Variety show raises £400 for Christmas lights

A variety show presented by The Looe Valley Singers last Friday (24th November) has raised more than £400 for the Looe Christmas lights fund.

Despite a stormy night, a large and enthusiastic audience, including mayor Ron Overd and his wife Pat, turned up at the Riverside Church and were entertained by some of Looe’s finest local talent.

Ably compered by David Holford, the evening began with The Looe Valley Singers singing a selection of popular songs. This was followed by Jean Dingle, who kept everybody amused with her unique “Cornish Tales”.  Judith and Keith Lockyer (Keith is manager of the Hannafore Point Hotel) then took over with songs of the 60s and 70s – which soon had the audience cheering and tapping their feet! The evening ended with The Looe Valley Singers giving an early taste of Christmas with some popular and traditional carols.

Bronwen thanking Paul


The choir's visit to theQuiberon Festival of European Choirs in Octber 2006

The Looe Valley Singers has taken part in a hugely successful Festival of European Choirs in Quiberon. This is the second time the choir has sung at the event which celebrates the special relationship between the Breton town and Looe. Looe and Quiberon have been “twinned” for the last 30 years.

 

This year, for the first time, the Singers were accompanied by the Polperro Fishermen’s Choir. A total of 70 people from the Looe area – members of the choirs and their partners - attended the three day festival which is held every two years.

 
The choir performed a mix of secular and sacred music to packed audiences at a variety of venues including the Palais des Congrès, the town’s main square and Quiberon’s splendid church. They were joined by seven other choirs from France, Germany and Hungary. At the end of the two main concerts all the choirs – more than 300 singers - performed Amazing Grace, Ave Verum, Tollite Hostias  and Des Cornouailles à l’Oural together to standing ovations.

“There were two main things that stood out for us at the festival”, said the choir’s Musical Director, Paul Morris. Firstly, of course, singing to such appreciative and enthusiastic audiences – particularly in the pieces sung by the massed choirs, which were very moving. Secondly, was the tremendous warmth and hospitality given to us by our French hosts in Quiberon.  We very much want to organise a return visit to Looe so that we can give them a real Cornish welcome.  The inspiration behind the festival was “Music is the universal language of humanity” and I think everybody who attended this event – singers and audience – would agree with that! “

 
Paul Morris with the choir outside our practise venue.