The Kentonian - The Kentones

The Kentonian
Page 1
The Kentonian
Nov/Dec 2008
THE BROMLEY BARBERSHOP HARMONY CLUB MAGAZINE
Volume 3 Issue 12
Dazzling Macmillan Coffee Evening
On Thursday 25th September the Kentones turned their rehearsal time
into a coffee evening for the Macmillan Cancer Care charity. It was the
idea of one of the club's supporters, Sandie Beaney, who, like many, has
a very good reason to be grateful to the Macmillan Nurses.
A fun filled evening of singing
in the Barbershop style was
started by Mike Corr, the
Kentones’ chorus director, conducting a vocal 'warm up' which
included the audience.
The programme featured the
Kentones and two of their quartets, Voice Male and Southern
Brand, and two ladies quartets,
Hunky Dory and Out Of The
Blue.
A new ladies chorus has sprung up recently and they chose this
evening to make their debut. Under their chorus director, Martin
Ford, the girls of Vocal Project entranced the audience with their
beauty as well as their singing, making a good start at performing
in public.
The evening ended with all performers on stage singing the
traditional last two songs, Let's Get Together Again and Keep
The Whole World Singing.
The sum of £381 was raised for this very worthy
cause and the Kentones wish to thank everyone
who came along to make this a most enjoyable
and successful evening.
P.R.O. for the Bromley Barbershop Harmony Club, Peter Aylett
Thank you to everybody who contributed and participated in the Macmillan Evening. What a wonderful evening of entertainment we
had with you 'chaps', and Martin’s ladies chorus. Thank you to Pam Taylor, Vicky Gilbert and Pat Delaroute for helping with the
cake making. Weren't they delicious! I hope you all enjoyed it, and thank you for your generosity. We raised £381. Sandie Beaney
Registered Charity 1094386
www.bromleykentones.org.uk
The Kentonian
Page 2
Fun at the Disabled Christian Fellowship
Our annual visit to the Disabled Christian Fellowship was again a great success. This year saw an
increase in the number of singers able to attend,
which must have been gratifying for our singout
secretary as well as the people we were entertaining.
I heard it mentioned by one of the carers that The Kentones have been entertaining these people annually for
about twenty one years. I wonder if any of our older members remember the first time, and how it all began?
There must be a story there?
Audience participation is always great fun. The
time came when the percussion instruments were
handed out for the accompaniment to ‘Under the
Boardwalk’. As usual, once the rhythm was established, the audience maintained a solid beat,
led by a drummer in the front row who was determined to be the loudest in the band.
Birthdays were also celebrated, David (the man in the front row with the drum), our Bill Holiday and yours truly
were treated to a rousing and harmonious ‘Happy Birthday’, then Bill and I were presented with a tin of chocolates (which we intend to share with you at our social evening) and a birthday card each. I think David was allowed to keep the drum.
In conclusion, it has to be said that these carers for the disabled do a
wonderful job and their love and kindness is to be applauded. I know
we all recognise this and that is why we are so happy to support them.
(Photos courtesy of Avril Sydee)
Peter Aylett
One night a group of youngsters went carol singing. One of them knocked on the door of a house and they began
to sing. A man with a violin in his hand came to the door and within half a minute tears were streaming down his
face. The group went on singing for half an hour, every carol they knew, and some they didn't. At last they
stopped and the leader said "I understand, its brought back lots of memories for you". "No", the man replied, "I'm
a musician!"
Cordon Bleu Barbershop Group Notes
We are gradually getting back into the swing of things and we are pleased to welcome Alan Lynch, Les Moore
and Steve Beaney to the Group as regular members. Peter Aylett and Al Horton have also helped out for bigger
singouts. With eight engagements in the last three months of this year, raising some £700 for funds, we may well
exceed our previous £2000 in one year record. We will continue to search for fun songs for the Group, as well as
featuring quartet items whenever possible, as a contrast to the more formal Kentones’ shows – it is much easier
to do this with a small group. We have also had some new compliment cards produced to widen knowledge of
our existence.
