festival friends
VINTAGE RED by Irene Grant-Jones (in MS Word format)
Festival Performers and Press Night proved there were no fools on April
Fools Day at the Wells & Young brewery in Bedford! If, as you watch this
dvd, you find yourself singing 'Lady in Red - you're smiling at me....' -
Irene Grant-Jones, Bedford soprano is also just a bit of a poet! In fact
the Grant-Jones family are becoming something of a Bedford legend! Irene
was soloist in Proms in the Park 2008 and brings her immense 'Last Night of
the Proms' expertise to the Festival Prom on 24 May at Bedford Prep School
at 7.30 pm. Husband Tim - equally eloquent in music circles as accompanist
of Bedford Choral Society (see 13 June Festival programme entry) has
arranged their own song "Save the Children" for solo, adult or children's
choir which will be part of the support of Utange Orphanage Project with CDs
containing the song on sale in support of the charity. Gossip has it that
father and son will be playing a mean 'Flight of the Bumble Bee' (piano and
guitar) on that night! Daughter Rebecca's vocal tones add further charm.
Who knew that very British of composers, John Ireland was inspired by Jersey
seascapes? Well, local composer and musician, Paul Edwards does - and just
happens to be something of an expert on the man! The unique voice of Elaine
Huckle with accompanist joins Paul's introduction to the great man and with
her accompanist, presents a programme of the best of Ireland's music.
Elaine's CDs will be available on the night.
The Festival is privileged to have world renowned tenor, Mark Le Brocq join
this lavish line up of musicians with a programme of operatic and lighter
songs to thrill the deepest parts of a body! To get a taster of Mark and
his son Flynn's musical life with their friends who include Harvey Brough,
classical musician turned "Harvey and the Wallbangers" - check out
www.markandflynn.com. CDs available at all Mark's Festival appearances on 3
and 24 May.
Bedfordshire Music show just what their staff can do at the Festival Prom!
The Hit Squad with percussion tutors/authors, Lee Stanley and Ben Garroway
show just what is possible - and nearly impossible - with great
entertainment and relish! Not to be missed. Two 14 year old Bedfordshire
musicians show just what Bedfordshire is known for, nationally. Jonathan
Burrett, chorister at Priory Church, Dunstable becoming a Trinity choral
scholar shortly and violinist Cristian Grajner Desa also from the south of
the county and a Bedford School and Royal Academy pupil join this
outstanding evening. Perhaps readers who witnessed Cristian's awe inspiring
performance at the previous BAF/article magazine inspired festival -
Bedfringe 2007 - Worldsongs - when the standing ovation received by a
modestly charming young man left everyone lost for words. Two teenage
Bedfordshire music students and both with professional musician parents:
Jonathan's dad is Artistic Director for the two Proms on 24 May and leads a
County band, Dunstable Town Band and Shambles big band who will play The
White Horse on 2 May. Cristian's mum, Erica, a professional violinist with
Covent Garden and wide experience teaches at Bedford School and is
Bedfordshire educated. Cristian's dad was born in Jersey! Of Madeiran
stock.
COME ON YOU PROMMERS! AND THOSE WHO HAVEN'T ....YET!
Rule Britannia? Jerusalem? Yes! We'll all be there singing our hearts out
and listening to much beyond our personal repertoires!
Don't miss the Festival Prom. Tickets at just £18/£12 and with Bedford
Choral Society in full voice led by the indomitable music director, Ian
Smith, Head of Performing Arts at Wootton Upper School, dig out those Union
Jacks and red, white and blue. The Erskine May Hall at Bedford Prep School
is the nearest thing to a mini Royal Albert Hall in Bedfordshire! This
wonderful night is sponsored by St George's Charity. Tickets from the CBO
and online.....
Vintage Red by Irene Grant-Jones
Vintage Red
‘I’ve brought you this,’ one day, Val Lowe, she said
Eloquently carried in a classy bag
Her tiny steps presented me with
A beautiful dress of vintage red
‘You’ve brought a smile,’ one day, I said
Gracefully acknowledging, she looked away
Her modest glance enjoyed my thrill of seeing
A beautiful dress of vintage red
‘It may fit your daughter’, that day, she said
As I held it up and viewed the waist
Her infectious giggle surrounded me, and
A beautiful dress of vintage red
‘It’s too big for me’, my daughter said
‘It’s too small for you, so get it out of your head’,
I dreamt I’d wear it on the stage
A beautiful dress of vintage red
‘Perhaps it’ll fit one day’, I said
As it hung on a hanger, my heart like lead
I struggled at times to make it fit
A beautiful dress of vintage red
‘Where would I wear it?’ one day, I said
I couldn’t imagine, I couldn’t foresee
In the www.bedfordjerseyartsfestival.co.uk there’ll be
A beautiful dress of vintage red
‘Be there,’ Sandra Dudley, one day, she said
An invitation, a media call
‘To Wells and Young, wear your best’,
A beautiful dress of Vintage red
What an evening, an educational tour!
