THE BIRKBECK SINGERS ARCHIVE 2019 – PICTURES AND VENUES PAGE

2018 ARCHIVE
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Christmas Buffet
Ipswich and Suffolk Club
Tower Street, Ipswich
Wednesday 3rd December 2018

Park View Care-Home

London Road, Ipswich
Wednesday 28th November 2018

A happy and significant concert for the Birkbeck Singers in many ways :
a) It fulfilled a promise made to the Park View Home staff, residents and friends to perform a concert for
them before the end of the year.
A promise made by Be, before her untimely death, and kept by us, the Birkbeck Singers.

b) This concert was the debut production for Chandra Grover, our new Musical Director and was such an
enjoyable occasion. The first half of familiar light music such as Simple Gifts, Chattanooga Choo Choo etc,
and after interval , seasonal songs rang out with 'Jingle Bells', 'Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas' etc.
but not before we sang ' All of a Silent Night' by Becki-Slagle-Mayo which the audience felt was 'truly'
special !
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c)Today was an excellent way to share our Christmas spirit and greetings with the Park View audience who
welcomed us and even provided us with tea and delicious cakes.

d) and finally
It was a memorable gig on which to close 2018 ;- a challenging year in so many ways for the Birkbeck
Singers. We now look forward to the opportunities of the coming New Year with more music to enjoy
together and share with others.

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Summer Stroll
The Maybush, Waldringfield
Wednesday 22 August 2018

Stevie and Paul volunteered to

lead another summer stroll to
raise funds for our Birkbeck
Singers' Charity …in 2018 - it's
for ActivLives !
This year they chose a stroll by
the beautiful River Deben at
Waldringfield and there abouts,
starting and finishing at The
Maybush.
The route was just right; along
the sandy river bank, past the
colourful sailing craft idling on the river, before turning onto the fields and country lanes beyond. Two or
three miles of gentle walking at a relaxed pace, with not a hill nor stile in sight! -just enjoying the chance to
meet up again socially with other Birkbeckers and their partners. Lunch at the Maybush was such a success
........ Just look around the table at the smiley faces and empty plates and glasses.
The walk, the weather, the company, the food and the atmosphere were perfect
Thanks Stevie and Paul.

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Paul's happy to take the lead

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Be Bird Remembered
(20th June 1949 - 25th June 2018)

Monday 25th June 2018

The Birkbeck Singers were stunned to receive the devastating news from the Ipswich Institute
that confirmed the rumour that our much loved and respected Be Bird - Music Director,
tutor and friend had died today, as a result of a catastrophic brain haemorrhage.
It was a mind-numbing shock to everyone; it was so unexpected.
She will be sorely missed in so many ways by everyone who knew her.
May she rest in peace.

For further details of our heartfelt loss, eulogy and funeral memorial from the wider music public of
Ipswich, please go to the dedicated Be Bird Remembered PDF folder in the archive section of the Birkbeck
Singers website.

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Sing-Along!
Tim Laming (with friends and guests)
supported by Fern Teather and Sam Thurlow
The Rep, 11 Tower Street, Ipswich
Wednesday 30th May 2018

This year's Sing-Along, at 'The Rep', in the heart of

Ipswich Town, was a great success and a joy to be there. I
had bought a lyrics booklet at the door, so with others in
the audience, I could sit around a table with a drink,
nibbles and a friend singing along to Tim , his colleagues
and his trusty guitar !
The hosts, Mary and Tim, opened the evening with a song,
welcomed their guest Julie Stokes (CEO of ActivLives
Charity);then before we knew it, the whole audience was
taking Tim's lead and singing popular songs, old and new.
Next, a well-known local singer/songwriter, Fern Teather,
with Sam 'Bongo Boy' Thurlow on ...well...his bongos -
took to the stage to perform songs from their recently
recorded CDs - and fantastic they were too!
After a short break for drinks, the raffle, and a 2 minute
talk by Julie on behalf of her charity, 'Silbury Hill' AKA
Scott Dolling (flute and guitar) and David Stainer (guitar
and mandolin, but not at the same time), played some
amazing progressive rock and some true classic music
from the 60's and 70's.
Far too soon it was time for Tim with his guitar partner
and friend Jimmy to close the show. Both guys presented
as a brilliant singing two-part duo and guitar team; maybe
we'll hear more from these two, as a pair, at the next
'Sing-Along'. - - And the finale? 'Hey Jude!' Of course
...sung with great enthusiasm by us all!

