Abbotsbury

JEAN Channon our retired village district nurse and musician staged a concert in aid of the roof appeal on Sunday, May 8th.

Wheels were set in motion as soon as the sad news was known.

Her friends John Bryden, professional pianist and Calum Robertson clarinettist and organist, a third year music student at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music in Glasgow and organ Scholar at Old St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Edinburgh took time out between concerts in London and Exeter to give their services free for the appeal.

This year we were treated to pieces composed by Debussy, Schumann, Edward MacDowell and John Ireland.

However, the highlight of the afternoon was a virtuoso and astonishing piece of new music for the clarinet composed especially for Calum by the American Tim Miles.

Its performance at our concert was only the third in the world.

Entitled ‘Twitch’ from which from you can deduce that birds and bird watching was its theme, the piece introduced new clarinet techniques.

Wind whispered and whistled, birds flapped and called, and waves pounded.

The 5-minute piece of new music was a revelation.

If you would like to listen to it tune into Radio 3 on Saturday, May 21, Calum has just been to the BBC studios to record it.

The Steinway piano for this concert was made available by ‘The Dorset Musical Instrument Trust and its transport covered by a private sponsor.

So thank you to them all.

THE flower ladies of St Nicholas Church are holding a Flower Festival over the long Bank Holiday weekend May 28/29/30.

The imaginative theme of the festival is Roofs and when you put your thinking caps on there is lots of scope.

All monies raised will go towards the huge cost of repairing the church roof after the theft of lead last December.

CHRIS Wade is to open her garden at Elworth Farmhouse on Sunday, May 22 between 2pm and 6pm to raise funds for St Nicholas Church roof fund.

Take the Elworth turning between Portesham and Abbotsbury and the farmhouse is ahead.

I am told that the garden is unsuitable for small children and has uneven gradients.

THE next table top and yard sale takes place at Strangways Hall on Saturday, May 21 from 10.30. Refreshments will available.

To book a table contact Dave on 01305 871629.

The last sale was a great success and Strangways Hall committee donated £50 from the proceeds to the St Nicholas Roof fund.