Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Due to the pandemic, Her Majesty’s Government has regulated singing indoors to no more than six people, and gatherings outdoors to no more than thirty people. It was thus necessary to hold a scaled down version of the twenty second Oxford All-Day singing in the back garden of the home of Edwin and Sheila Macadam on Saturday before the fourth Sunday in June.

Chairman Sheila Girling Macadam called the class to order at 11:00 a.m. leading 34b. Mary Welch offered the opening prayer. The following officers were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Sheila Girling Macadam; Vice Chairman—Edwin Macadam; Secretaries—Sofi Mogensen and Mary Welch; Arranging Committee—Nick Hall and Sheila Girling Macadam; Pitchers—Rachel Jordan and Toby Goss; Chaplains—Mary Welch, Caroline Ungoed-Thomas, and Ken Baddley.

Leaders: Edwin Macadam 287; Toby Goss 299; Mandy Townsend 186; Dave Townsend 496; Sofi Mogensen 31t; Neil Horlock 65; Steve Welch 489; Brenda Harvey 497; George Simms 358; Rachel Jordan 155; Werner Ullah 49b; Nigel Bowley 217; Joss Tait 270.

RECESS

Edwin Macadam brought the class back to order leading 99. Leaders: Elspeth Hannen 148; Nick Hall 475; Ken Baddley 501; Dilwyn Scott 40. Sheila Girling Macadam conducted a combined sick and housebound, and memorial lesson, commemorating two long-term Oxford singers in particular, Adrian Bolge and Vonnie Chantler, who had died within three weeks of each other. The sick and housebound remembered were Virginia Dyer, Louise Wilson, Doris Whitehorn, Nena Casinto, and Naya.

The following names of the deceased were presented: Adrian Bolge—Portsmouth, UK; Vonnie Chantler—Little Missenden, UK; Gill Cole and Chris Bullough—Birmingham, UK; David Pitts—Northampton, UK; Mike Land, Prue Green, and Terry Shearing—Lewes, UK; Geoffrey Townsend—Little Kingshill, UK; Steve Dumpleton—Sheffield, UK; Dave Wade—Huddersfield, UK; Paula Mogensen—High Wycombe, UK; Terry Ford, Ali Rustum, Tony Kane, Terry Bamford, and Gerry Kelly—London, UK; Melvyn—Battle, UK; Riccarda Zamboni—Italy; Pete Gillard, Shropshire, UK; Coy Ivey—Alabama, USA; Charlotte Owens Walker—West Virginia, USA. Sheila led 48t for all those listed above, and concluded with prayer. The memorial service was closed.

The class resumed singing with Toby Goss leading 228. Leaders: Sofi Mogensen 84; Steve Welch 354t; Neil Horlock 324; George Simms 29t; Mandy Townsend 203. Caroline Ungoed-Thomas offered thanks for the midday meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session started with Nick Hall leading 66. Leaders: Brenda Harvey 147b; Werner Ullah 49t; Dave Townsend 268; Nigel Bowley 110; Rachel Jorden 162 (for Caroline Ungoed-Thomas); Joss Tait 513; Elspeth Hannen 452; Ken Baddley 481; Sheila Girling Macadam 480; Edwin Macadam 236; Toby Goss 201; Mandy Townsend 354b; Dave Townsend 112; Sofi Mogensen 503; Brenda Harvey 39t.

RECESS

Nigel Bowley commenced the final session leading 159. Leaders: Neil Horlock 504; Werner Ullah 278t; Steve Welch 569t; George Simms 126; Nick Hall 474; Joss Tait 114; Elspeth Hannen 277; Ken Baddley 127; Dilwyn Scott 107; Winchester singers 457; London singers 101t; Oxford singers 454 (for Bernard Collard); Sussex singers 344; Rachel Jordan 200.

The Secretaries reported twenty-six singers had registered, all from the UK, and fifty-eight songs had been led by eighteen leaders. Other than the submission of the minutes, no expenses needed to be met. Sheila Girling Macadam and Edwin Macadam thanked all the officers, committees, and anyone who helped in any way to make this singing a success. Whilst not in the normal format for Sacred Harp singings, being of shorter duration and with limits on numbers attending, and not sharing food, this was the first UK Sacred Harp All-Day singing since March 14, 2020. In the hope that it would be the first of many more to come as conditions improve, and any future regulations notwithstanding, it was agreed that the 23rd Oxford All-Day Singing should be held at the Botley Women’s Institute Hall on Saturday, June 25, 2022.

Sheila Girling Macadam and Edwin Macadam led 347 as the closing song. Ken Baddley offered the closing prayer, after which the class was dismissed at 3:30 pm.

Chairman—Sheila Girling Macadam; Vice Chairman—Edwin Macadam; Secretaries—Sofi Mogensen and Mary Welch