To taste the beer and a whole lot more
Eating sausages and mash in
A beautiful dress of vintage red
Charles Wellsstands where Bedford Football stadium once towered
Emotions charged and highly powered
Eager supporters sang and let rip
Before they left the ground in search of a slurp and a sip
2009 ‘Pub Company of the Year’
A dedicated team with high esteem
Pleasing you and me with flavours true and fine
Enjoy alone, with your mates or even when you dine
Fruity finished ‘Waggledance’
Honey flavoured amber beer
Hops of course to balance sweetness
Add an ‘S’ to give a cheer ======= ‘CHEERS’
Black, brown ruby beer with RAISINS!
‘Last orders,’ hear the bell ring clear
Dark roasted nuts with caramel
A pleasant dry finish you will tell
130 years of successful brewing
Bedfordians boast within our town
Pure spring water underpins
The pint we often down
The ‘Hope and Glory of our Land’, Red Stripe
Satanic Mills, Summer Solstice
Lock, Stock and Barrel, You’ll soon discover Banana Bread,
Chocolate is far from able to be spread!
The Nation’s taste buds you tantalise
Sulphured dryness characterise
The ‘lip-kissed’ moment’s delicious beer
To Bedford’s brewed Bombardier!
‘O! my zip’s broken’, out loud I said
The vintage zip in a vintage dress
Outlived its life that very day in
A beautiful dress of vintage red
‘A borrowed pin, I need’, I said
Curvaceous weight tried to escape, as
I told my stories with joy and flair, in
A beautiful dress of vintage red
‘Utange Orphanage Kenya,’ Debbie Scott’s project will benefit, ‘100%’, I said
So buy ‘Handle with Care’ family album CD sold here tonight, as
Vintage blood flows through my veins as I sing, in
A beautiful dress of vintage red
The Jersey Team
Pictured left to right
Richard Normand (author 27 June), Elizabeth Farnon MD, Amity Singers (6 and 7 June) front Kevin Brace (photographer originally from Milton Keynes) 4 people at rear from gentleman in grey jacket to gentleman with glasses are from Jersey Amateur Dramatic Company with Pat Church, President (white haired lady) at back (26 May), auburn haired lady at front is Pat Robson, Director of Harbour Gallery/Art in Frame (Festival visual arts contact), girls at back unknown (let us know) but visual artists, lady at front in glasses, Christine Witham, textile jeweller, far right Shona Mulhern, textile artist
The artists named above have work coming over for Bromham Mill 17 May - 5 July
A trio of Sonnets by Philip Le Brocq
“Bedford-Jersey Celebration”
This is a time to celebrate the past;
When refugees from Jersey found a home;
They were into a foreign school outcast
And feared they’d lost the freedom now to roam.
But Bedford school showed hospitality
And made them welcome, gave them self respect;
Softened the pain of Kraut hostility
And showed true friendship, with a warm aspect.
With Art and Music we now celebrate
Belief in Freedom and the chance to grow,
To give the enemies we once did hate
The magnanimity, we all can show
So let us make this splendid Gala Day
A chance to share, and sing and shout - “HURRAY”!
Philip Le Brocq
May 3rd 2009
“Dear Channel Islanders”
a play by Peter Tabb in Bedford 3rd May 2009
The play took on a life all if its own –
An inner energy, a drive, a zest:
Each character no longer was alone
But by combining, made a whole – the best!
Despite distractions from the moving crowd
Who came and went because they were so young!
The concentration stayed intense and proud;
An act unbroken – so our hearts we wrung.
We well believed how two could love one girl –
Teacher besotted by his actress dream;
School boy whose feelings suddenly unfurl;
And both caught by illusion’s tempting dream.
We’d made our mark; and money for the cause –
A heady play AND Headway made us pause.
Philip Le Brocq
Director
Sandra’s Sonnet
When Sandra planned this special Gala Day
To launch her vision of artistic skills,
Performed by everyone, song, dance and play,
Give pleasure and escape from daily ills…
She little realised how our family
Would get involved so fully, in what ways…
A compére, play director, cheerfully;
A Jurat, lesson reader – regal gaze!
A poem reader, cool, precisely clear;
A pair of golden lilting voices pure;
Children giving programmes without fear
And handing out the roses, shyly sure!
The Jersford Celebration was a spark
To light artistic fires in the dark!
With love and appreciation
Philip
For May 3rd. 2009
Bedford Jersey Arts festival
1 May – 5 July 2009 in Bedfordshire UK
Celebrating 70 years of friendship 1939—2009
“Victoria College, Jersey children evacuated to Bedford School during the Nazi Occupation of Jersey in WWII”
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