SMVC visit the Lake District for a two concert weekend – 22nd – 24th May 2012
A horrible journey with the coach driver fighting high winds and driving rain for most of the five hour journey.
The choir arrive safely at the County Hotel, Kendal.
The first venue was the beautiful Church of St George in Ambleside where we were the Guests of the K Shoes Male Voice Choir (KSMVC). More torrential rain and wind, but a warm welcome from our hosts and a lovely audience meant the weather was forgotten for a while.
Church of St George - Ambleside.
KSMVC entertain the audience with a nice varied selection of music.
Soloist Rachel Spencer Matthews gives a fine solo performance.
Soloist Rachel Spencer Matthews gives a fine solo performance of ‘That Lovely Weekend’ made famous by Vera Lynn, and from Les Miserables, ‘On My Own’. Rachel sings for Thamesdown Ladies Choir in Swindon and it’s plain to see from her performance that she loves to sing!
Now come the words of thanks and a joke from SMVC Chairman Brian Routledge.
A thank you gift to Rachel.
A big thank you to the audience.
And finally some momentoes of the event are exchanged.
Then to the serious business of feasting – SMVC are well known for this! This prepared us for a hazardous drive back to Kendal, continuing heavy rain, high winds, dodging floods and fallen trees.
Relieved to make it to the hotel!
A second concert was scheduled take place in Coniston the following day to support the Coniston Mountain Rescue Team, but the rain just never ceased! Trees down between Ambleside and Coniston resulted in us leaving Kendal for Coniston at lunch time and making a two hour detour route to Coniston.
Half an hour of no rain, then…
more rain...!
And even more rain!
We did manage to get to Coniston but were advised that because of the more expected heavy rain and the threat of further flooding leading to more hazardous driving conditions later in the day travelling in the area was unwise. With very heavy hearts the second concert was cancelled and we made a very wet and precarious return to Kendal in daylight. The disappointment among the choir was clear SMVC members collected £250 amongst themselves as a donation for the Mountain Rescue Team for whom the concert was being staged.
Despite the weather, with typical English stoicism, the choir enjoyed the weekend and came home with a tale to tell!
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