What a great night out, in a fantastic building, ideal for such an event, with outstanding entertainment
that everyone felt part of, led by Tim Laming and the musicians - all true entertainers with hearts of
gold - they all played without payment, to raise money for ActivLives.
Thank you one and all.

Secret reporter from the Audience PJS

•

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Fern Teather with Sam Eileen & Tim play & sing Silbury Hill
'Bongo Boy' Thurlow. 'Both Sides Now'. Scott Dolling & David Stainer

Swing’s the Thing

St. Peter's by the Waterfront
College Street,
Ipswich IP1 1FX

Saturday 28th April 2018

Torrential rain and grid-locked streets all day

made it such a relief for the audience, artistes,
and entertainers, to actually arrive at the
Waterfront concert.
The stage was set - about 70 entertainers! The
colourful dresses, petticoats, and shiny musical
instruments of the 'Essentially Swing' band and
the 'Vintage' garb of the 'Sudbury Jivers', in front
of the black dress code of the Birkbeck Singers
created a striking pose .... a stylish opening shot!
The Music Director/Concert producer, Be Bird,
was delighted to introduce and welcome to 'a full
house', Julie Stokes, CEO of ActivLives our Charity
of Choice for 2018.
David Mitchell, the presenter , enticingly hinted
at the musical pleasures to come.
The Birkbeck Singers opened the show with -
'Gonna Take a Sentimental Journey'; an iconic
sound, that pulsed, at a steam-train-pace, with its subtle harmonies and tones that the audience felt set for
a musical mystery trip across the USA of the '30s, '40s and '50s Ragtime, blues, spirituals from the
southern states - they were there. There were flirty numbers too like 'Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree
‘delivered with Carolina coyness by the Swing Sisters. Music from Hollywood shows featured also, some
romantic, like 'Blue Moon' and Moonlight Serenade ', others adopting the 'modern' fun modes of travel
for 'going-places-kind-of--folk', 'The Trolley Song',' Chattanooga Choo Choo', and the spirited piano solo of

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Scott Joplin's 'The Entertainer' played by Richard Worman. There were very few kinds of popular music not
covered; even ventured was a little ' hoe -down ' with 'Big Noise from Winnetka' where the Birkbeck
Singers found hidden depths by playing kazoos !
Not a dull moment, a wide variety of music with a huge amount of talent the 'Essentially Swing' band
managed to capture the sound and exuberance of the times. The Sudbury Jivers raised fond memories as
the 'GI's and their Gals' took to the floor. They showed such energy and enjoyment stepping and turning to
the beat; the audience couldn't fail to join in the foot tapping especially the 'Java Jive' and 'Round the
Clock'.
But all good things come to an end - the show closed with 'Goodnight Sweetheart'.
Clearly , the evening had been a huge success and such great fun.

A GI and his Gal -from ‘Essentially Swing’

'The Sudbury Swing Jivers'

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Presentation of Cheque
Birkbeck Charity 2017 'Back Up'
Ipswich Institute
Wednesday 21 February 2018

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ActivLives is an independent 'small-community' led charity (Registered Charity No. 1147615), supporting
people in Ipswich and Suffolk by increasing their social and physical activity to help improve their
health and well-being.

ActivLives work with all age groups, mainly

focusing on people over 45 years: some who
live in hard- pressed areas, rural or urban , or
where a high density of older people live but
without accessible appropriate services. Many
of these folk can feel vulnerable, lonely or
isolated due to age, disability , cultural
barriers , or maybe find themselves
disadvantaged through lack of skills, low self-
esteem , unemployment or poverty.
ActivLives provides a wide range of
community-led activities that support over
2000 people each year, which include exercise
and adapted sport activities , health walks,
community gardening/men's projects, lunch
clubs, learning programmes and community
singing.
These activities dramatically improve people's
health and wellbeing, as well as providing a
wide range of volunteering opportunities.

ActivLives is not a fitness organisation -

It's a community -
It's for the Ipswich and Suffolk people.

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