'On the Beat'

News of the Essex Police Choir

Summer 2011

Choir launches hunt for piano
Essex Police Choir has had to say farewell to a faithful friend. Reorganisation of accommodation at Police HQ has meant that, after 22 years, the choir has had to move its rehearsal venue from the Essex Police College to the Assembly Hall. The Broadwood grand piano that we have used since the choir’s formation has been unable to accompany us and has now found a new home at Sandon parish church. We are now trying to find a suitable upright piano that we can use for rehearsals in the Assembly Hall and thought that our supporters on the mailing list might be able to help us in the hunt. Do you have a suitable piano that is no longer needed or know of someone who has one? If you do then you could be answer to the choir’s prayer. We will undertake the removal of the piano and are prepared to pay a reasonable sum for a suitable one. If you can help, then contact any member of the choir or call Mark Lawrence (07802 414793). A good rehearsal piano will contribute to the quality of the choir’s performance and we will be greatly indebted to the provider. 

2nd - 5th June Devon / Cornwall Tour
Following an early start on Thursday 2nd June a cavalcade of vehicles, some with tin tents attached, headed down to Plymouth. With two concerts planned and a gala dinner, the following 4 days were expected to be a busy and enjoyable time for the 40 strong choir and associated ‘hangers on’. On the Friday we were warmly welcomed by the Saltash Ladies Choir with afternoon tea followed by a concert. We performed our varied repertoire before joining together for the selection of pieces to an appreciative audience in support of the SHELTER BOX charity. On the Saturday night we rekindled our friendship with the Kessenyan Singers, who originally joined us at our annual Chelmsford Cathedral concert in 2009, with a concert in Plymouth in aid of a local children’s charity. The weekend was a great success and we couldn't have wished for better weather with plenty of time to see the sights and sounds of the local area. Many enjoyed boat trips around Plymouth to Cawsand and the warships, while several took the sightseeing bus tour. It certainly is a beautiful area, with so much to do. The choir is now in the process of arranging a visit to Buxton in 2012.

Epping Upland
The choir started its 2011 season on a lovely March evening in Epping Upland helping raise £730 towards the Church funds.

St Botoloph’s, Colchester
The Rotary Club of Colchester Centurion held a Charity Concert at this superb venue, sharing the proceeds with us, for our own charities (Essex Autism and The Royal British Legion) and the Rotary project to eradicate Polio from the World. Around 40 Choir members were in attendance and the evening was very well received - especially by a group of visiting French Rotarians from Tours. Our guests were two of the winners of the Rotary Young Musicians Competition, Deodosia Chen a 17 year old violinist and Leanne Howard a singer, both showing why they were worthy winners.

A 1st for Canvey Island
April witnessed the choir’s first concert on Canvey Island. The wonderfully appreciative audience was entertained by the choir’s wide ranging repertoire and the beautiful voice of Fiona Whittaker. The night helped raise £500 towards Church fabric.
Spring 2011

Charities announced

Following the success of recent years the Choir has decided once again to support two charities for our 2011 season. These are:

 Autism Anglia (Registered Charity No. 1063717) and the Royal British Legion (Registered Charity No. 219279)

Winter 2010

‘We’re dreaming of a white Christmas’

Saturday 18th December is not a night the Choir will want to remember! Unfortunately the heavy snowfall on that weekend meant the Christmas concert at Trinity Methodist Church had to be cancelled. This was the first concert the Choir has had to cancel in over 20 years of singing. Fortunately the decision was made early enough for people to be informed to avoid any unnecessary travelling. Naturally the Choir were very disappointed not to perform the Christmas concert, as this end of year bash allows us to let our hair down and have some fun following rehearsing festive music for the past couple of months. On a brighter note, at least the Choir will know the Christmas music very well this year. Thank you to the vast number of you who have donated your ticket money to the 2010 charities. The cheque presentations that were due to take place at the concert could not take place but we have sent our donations to representatives of Brainwave and the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance to the value of £2,500 each and these have been gratefully received by the charities.

