Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The 18th annual West Yorkshire Sacred Harp Day took place on Saturday before the third Sunday in November, after a three-year hiatus. This was the first time this singing was held in its new home in Rothwell following the closure of Haworth Methodist Church. Richard Mayers called the class to order by leading 105. Matt Mason offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Josh Lant 48t; Tom Sprackland 31b; Joy Spreadborough 31t; John Sprackland 114; Jacoba Brunel 421; Chris Brown 155; Calum Parker 70b; Werner Ullah 73b; Eimear O’Donovan 171; Erin Johnson-Williams 131b; Chal Zon 344; Margaret Bradshaw 212; Susannah Gill 234; Matt Mason 122; Leilai Immer-Parkinson 77t; Joan Gordon 178; Anne Altringham 556; Derek Buckland 56t.

RECESS

John Sprackland called the class back to order leading 313t. Leaders: Eimear O’Donovan 50t; Helen Brown 30b; Matthew Parkinson 57; Jan Geerts 354t; Richard Mayers 455; Joy Spreadborough 148; Ed Johson-Williams 303; Jacoba Brunel 383; Chris Brown 475.

Derek Buckland gave a lesson for the following sick and housebound: Uschi Nolte, Phil Tyler, and Daniel Oldham. He read the following list of names of the deceased: Eva Streibeck—Germany; Anna Zamboni—Italy; David Adler—Scotland; Emily Webster, Derek Paton-Williams, Jill Paton-Williams, Phoebe Winch, David Thorpe, Richard Drane, Ernest Preston, Helen Dent, Dew Alam, Alice Grenville, and Maurice Wright—United Kingdom; Juanita Beasley, Hubert Nall, Gaston White, Melanie Hauff, Walter Graff, Lydia Lewallen, Dorothy Landskroener, and Cheryl Foreman—United States. He led 330b.

Leaders: Werner Ullah 278t; Tom Sprackland 160b; Joan Gordon 523; Matt Mason 99; Rob Bentall 481. John Copperwheat said grace ahead of lunch.

LUNCH

Leaders: Tom Sprackland 282; Anne Altringham 290; Susannah Gill 480; Margaret Bradshaw 300; Erin Johnson-Williams 192; Calum Parker 198; Leilai Immer-Parkinson 360; Jan Geerts 546; Helen Brown 430; Eimear O’Donovan 522; Chal Zon 245; Jacoba Brunel 112; Derek Buckland 147b; Joan Gordon 350; Matt Mason 299; Rob Bentall 324; Joy Spreadborough 306; Werner Ullah 29t; John Sprackland 38b; Joshua Lant 183.

RECESS

Leaders: Jacoba Bruneel 65; Richard Mayers 494; Ed Johnson-Williams 309; Jan Geerts 213b; Susannah Gill 442; Matthew Parkinson 462; Eimear O’Donovan and Sophie Phipson 347; Margaret Bradshaw 440; Tom Sprackland 345b; Calum Parker 228; John Sprackland 146; Lawrence Dinh and Joshua Lant 56b; Anne Altringham 189; Chal Zon 236; Werner Ullah 457; Joy Spreadborough 154; Joan Gordon 47t; Derek Buckland 161.

Announcements were made. Although on the day the count of singers was not announced, the Secretaries can now report that thirty-four singers sang seventy-three songs, led by twenty-five leaders, with singers coming from England, Scotland, and Germany. The Treasurer’s report was that all expenses had been met with thanks to singers for their giving. Thanks were deservedly given to the dedicated team who had pulled together to make this singing happen.

Richard Mayers led 147t as the final song. Arja Copperwheat said the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Richard Mayers; Secretaries—Hilary Blake and Matt Mason