Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, September 16

The 26th session of the United Kingdom Sacred Harp Convention was held at Hove Park School in Brighton and Hove, United Kingdom, on the third Sunday and Saturday before in September. Catherine Roberts and Seth Dickens called the class to order leading 171. The opening prayer was offered by Rob Mahoney.

Leaders: Sarah Hill and Nell Percival 56t; Samantha Cole 88b; Kate Kirwan 32t; Rob Mahoney 49b; Helen Brown 313t; Joe Vickers 60; Ian Lamb 68b; Nick Hall 101t; Ron Hollman 53; Rachel Jordan and Natalie Edelman 47t; Steve Biggs 45t; Eleanor Callaghan 500; Iain Paxon 344; Jill Thompson 504; Greg Carson 276; Emily Spademan 314; Pete Eiseman-Renyard 84.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by Vicki Elliott leading 101b. Leaders: Michael Stone 113; Bridget McVennon-Morgan 404; Emma Rock 480; Toby Goss 503; Jacqui Knowles 340; Gerben Vos 562; Jo-anne Carlyle and James Roche 99; Emily Verrier 270; David Garman 477; Brenda Bowley 111b; Rowan Simms 411; Caro Stamm-Reusch 377; Beatrix Baker 159; Joe Jones 322; Marjorie Brown 77t; Katie Ahern 513; Ron Hollman 547; David Brodeur 532; Aislinn Ahern 481; William Cleary 193; Linda Booth and Claire O’Flynn 330b; Chris Affolter 426t; Dermot Peel 299; Teresa Maguire 444. Brenda Bowley gave thanks for the midday meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Joe Vickers leading 207. Leaders: Duane Nasis 220; Desmond O’Flynn 127; Eloise Clark 475; Derek Buckland 278t; Constance Des Marais 272; Edwin Macadam 528; Melanie Tӧnnies 383; Andy Ditzler 384; Claire Welford 328; Paul Landskroener 486 (for Charlotte Ehrman); Jan Geerts 269; Petra Ertl 274b; Chris Noren 436; Tom Booth 123t; Joyce Smith 386; John Bealle 218; Hannah Land 456; Elisabeth Schallwig 215; Barry Parsons 228; Camilla Marie Widholm 298; Ian West 455; Sheila Girling Macadam 506; Tom Sprackland 573; Nigel Bowley 110; Sarah West 212.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by Ted Brown leading 496. Leaders: Mick Verrier 106; Lilith Wozniak 320; James Roche 231; Susanne Rolli 34t; Inga Buckland 423; Steve Brett 179; Eimear Maguire 430; Steve Fletcher 189; Paul Zaba 245; Jacoba Bruneel 278b; Jessica Beer 348b; Margaret Hughes 72b; Eimear O’Donovan 535; Al Williams 77b; Joshua Lant 69b; Cath Saunt 217; Richard Mayers 524; Sam Carter 565. Seth Dickens and Catherine Roberts led 472 as the closing song. The closing prayer was offered by Derek Buckland.

Sunday, September 17

The Sunday session of the United Kingdom Sacred Harp Convention was called to order by Catherine Roberts and Seth Dickens leading 82t. The opening prayer was offered by Ted Brown. Leaders: Sarah West 378b; Iain Paxon 441; Emily Verrier 200; Margaret Bradshaw 300; Joe Vickers 29t; Emma Rock and Anna Eggers 564; Joyce Smith 379; Steve Biggs 178; Constance Des Marais 187; Ian West 270; Helen Brown 392; Vicki Elliott 536; John Bealle 434; Eleanor Callaghan 323b; Desmond O’Flynn 277; Jill Thompson 454; Ron Hollman 209; Robin Bisson 70b; Teresa Maguire 440.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by Al Williams leading 65. Leaders: Greg Carson 448b; Emily Spademan 63; Ian Lamb 523; Eimear Maguire 448t; Claire Welford 362; Inga Buckland 372 (for Eva Striebeck); Joan Gordon 47b; Chris Noren 507; Camilla Marie Widholm 240; Ted Brown 549.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Rob Mahoney, Jean Mahoney, and Caro Stamm-Reusch. Rob Mahoney spoke of the importance of being there to listen to and support those in need. Caro Stamm-Reusch read the following list of names of the sick and housebound: Betty Stratford, Alison James, Pete Butler, Jennifer Jones, Elizabeth Roche, Jay Wu, Stephanie Ramamurthy, Ram Ramamurthy, Lizzie Lamb, Louise Wilson, Andy Brodrick Ward, John Bennett, Lily, Dave Elliott, Di Elliott, Jan Saunt, Julie Heptinstall, John Van Duzer, Greg Levin, Uschi Nollte, Emily Georghiou, and Katia Triggiani.

