Tour Reports 2021

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OUCC Tours cancelled due to the Covid-19 restrictions:

Blackburn Cathedral February 2021

Bristol Cathedral April 2021

When the first lockdown was declared in March 2020 we couldn’t imagine then what lay ahead – at least, I couldn’t.   We all had to muddle through as best we could, somehow manage to get shopping done, whether via online or queuing socially distant outside supermarkets.  No choirs, no church services, no socialising, nothing. We just had to get used to a new way of living and coping with the restrictions. For some it has been a difficult time coping with family illness, bereavement, loneliness, for some it has been an opportunity to explore new interests.  

The lock-down caused the OUCC tour to Edinburgh in April 2020 to be cancelled at short notice; the planned August tour to Ripon never was a possibility.  It was clear from early on that there was no likelihood of any February or April tours being possible in 2021 – if we were very lucky, we might possibly be able to meet in August.  With a considerable amount of optimism, we started the detailed preparations for the visit to Hereford, being fully aware that lock-down rules could change at any time.

And then, at last: We did meet again! 

Hereford Cathedral - August 2021

It was with great relief that we were able to assemble in the Song School on the Thursday afternoon for the first rehearsal of the weekend.  We were a bit anxious – how would our voices be after such a long time of not singing? For most of us, that was about 18 months. But John Naylor, our Music Director, very gently and skillfully took us through the initial rehearsal and instilled in us the confidence that all would be well.

Our hotel, the Premier Inn, was a couple of miles from the cathedral.  As some of the singers had arrived by train, car sharing was easily arranged for those in need of transport. Some of the more energetic members of the choir decided to walk a couple of times.  The Beefeater restaurant ‘Starting Gate’ served good food, although some of the menu items were not available due to delivery problems.  However, they had enough food to satisfy us all.

Once we got rehearsing on the Friday, that 18 months of separation melted away and everything felt ‘just normal’.  The music included well-known and much-loved items, familiar to most of us: Gabriel Jackson’s Responses, Gibbons Short Service, Watkins in E and the Walmsley in D minor evening canticles.  Todd’s ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ and MacMillan’s ‘The Lamb has come for us’ challenged our dynamic singing, not to forget the Elgar anthem ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me’.  For the Communion service, the Benson setting in D minor was a new experience for the congregation.  In all these various items, William Nicholson put the organ through its paces, perfectly supporting the choir from the ppp through to the fff sections.

The are some beautiful gardens in the grounds around the cathedral. The areas next to the Song School and the courtyard by the Café as well as the Quadrangle have some lovely borders and planters in full late-summer display and it was a pleasure to spend some of the free time there just enjoying the beauty and the peace.

Singing the services was a great experience.  Due to the Covid constraints, some of the seating and all the soft furnishings had been removed from the Nave; that no doubt contributed to the fine acoustics of the cathedral, really lifting the sound. The dissonances in the Jackson Responses actually sounded very good!

All the staff that we encountered at the cathedral were most friendly and helpful which contributed to making the weekend such a happy experience.  

With friendships renewed, and new friendships made, we are all looking forward to the next tour, hoping to be able to meet in Edinburgh next April (Covid – or any other viruses – permitting).

I must in all honesty admit that arranging this tour had its moments but it was all worthwhile.  I am most grateful for the understanding and support from the singers, accepting the uncertainties with great forbearance.  For me personally, what makes the OUCC tour such a happy experience is being able to meet up again with such a lovely group of people – or rather, friends – singing great music under John’s direction and the inspired and inspiring accompaniment by William.  Special thanks also to Patrick and Artie for looking after our robes, to Patsy for doing the in-house printing and to the non-singing supporters joining us on the tour.  Thank you all!

Ester Harries

Administrator

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