Sunday April 5 (Palm Sunday) - 6.30 pm: Parish Church:
St Michael's Players read “Were you there when they crucified my Lord” by Sarah Klassen. As a part of the normal evening service, St Michael's Players gave a dramatic reading of this centrepiece of the Christian year. This is one of the great stories forming the background to our lives and has relevance to everyone. No ticket required. Just turn up.
Thursday May 28 - 7.30 pm: Parish Church: Jakob Lindberg - Lute’s Heavenly Harmony Swedish-born Jakob Lindberg is one of the finest lutenists in the world today. He has given recitals all around the globe, from Tokyo and Beijing in the East to San Francisco and Mexico City in the West and he has recorded numerous CD:s from the rich solo and chamber repertoire for the lute. Jakob also teaches at the Royal College of Music in London, where he succeeded Diana Poulton as professor of lute in 1979.
The programme entitled “Lute’s Heavenly Harmony” comprises baroque masterpieces by J S Bach, S L Weiss, D Kellner, E Reusner and Scottish music from the Balcarres Lute Book. Jakob performed on a very rare original lute by Sixtus Rauwolf, Augsburg c 1590 which has been carefully restored and is now considered the oldest lute in the world in playable condition with its original soundboard. In partnership with Arts Melbourne.
Monday June 8 – 7.30 pm: Senior Citizen's Centre Speaker Clare Amos - Faith in a Secular Society: Chairman Professor David Thomas Following the debates held in 2008 on Embryology and Euthanasia, the Friends dealt with another topical issue of great interest to believers and non-believers. In a secular society, what role do the major faiths play? Do they simply “fill the gaps” left behind by social services or promise “everlasting life” as balm to the normal human fear of death.
Sunday June 28: Chantry House - A Summer Ball
Two years ago, the Friends were lucky enough to have use of the marquee plus all the knobs and whistles on the Sunday following the wedding of Brian Dollamore's daughter in Castle House. This time, Carol and Michael Loake's daughter, Charlotte married and we had a similar set-up in the grounds of Chantry House. The formula was the same; champagne and canapés followed by a 3-course meal, (Penny Heath and her splendid cooking is already booked); a swing band with a five-star rating; a beautiful garden; balmy late June weather.
Wednesday 9th September: Bill Tidy Cartoonist: “Scrolling Through”: The Melbourne Festival started 4 September, with the Trail Weekend 12 & 13 September. As the founder of the Festival, the Friends once again played a full part with three events on three consecutive evenings. Bill Tidy is well known as a cartoonist, but more so these days for his one-man “Scrolling Through” show, featuring all time favourites and original work for the Festival. He can draw as fast as he talks!
Thursday 10 September: 'Designing Church Furniture' - Nicholas Hobbs: Nicholas is a featured artist on the Trail and following Melbourne Festival 2007, he received a commission for church furniture. This talk was the result. In his own words: "Particular reference is made to the Beeston project (a commission obtained by exhibiting at Melbourne Festival) with examples drawn from other churches being used to illustrate certain points. The talk was not a how to make it guide, but more about influences, relationships, subtleties leading to the creation of the end product. It is about the present and the future, but using the past as a guide. Each commission becomes a topic for research." www.nicholashobbs.co.uk
Thursday 11 September: Musica Donum Dei - All the World’s a Stage: Musica Donum Dei: (MDD) is the leading professional Baroque ensemble of the East Midlands. They are champions of the Baroque repertoire, familiar and unfamiliar. Their repertoire includes instrumental and vocal music from the early 17th to the mid-18th centuries: the age of Monteverdi, Purcell, Vivaldi, Telemann, Bach and Handel. The programme explored Shakespeare’s use of music and musical imagery. It included settings of lyrics from the plays, and instrumental pieces, including music by Robert Johnson, Locke, Purcell, Arne and Dibdin. Speeches and dialogue place the music in its dramatic context – serious, lyrical and humorous by turns. There wer six performers: Actor, Baritone singer /violin, Baroque flute/ recorder/viol, Baroque violin, Baroque ‘cello/viol, Harpsichord.
Friday 16 October 7.30pm: Toccatas and other favourite organ music by French composers: Laurence Rogers and Simon Collins:French composers occupy a special place in the hearts of organists, not least for their contribution of the 'toccata' to the organ repetoire. Laurence and Simon played some of the most popular organ toccatas together with other masterpieces from the same period. The presentation included slide illustrations, taking the audience on a tour of the monumental churches and cathedrals of Paris.
Friday 27 November 7.30pm: Balloon Debate: St Mary's Hall: With a splendid meal by Penny Heath, six balloonists need to eject five of their number to stay alive and save mankind from a terrible fate. They made 6 minute arguments each to justify remaining in the balloon and the audience voted. Unfortunately, the audience had had such a good time, they ignored good sense and sound judgment and voted Eros as the winner. Lust conquers all apparantly.
Thursday 3 December 7.30pm: A History Evening with Philip Heath: Melbourne Parish Church: Philip writes: "We all know melbourne Parish Church as a fine piece of Norman architecture, but less has been said about its changing patterns of use over time, its highs and lows, and its relationship to the community as a whole. This talk attempts to give an account of the church in a more rounded way, including its architecture but also considering its roles of devotion and as part of the everyday life of the Melbourne community".
Friday 11 December 7.00pm: Boundary Singers: They are a group of local singers, (including the Friends Membeship Secretary!!), who perform all over the East Milands. Not only are they very highly regarded, but anyone who wishes to remain on the circulation list had betterturn up. Tickets £5 on the door. For more information call Beryl Symonds on 01332 863902.
The view of the bells is with them in the "up" position. From this point they can be rung full-circle. They are inherently unstable in this position and moving amongst them is dangerous. Clearly the photographer, (me), is an idiot.
