Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, September 11

The 15th session of the United Kingdom Sacred Harp Convention was called to order by Mick Verrier, accompanied by Councillor Kevin Perry, Chairman of Daventry District Council. Councillor Perry welcomed singers to Weedon Bec, and together with Mick Verrier, led 34b. Ken Baddley offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Steve Fletcher 84; Edwin Macadam 66; Rachel Jordan 47t; Ken Baddley 28t; Sheila Girling Macadam 65; Nick Hall 455; Sofi Mogensen 31t; Ian West 32t; Shelby Sampson 106; Bernard Collard 210; Ruth Steggles 73b; Stephen Biggs 178; Judy Whiting 171; Benny Ross 85; Sadhbh Ní Fhloinn 86; Ted Brown 225t; Jacqui Selby-Macleod 134; Rosalind Oldham 515; Tom Gerber 282; Steve Welch 70t; Michael Walker 193.

The following officers were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Mick Verrier; Treasurer—Edwin Macadam; Organizing Committee—Ken Baddley, Anna Baldini, John Baldini, Steve Fletcher, Nick Hall, Rachel Jordan,

Sofi Mogensen, Sally Sumner, Emily Verrier, Penny Verrier, Jill Thompson, Ian West, Martin Williams; Resolutions Committee—Michael Walker; Secretary—Sheila Girling Macadam

RECESS

Jill Thompson called the class to order leading 99. Leaders: Helen Brown 365; Adrian Bolge 156; Maria Wallace 142; Paul Setford 157; Dave Townsend 383; Linda Reed 569b; Chris Brown 179; Mandy Townsend 72b; Alan Weeks 479; Robert Wedgbury 168; Steve Fletcher 315; David Moore 361; Mick Verrier 201; Rachel Jordan 300; Ken Baddley, Lynn Cousins, and John Schofield 350; Sheila Girling Macadam 299 (for Margaret Jones); Nick Hall 209; Shelby Sampson 312 (t? b?); Edwin Macadam 528; Ruth Steggles 535; Ian West 135; Judy Whiting 384; Bernard Collard 362; Stephen Biggs 288; Sadhbh Ní Fhloinn 448t; Ted Brown 35. Ruth Steggles offered thanks for the midday meal.

LUNCH

Jacqui Selby-Macleod called the class to order leading 131b. Leaders: Benny Ross 330t; Rosalind Oldham 480; Tom Gerber 81t; Steve Welch 49t; Michael Walker 507; Rebecca Over 562; Jill Thompson and Jean Barton 504; Helen Brown 430; Maria Wallace 481; Paul Setford 501; Sarah Tralau, Emily Verrier, and Ethan Tralau 146; Dave Townsend 457; Linda Reed 268; Chris Brown 271t; Alan Weeks 538.

Ken Baddley conducted a Celebration Lesson, noting the birth of grandchildren, an engagement, wedding anniversaries, 60th birthdays and retirements, examination successes, the forthcoming beatification of Cardinal John Newman, and the successful recovery from serious injury of Ben Hall earlier this year. He led 198 for all those celebrating. Mandy Townsend concluded the first session of the afternoon leading 318.

RECESS

The class was brought back to order by Steve Fletcher leading 148. Leaders: Adrian Bolge 147t; Robert Wedgbury 277; David Moore 189; Mick Verrier and Sally Sumner 272; Rachel Jordan 269; Ken Baddley 192; Sheila Girling Macadam 128; Nick Hall 183; Shelby Sampson 143; Edwin Macadam 236; Ruth Steggles 454; Ian West 39t; Judy Whiting 354t; Bernard Collard 203; Stephen Biggs 497; Sadhbh Ní Fhloinn 47b; Ted Brown 97; Michael Walker 102; Jacqui Selby-Macleod 141; Helen Brown 187; Jill Thompson 474.

Mick Verrier led 496 as the closing song. Helen Brown offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

During a short business meeting immediately afterwards it was agreed that the 2012 Convention would take place in the village of Hurst, near Reading, Berkshire, with Michael Walker as chairman.

Sunday, September 12

The Sunday session of the United Kingdom Sacred Harp Convention was brought to order by Ian West leading 313t. Michael Walker offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Maria Wallace 171; Steve Welch 73b; Benny Ross 105; Rebecca Over 172; Paul Setford 40; Linda Reed 287; Cath Tyler 318; Chris Brown 466; Steve Fletcher 547; Phil Tyler 157; Adrian Bolge 48t; Hannah Land 300; Robert Wedgbury 37t; Mick Verrier 107; Rachel Jordan 472; Edwin Macadam 564; Nick Hall 464; Sheila Girling Macadam 377; Les Doggrell 410t; Judy Whiting 460; Stephen Biggs 276; Ruth Steggles 490; Sadhbh Ní Fhloinn 117; Ted Brown 546; Michael Walker 396; Jill Thompson 344; Mandy Townsend 203.

