Costumes my mother made for for Staining Gala Day - in apple green satin
I am the little girl on the front row left.
My life as a "joiner" began, I suppose with Sunday School - though I did not have much choice in that. The next step I was far more enthusiastic about - joining the Brownies in the Leprechaun Six. Here I made my first stage performance at a Brownie concert when, clutching our teddies, we sang "The Teddy Bear's Picnic".
I graduated to the Girl Guides and joined the Scarlet Pipmpernel patrol, sporting the red tabs on my uniform and collecting badges to sew on my sleeves. but I never took to camping!
, We were not a musical family in terms of playing instruments, but music played an important part in our lives. My mother joined local community choirs and my father, with his brother, had sung in a church choir from the age of seven.

So it was not surprising that singing
in a choir (school, church, community) has been a key activity
throughout my life from primary school days onwards, whether it was folk
songs from round the world, spirituals, carols, sacred music, opera and
operetta choruses, or songs from the shows - musical tastes that
still mean a lot to me today.
I was very happy to be a chorus girl,
with no pretensions to be a soloist - I knew my limitations! It is a marvelous form of music making, whatever your age, a great creator of
the "feel good factor", and there is nothing to beat singing with the
full blooded accompaniment of an an orchestra or organ.
High school introduced me to Gilbert &
Sullivan and I was hooked, singing in most of the operas over the
years. At University, I joined the Savoy
Opera Group and the annual G & S performances were the highlight of
my years there - I loved taking part in them - the dressing up (the
girls made their own costumes), the singing and some dancing.
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In "Yeoman of the Guard" |
My other main interest of history, meant I naturally gravitated to local history groups and family history societies, where I not only met like-minded enthusiasts but was given the opportunity to develop my research and writing skills through the production of booklets and articles for magazines.
And yes, I have sat on more committees and written more minutes than I care to remember. But I always steered clear of becoming President or Treasurer - not a role I relished.
My last house move was two years ago to small village - and who says there is nothing to do in retirement? My life seems busier than ever as I have joined the local history group, a Gilbert & Sullivan concert group ( I know I am well past past the age to dress up as a young maiden in a stage production!), and the WRI (Women's Rural Institute).
I have never joined a sports club, but in the cause of a healthier lifestyle, I am now a member of a Walking Group (one of a network in my region of the Scottish Borders) where we do a 3-4 mile walk every week - always finishing at a local cafe for scones and further chat. Highly recommended!
So Mum's example has stayed with me, and left me an important
message on how to make friends and become involved in a new community.
She was an inspiration!
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What a thoughtful response to Julie's prompt. I have been wrestling mentally with how to approach the response to this question and you have given me inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Alex, for such a lovely comment on my post. I look forward to reading your contribution to the theme..
ReplyDeleteHi Sue, I wanted to let you know I've nominated your blog for the One Lovely Blog Award!
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