Autumn 2010

‘Thank you for the Music’

20 years of the Essex Police Choir The Choir are pleased to announce the release of a 40 page A5 booklet which is an attractive, well written, illustrated account of how the Essex Police Choir began. From a group of singers with borrowed church music in 1989, how it developed over the next twenty years into a popular and highly regarded concert choir, singing a variety of music. The booklet, written by choir member Maureen Scollan, helps support the Choir so they can continue the valued work in the community, raising thousands of pounds each year for wide range of charities. The booklet is available at all our concerts or by mail order (£5.00). If you would like a copy, please send your details and a cheque made payable to “Essex Police Choir” to - Mark Lawrence, 1 Freeman Close, Colchester, Essex, CO4 5FJ.

SPRING 2010

Charities announced

Brainwave - Registered Charity No. 1073238

Established in 1982, Brainwave now has three centres in England with the South East Centre based in Witham. These centres have proven a beacon of hope for many families of children who have suffered brain injury such as Cerebral Palsy, have a genetic condition such as Down’s syndrome or Development Delay. When a child attends Brainwave, they, and their parents, spend a whole two days at the centre where they are assessed by a dedicated team of Physiotherapists, Occupation Therapists, Educational Therapists and many other professionals who focus on what the child can do, not what they can’t. Together, they work with the family to devise a unique programme, specifically designed to suit that child’s needs, which will help and encourage them to unlock the child’s potential. Many hundreds of children have benefited from the Brainwave Programme and some achieve levels independence far beyond the expectation of their parents and doctors. If you would further information please visit the website at www.brainwave.org.uk

Essex Air Ambulance -Registered Charity No. 1108989

The Essex Air Ambulance was launched in 1998 to serve the people of Essex. The air craft carries a highly skilled crew of doctors and paramedics bringing sophisticated life-saving equipment to a patient within the first few minutes of an emergency. Based at Boreham Airfield near Chelmsford the Air Ambulance has flown over 10,000 missions. It costs around £250,000 per month to cover all charitable costs and aircraft operations. Unlike other NHS emergency services, Essex Air Ambulance is a charity providing a free Helicopter Emergency Medical Service for critically ill patients. They rely solely upon the generosity and goodwill of the people and businesses of Essex to remain operational and keep saving lives. If you would further information please visit the website at www.essexairambulance.uk.com

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WINTER 2009

20th Anniversary Charity Concert

Following a difficult journey from Cornwall on the Friday, the Kessenyan Singers arrived at Police Headquarters for refreshments and a rehearsal. This gave us the opportunity to meet our new friends and rehearse the joint items in preparation for the concert. With 80 singers in the Cathedral the staging for the concert was going to be a logistical nightmare. In his usual efficient manner Roger controlled the rabble long enough to explain his ideas with some lovely coloured charts. Some listened; some even took notes, while others, following a few glasses of wine and long journey, just slept. Thankfully the Saturday night in the Cathedral was once again a resounding success. The 430 members of the audience were given a wide ranging repertoire from the choirs from showtunes to popular chart hits, as well as the habitual accomplished performance by the band under the guidance of Bandmaster Keith Manners.

The choir were also delighted to perform for the first time in front of the new Chief Constable. The concert ended with both choirs joining to sing a selection of songs from Les Misérables. After the concert both choirs retired to the Miami Hotel for the ‘afterglow’, where once again the food and drink flowed. The weekend had once again been successful where the choir made new friends and very much looks forward to joining with the Kessenyan Singers in the future. The money raised from the evening was added to proceeds from the Christmas concert and presented to the chosen charities at our Christmas Concert. Once again the choir would like to thank the Kessenyan Singers and very much looks forward to reuniting with them in the future.