Jean Mahoney spoke of the special kind of support we find in our Sacred Harp community and the importance of being alongside each other. Caro Stamm-Reusch read the list of names of the following deceased: Mike Cooper, Cris Winter, Vicki Williamson, Helen Dent, Ernest Preston, Michael Keane, Alicia Hancock, Helen Bensihem, David Akhurst, Chris Judge, Charlotte James, Jerry Barty, Nigel Eagle, Richard Spong, Dave Thorpe, Doreen Carlyle, Norman Franklin, Claire Purshouse, John Heptinstall, Brigid Hurn, Keith Pigott—England, UK; David Adler—Scotland, UK; Teresa Cavallar, Anna Zamboni—Italy; Eva Striebeck—Germany; Cheryl Foreman—Texas, USA; Cathy White, George Burnette—Georgia, USA; Hubert Nall, Juanita Beasley, Norma Green, Marlon Wootten—Alabama, USA; Ted Mercer, Melanie Hauff—Illinois, USA; Dorothy Landskroener—Ohio, USA; Charlotte Ehrman—New York, USA; Lydia Lewallen—North Carolina, USA; Teddy Hoener—Oregon, USA; Sumeet Kumar—New Delhi, India. Rob and Jean Mahoney led 481 and Rob Mahoney offered a prayer to close the lesson.

Leaders: Andy Ditzler 176t; Sam Carter 464; Anne Altringham 546; Elisabeth Schallwig 542; Barry Parsons 445. Jill Thompson gave thanks for the midday meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Ian West leading 105. Leaders: Mick Verrier 538; Richard Mayers 263; Margaret Hughes and Martin Hamilton 72t; Calum Parker 61; Tom and Linda Booth 196; Kate Kirwan 387; Steve Fletcher 148; Rachel Jordan 474; Joshua Lant 432; Jessica Beer 216; David Brodeur 304; Katie Ahern 335; Paul Zaba 114; Eimear O’Donovan 512; Steve Brett 282; Cath Saunt 91; Jacoba Bruneel 460; Al Williams 136; Caro Stamm-Reusch 349; Joe Jones 71; Chris Affolter 380; Aislinn Ahern 296; Paul Landskroener 268; Bridget McVennon-Morgan 112; Edwin Macadam 236; Hannah Land 318.

RECESS

The final session was called to order by Nick Hall leading 287. Leaders: Jan Geerts 351; Sheila Girling Macadam 183; Dermot Peel 143; Petra Ertl 267; Lilith Wozniak 56b; Arthur Swindells 373; Beatrix Baker 457; Gerben Vos 147t; Eloise Clark 485; Derek Buckland 74t; Marjorie Brown 290; Melanie Tönnies 505; William Cleary 76b; Margaret Bradshaw 266; Tom Sprackland 191; Claire O’Flynn 361; Toby Goss 515.

Announcements were made. Sarah Hill gave the Secretary’s report stating that one hundred and fifty-two people had registered over the weekend with one hundred leaders and a total of one hundred and seventy-two songs sung. Eight countries were represented and five US States. Ron Hollman gave the Treasurer’s report stating that all expenses had been met. Seth Dickens and Catherine Roberts made closing remarks and thanked all who had made the weekend possible.

Catherine Roberts, Seth Dickens and Kate Kirwan led 347 as the closing song. David Brodeur offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Co-Chairpersons—Seth Dickens and Catherine Roberts; Vice Chairpersons—Kate Kirwan and Samantha Cole; Treasurer—Ron Hollman; Secretary—Sarah Hill