RECESS

Dave Townsend called the class to order leading 198. Leaders: Maria Wallace 38b; Steve Welch 38t; Helen Brown 240; Ian West 178 (for Margaret Jones); Sofi Mogensen 84; Benny Ross 142; Cath Tyler 59.

Steve Fletcher, assisted by Peter Little, conducted the memorial lesson, reading from ‘Anam Cara: Spiritual Wisdom from the Celtic World’ by Irish poet and philosopher John O’Donohue, and leading 457 for the following deceased: Su Stote—Crowborough; Glyn—Sheffield; Dennis Lucy—Ilminster and Kinsale; Jim Clay—Ironbridge; Alan White—Hertfordshire; Carl Lawrence—Hampshire; Hilary Tomlin, Betty Sharp, Ruth Drawneek—New Zealand; Betty Thompson—London; Erik Mogensen—France; Jenny Reeves, Suzanne Parker—Billericay; Kathleen Dunne—Manchester and Tullamore; Gerda Lawrence—Newcastle-upon-Tyne; Percy Peris—Malaysia; Frank Bentley—Southend; Sheila Schaffer—Brighton; Gordon Jones—Northamptonshire; Joe Hall—Eridge; Rex Sellwood—Bloxwich; Barbara Scott—Gateshead; Eva Crowder—Scarborough; Glynne Williams—Cardiff; Geoff Hayto—Farndon; Roger Hutchinson—Leicester; George Seiler, Billy Williams, Jerry Enright, Jerry Lloyd, Morris Nowlin—USA.

Hannah Land spoke for the sick and housebound, not only within the Sacred Harp community but beyond, and led 68b for the following: Sharon Langridge, Robert Freestone, Alan Jackson, Brian Butcher, Gordon Corrick, Roy Harris, Cherri Graebe, June (Redditch), Tom Hodgkinson, Joyce Over, Marion Biggs, Elizabeth O’Kelly, Bunty Jeffreys, Andy (St Albans), Jane Davies, Nicola Macadam, Lucy Chadwick, Lisbeth Poulsen, Stan Reeve, Melita Chynoweth, Thora Chynoweth, Jan Richardson, Peter Ogden, Ivy Moore, Elsie Batty, Christina Pritchard, Angie Gilliat, Ros Clements, Maureen Gamlin, and David Daykin. Helen Brown offered prayer to close the memorial lesson.

Leaders: Chris Brown 273; Rebecca Over 340; Paul Setford 63; Linda Reed 534; Phil Tyler 30b; Rachel Jordan 200; Adrian Bolge 34b; Robert Wedgbury 68t; Sheila Girling Macadam 217; Les Doggrell 159; Hannah Land 216; Nick Hall 485. Ruth Steggles offered thanks for the midday meal.

LUNCH

At the commencement of the afternoon session, the class honored John Kappes, celebrating his 80th birthday, which was the following day. Leaders: Edwin Macadam 441; Margaret Gillanders 327; Steve Fletcher 65; Emily Verrier, Connie Baldini, Matthew Bolge, Lottie Sumner, Ethan Tralau, and Byron Tyler (the children of the convention) 299; Stephen Biggs 45t; Mick Verrier 538; Judy Whiting 512; Ruth Steggles 510; Sadhbh Ní Fhloinn 455; Ted Brown 426b; Sofi Mogensen 228; Michael Walker 170; Dave Townsend 112; Jill Thompson 473; Chris Brown 324; Mandy Townsend 163t; Helen Brown 227; Phil Tyler 477; Robert Wedgbury 163b; Ian West 313b; Hannah Land 274t; Linda Reed 155; Paul Setford 31b; Steve Welch 503; Benny Ross 196; Cath Tyler 168.

The Treasurer thanked the class for donations that were sufficient to cover expenses. The Secretary reported that 89 people from the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States had registered, and 41 leaders led 168 songs. The Resolutions Committee resolved to give thanks to God Almighty for the blessings of friendship and of music; to thank our chaplains for their service this weekend; to thank all those who have provided food for the weekend; to express particular thanks to John Baldini for expertly managing the food service over the entire weekend; to thank all the other people who have assisted in ways large and small in making the 2010 UK Sacred Harp Convention a success; to commend this year’s Convention to Almighty God, thanking the chairman and his committees for a job well done; and look forward to convening again next year in Stannington, South Yorkshire, on the third Sunday of September and the Saturday before.

The chairman and officers led 347 as the closing song. Ted Brown offered the closing prayer.

Chairman—Mick Verrier; Secretary—Sheila Girling Macadam