Trip Down Memory Lane

The Essex Police Choir is having a year of exciting events as it celebrates its 20th anniversary. The Force already had a well-established Band and Musical Society when a meeting was held at Police Headquarters in March 1989 to discuss forming a Choir. Potential choristers included serving and retired officers, support staff and family members. By its first AGM in September 1989 there were 28 members who sang from music borrowed from Tiptree Choral Society, to which the Choir's musical director, Norman Eastbrook, belonged. Twenty years on, Norman - head of the Force Photographic Department - is still waving his baton at the Choir which has grown to around 55 men and women, several of whom were in at the beginning.  Since the first concert was given to Boreham Women's Institute in December 1989 the Choir has taken part in around 250 concerts all over Essex and East Anglia, and also acquired a taste for foreign travel. Participation in the 1993 International Festival of Police Choirs in Victoria, British Columbia was so much enjoyed that two years later the Festival was held on home ground in Chelmsford. As well as a return trip to Canada in 2000 the Choir has also sung in such elegant cities as Paris and Prague. In May, to mark its 20th anniversary year, the Choir travelled to Southern Ireland to perform two concerts.

While the Choir represents the Essex Police, which has encouraged its value for public relations, members are self-funding, but financially supported by an active Friends group which organises a wide range of fundraising activities.The Choir makes no charge to an organisation which requests a concert, and it is a source of pride that over £200,000 has been raised for charitable purposes and good causes in the last 20 years. The Choir's concerts have helped donate money to many local and national charities.

Holy Trinity, Long Melford

In September the choir travelled over the border into Suffolk to perform at Holy Trinity Church in Long Melford, whichis widely regarded as one of the finest wool churches in England.  With a number of tickets sold in advance the evening had been well publicised in the area and a large audience quickly filled the Church.With the summer break and 8 weeks since our previous outing, the concert was a welcomed return to the stage for the choir.

The night offered an opportunity to perform a number of new pieces from the 2009 repertoire such as Calon Lân, All that Jazz, World in Union and One Day More, in preparation for the 20thAnniversary Concert at Chelmsford Cathedral in October.  The choir was joined by its special guest, Fiona Whittaker from Musicality.  The event helped raise £900 for the Church Restoration Fund.

 In this edition we look at the Prostate Cancer UK which is the second of our chosen charities for 2009. The Prostate Cancer Charity was set up in 1996 in response to the urgent need to increase investment in prostate cancer research and to raise public and political awareness of a long neglected disease. Their mission is to fight prostate cancer on every front – by funding and encouraging research, providing support and information for diagnosed men, and their friends and family, and campaigning to improve the lives of men with prostate cancer. 

The Prostate Cancer Charity is the UK’s leading charity working with people affected by prostate cancer. They provide the most comprehensive range of services of all the prostate cancer charities and offer the only UK-wide prostate cancer Helpline supported by specialist nurses who provide free and confidential information and support to anyone affected by prostate cancer. They receive thousands of calls to the Helpline every year with 38% of these calls come from the South East of England.

In early May, 70 members and friends of the Essex Police Choir travelled to south west Ireland for a five-day tour, including two concerts.Remarkably no one was lost in transit as the group flew from Stansted to Kerry airport, reaching their final destination The Heights Hotel, Killarney.

On the Saturday night we joined the Duhallow Choral Society at a venue in Kanturk, a small town in Co. Cork.The choir were warmly received by our host’s, including local dignitaries and representatives from the Garda.We ended the first half of the concert to a rapturous standing ovation.Following a quick interval and manic CD sales, the second half started with our hosts performing from their repertoire with pieces which will certainly be added to our music library.The concert closed with the choirs joining together for a number of pieces including a rousing rendition of One Day More from Les Miserables.Following the presentations an area was cleared for the start of the ‘after glow’, with plenty of food and drink, and our hosts quickly got us into the swing of things with traditional Irish dancing.

On the Sunday evening we headed to Listowel in Co. Kerry to join the Kerry Choral Union and like the previous night the concert included a number of joint items involving over 100 voices.  The days included tours experiencing the local sites and sounds of the Dingle Peninsula and Ring of Kerry. Our thanks must go to all the drivers at O’Shea’s coach travel who transported us safely around this lovely region and to the staff at The Heights Hotel in Killarney, who made our stay a most memorable one.

The concerts were a credit to the choir who showed true professionalism throughout, as well as making new friends with choirs who share a love of singing.Hopefully, our hospitability can be returned as we invited the choirs to visit Essex in the future. On a final note – we had five days of glorious sunshine – not an umbrella or raincoat was seen. Who says it always rains in Ireland? Did anyone bring the suntan lotion?