Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The first day of the 17th annual London Double All-Day Singing met at Highgate United Reformed Church on the first Saturday in November. The class sang from The Sacred Harp: 2025 Edition. The class was called to order by Francis Zain leading 171. Jessica Beer offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Arthur Swindells 59; Alexa Tucker-Lemon 515; Susanne Rolli 524; Teresa Maguire 36b; Ted Simonds 30b; Fiona Byrne 516; Constance Des Marais 192; Francis Gaskin 282; Scarlett Lassoff 472; Nick Hall 455; Wa’el Qasim 448t; Amy Cutts 504; Maggie Eiseman-Renyard 72b; Peter Banks 461; Katya Hills 178t; Lucia Della-Savina 317; Stacy Hackner 256; Morgan Kist 503; Francesca Hawker 141; Dan Collier 276; Clara Potter-Sweet 74t; Toby Goss 484t.

RECESS

The class was called to order by John Hutchinson leading 201. Leaders: Joe Vickers 458; Brady Santoro 444; Maria Paz 350; Agata Genissel 287; Ben White 460; Ted Simonds and Fiona Byrne 569b; Ollie Hawker 235; Hannah Land 255; David Gorman 334; Seth Dickens 264; Inga Buckland 570; Eloise Clarke 330b; Beatrix 117; Katie Lloyd-Davison and Paul Zaba 38b.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Peter Banks. Constance Des Marais read the following names on the sick and housebound list: Werner Kist, Heather Prescott, Pete Eiseman-Renyard, Frank Luck, Helen Bushell, Nadia Bolz-Weber, Mary McCann, Elinor Le Roche, Jonathan James, Alison Jones, Cäcilia Mann, Kate Fine, Adam Barnes, Helen Brown, and Stephanie Carson.

James Harvey read the following names of the deceased: Jim Clemons—Exeter, UK; Sue Goss—Harbury, UK; John Neal—Hastings, UK; Robbie Clear—Littlehampton, UK; Rob Mahoney—Goring-by-Sea, UK; Steve Biggs—Brighton, UK; Isaac Arlan Ingle-Gillis—Rogiet, Wales; Keelan Shorten—Cork, Ireland; Stefania Plócienniczak—Poland; Jean Bowton—Witney, UK; Barbara Waite—Galicia, Spain; Johnny Steingold—London, UK; Sheila Jones—Isle of Wight; Jenny Tunnicliffe—London, UK; Noel Winter—Bexhill, UK; Janet Webb—Surrey, UK; Ananda Sanches—Barcelona, Spain; Joseph Walker—Mexico; Bill Heyer—Illinois, USA; Peter Amidon—Vermont, USA; Emilia Adams—California, USA; Buell Cobb—Alabama, USA; Mike Hinton—Texas, USA; Tom Lehrer—Massachusetts, USA. Peter then led 338.

Leaders: Phil Atherton 254; Sheila Girling MacAdam 561; Emily Spademan 40; James Harvey 366; Derek Buckland 51; Joyce Smith 322; Greg Carson 547; Bridget McVennon Morgan 383; Joe Jones 531. Grace was said by Peter Banks.

LUNCH

Steve Brett called the class to order leading 219. Leaders: William Cleary 429; Jacoba Bruneel 259; Martel Reynolds 130; Michael Walker 544; Ella Wagner 95; Ed Johnson Williams 437; Edwin Macadam 198; Sophia lockhart 184; Tom Sprackland 115; John Bealle 242; Erin Johnson-Williams 451; Rowan Simms 188; Billy Harvell-Smith 398; Sebastian Maine 562; Robin Bisson 571; Rachel Jordan 189; Samuel Baumen 333; Barry Parsons 160b; Harley Jones 277; Chris Noren 535; Will Spenhof 480; Matthew Parkinson 244; Eloise Clarke 118; Michael Walker 55.

RECESS

Nick Hall called the class to order leading 63. Leaders: Brady Santoro 185; Paul Zaba 245; Leilai Immel-Parkinson 345b; Nick Granata 159; Sheila Girling MacAdam 183; Joss Tait 74b; John Bealle 169; Clara Potter-Sweet 426t; Edwin Macadam 236; Joe Jones 354t; Lucia Della-Savina 35; Derek Buckland 70b; Hannah Land 475; Toby Goss 49b; Constance Des Marais 81b; Tom Sprackland 178b; Seth Dickens 413; Sebastian Maine 367; Billy Harvell-Smith 270; James Harvey 215.

Notices were announced. There were one hundred and twelve registered singers from seven countries, including three US States. Seventy-five leaders directed ninety-five songs.

Francis Zain and Arthur Swindells led 62 as the closing song. Seth Dickenson offered the closing prayer.

Chair—Francis Zain; Vice Chair—Arthur Swindells; Secretary—Alexa Tucker-Lemon