’s Requiem and Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. The Requiem is not a very well known work but is a sublime piece.

Registration will start at 9am and the cost is £15 including music. For more details contact Sarah Bignell  or www.spectramusica.co.uk .

Peter’s first concert with Spectra Musica will be on 21st March 2015  in the Wincanton Catholic Church. The choir will be accompanied as usual by concert pianist Anita D’Attellis who will also be performing. For further information do contact one of the above.

 

A happy and prosperous New Year to all

Your editor wishes all  subscribers and browsers a happy, successful and peaceful 2015.

The Editor’s new year resolution is to do more and try harder on the blog.

We hope our subscribers (entirely free) will reciprocate by encouraging their friends and contacts to also subscribe,  write the odd article or two, and  take part in some of the discussions which emerge from time to time.

Please feel free to contact the Editor – editor@idnet.com – if you have anything to publicise locally, or an issue you wish us to raise.

Happy New year!

Ed

New Year’s Eve Party at the White Horse

WhitehorselogoCelebrate the New Year  in style at the White Horse, South Cheriton, the only pub in the immediate area which is open on new Year’s eve. The blog has received a message from the landlord, James Cole:

“Here at the White Horse in South Cheriton I wish to welcome all our friends and neighbours to join us in celebration this coming New Years Eve.

We have been here for six months now and are extremely grateful for all the support our friends and neighbours  in the village have given us since opening.

Therefore we wish to welcome you to a  night of live music and fireworks here at the pub. Entry is free.

We are open from six onwards with the live music proceeding from nine. We are unfortunately not serving food from our usual menu; however we will have on offer a hearty portion of homemade chilli-con-carne with rice. All are welcome, including children, and we are happy for anyone to bring their dogs. ”

 

 

January Diary

Regular activities (village hall unless stated).
Mondays    Pilates 6pm
Tuesdays    Upholstery 10.30 am , Badminton 8pm,
Wednesdays Adult tap dancing 6.15
Thursdays    Art 10.00
Fridays    Art 10.00

Other Events
Sat 3rd            Wincanton Races
Mon 5th         Ladies Lunch Group  Old Inn, Holton
…………………….Horsington School Term starts
Wed 7th          Music Night  Half Moon Inn 8.45pm
Thurs 8th       W.I  –  New Year Lunch   Village Hall 7.30pm
Thurs 15th     Wincanton Races
…………………….Parish Council Meeting Village Hall 7.30pm
Tues 20th      Film The Railway Man King Arthur’s School 7.30pm
Thurs 29th    Wincanton Races

St John’s Church services

4th January           9.15am Holy Communion with Sunday School
11th January         11.am Morning Prayer
18th January         9.15am Holy Communion
25th January         8.30am Holy Communion (BCP)

 

Quiz excitement – can we take any more?

There were moments of nail-biting drama in the Half Moon’s annual end-of-the-year quiz on Suday 28th December. As usual, the quiz resulted in a runaway victory for the towering intellects of the Ted Banks Appreciation Society, who solved cryptic clues and general knowledge questions with effortless ease.

Six teams took part. By the final round, past champions The Moonies were challenging TBAS for the coveted prize, but the final result, after tough questions on dead celebrities (in my view the only good kind –Ed), was a stunning and well deserved victory for the gallant Ted Banks crew, who clocked up  a magnificent 63 points, a full 2.5 points ahead of The Moonies.

A TBAS spokesman said “ Once again Landlord Andrew Tarling has proved himself to be an excellent question setter, providing an interesting and intellectual challenge which we were happy to meet.”

The next Half Moon Quiz will be at Easter, unless someone decides to organise one before then.

Mark Hoddinott

Revised, 12 December 20014: The Blog is very sad to record the death of Mark Hoddinott – “Niddy” to his friends – who passed away in his sleep on Sunday 7 December in The Mellowes Nursing Home, Gillingham, after a difficult illness.

Niddy was born in Templecombe and lived locally all his life, apart from a spell in the army. He will be missed at the Half Moon, where he  regularly sat at the corner of the bar.

He was a very sociable man, and had a word with everyone.

The Blog send its condolences to his daughter Rachel, who was by his side when he died, and the rest of his family.

Niddy’s funeral is on 22 December at 11am in Horsington Church.

Has Winterbourne Longjohns lost it?

We have received a mysterious communication from our racing correspondent, Winterbourne Longjohns. It is headed “B.B.S.S” and says:

“Winterborne Longjohns is most concerned by the repeated rumours that the editor  of the Hoisington  Blog has sold the publication to a  group of West Somerset investors led  by Rupert  Murdoch and the Half  Moon Inn.  White Horses should only be followed at Cannotwin when they have been stabled at Uncle Toms Cabin.

Can anyone interpret the great man’s words? Or name the region and and vintage of whatever he imbibed before composing this? What does B.B.S.S. mean? The editor may award prizes.

We hope Winterbourne will be well enough to tell us the winners at Cannotwin before the  Boxing Day meeting starts.

Half Moon Christmas Hours

signpost2

Christmas Opening hours
Tuesday 23rd 12 – 3,  6- 11
Wednesday 24th 12 – 2,   6- 12 midnight
Thursday 25th 12 – 2
Friday 26th 6 -11
Saturday 27th 12 – 2, 6 – 11
Sunday 28th 12 – 4,  7 -10.30
Monday 29th, Tuesday 30th, Wednesday 31st  CLOSED
Thursday 1st January 12- 3,  6 -10

Let’s hear from the White Horse! Ed

 

Double your Money at at the Half Moon in January

signpost2The Half Moon has come up with a novel way to stretch the Christmas budget – Buy a voucher for £12.50 in December, and enjoy £25 worth of food and drink in January. It’s a simple as that! The voucher must be used for a meal, with or without a drink.

Available from the bar now.

Double up promotion at the half Moon Horsington

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox

Join other followers: