On the 17th November, the choir is delighted to be performing at the Parish Church of St Michael and All Angel’s in Bishop’s Cleeve, near Cheltenham. Mentioned in the Domesday Book, Bishop’s Cleeve is a very picturesque village near Cheltenham Racecourse and numbers several buildings built in the 12th and 13th century. The centrepiece is the Norman Parish Church. The central tower collapsed in 1696 and was rebuilt in 1700. Richard de la Bere and his wife are commemorated in the elaborate recumbent effigies. The small doorway for priests is decorated with ballflower decoration. The door itself was restored in memory of churchwarden, Robin Frank Paul and fragments of 10th century glass were used in the small stained glass window portraying a demon. The window depicting St. Peter and St. George was made by Burlison & Grylls in 1911.
The event, arranged by Nina Isley and her fiance, our own chorister Graham ‘Spike’ Hughes (who went to school there), is to support Stella’s School Scheme which aims to bring much needed educational support to very young children in a desperately poor region of the Gambia in West Africa. Having visited on a number of occasions, a particular nursery school in Kerr Sering, I can vouch for the desperate need of these very poor children whose schools have very little equipment and few teachers, many of whom work as volunteers. Also, tenor Peter Hanks will be travelling to the Gambia soon to give his support to a school building project in Banjul, the capital.
Please take the opportunity to sing in wonderful surroundings and since we do have connections with this charity and the Gambia within the choir, I’m sure you will give this concert your full support.
Tickets, at £10 which includes refreshments, can be obtained by e-mail at ros@sssgambia.co.uk
To find out more about the charity and its aims, please visit the web-site, Stella’s School Scheme (left click). It’s well worth a look!
Lyn