John Vaughan
The Kentonian
Page 3
Velvet Harmony at the Irish Convention in Sligo
improve on our last performance
and come 7th out of eleven international choruses with a score of
61%. The category was mixed,
so we had the novel experience
of being beaten by the - male of
course - Cotton Town Chorus
(no shame there!).
Velvet Harmony took time out
from the LABBS convention
this year and flew (with an
abrupt landing at Knock that
we won’t forget in a hurry) to
the Irish Association of Barbershop Singers’ convention in
Sligo, where we were happy to
Velvet Harmony, Sligo, October 2008
The day of competition was a fine, soft day (Irish for “pouring”). No room for carrying brollies between our
changing room and the building where we were to sing, so we kept our hair dry on the way over with a
fetching array of hoods, shower caps and shopping bags – very glamorous above our sparkling green stage
gear! Jacqui Edwards, LABBS Chair, who flew out with us to lend us her bass voice onstage and her delightful company (thanks again, Jacqui!), looked particularly chic in a little plastic supermarket number.
Seeing the programme, one of our four “virgins” wanted to know who these men (managers? musical directors?) Mike Warmers and Mike Coolers were … Being last on we had a full and appreciative house, which
gave our musical director, Neil Watkins, an especially warm welcome. We did our best to live up to it, and
then descended on the town for dinner, afterwards serenading the bemused chefs who had fed us almost to a
standstill. At the afterglow that night a couple of our section le aders sang a song apiece with After Hours,
who lit up the hotel lobby in those fabulous purple dresses of theirs.
Sligo is a little town where old-fashioned shops and drinking holes rub shoulders with a glossy shopping
mall, and a snappy new cafe where the peat-tinted river rushes under the town centre bridge. Exploring its
delights had to be fitted in around registration, rehearsals and competition (not to mention the hours spent
wandering, lost, in the endless corridors of the vast Clarion Hotel) but time was found to explore the pubs
and hit the shops.
On Sunday some of us went in glorious sunshine to check out the Guinness and seafood chowder at the
beach at Strandhill, with its white sand, Atlantic breakers and surfers. Our kiwi member had to be restrained
from stealing a wetsuit and board and throwing herself into the waves.
We’ll have to go back. For more singing, and that surfing demo.
Kate Shennan
Velvet Harmony Christmas Concert
Saturday 6th December 2008 at 7.30 p.m, St Mary's Church, Bromley, BR1 3NS.
Tickets £6 from Kate (020 8302 2887) or on the door.
A
The diagram represents the plan of a prison containing 16 cells. In the cell marked
‘A’ there is a prisoner who has been promised his freedom if he can find a way of
reaching the exit by going “into and out of all the other cells, but entering each of
them only once”. He succeeded; can you find out how?
Answer on back page
The Kentonian
Page 4
Den Bosch Beckons
Up very early on Tuesday morning so we would be on time at our pre-booked car parking space just
outside East Grinstead by 0700 hrs. Then a short trip to Gatwick North Terminal. Cor! I haven’t
got up this early since 1994 when I was still doing shift work! Anyway, a hearty breakfast and we
were ready for our one-hour flight to Schipol Airport (Amsterdam). A good flight, nice and
smooth – we missed out on the British Airways complimentary drinks of tea/coffee only because we
were sitting right at the back of the plane and by the time the stewardess got to us (they start at the
front and work back!) they had not only run out of coffee but we were 5 minutes from landing!
Collect baggage at the turntable and wait for our train to Den Bosch. An hour’s journey, passing lovely Dutch scenery – always a flat landscape with canals, windmills etc, no hills or mountains! After a short walk we were at our hotel – The Best Western Euro Hotel. Not a suitable hotel for all of us when we go over next year – it’s those bells that
seem to chime incessantly from St. John’s Cathedral right next door, and that’s the least of the problems that I encountered!
Well, feeling a little bit tired we took a short walk and met up with Mum at her flat and had a good natter, with traditional Dutch meal etc. Then it was back to the hotel and a quick wash and brush up and then, wearing my yellow
“Kentones” T shirt, I met up with Jacques de Rijck (Chairman) who provided me with transport to the rehearsal night
of The Duke Town Chorus (Den Bosch). Last time we were in Holland The Duke
Town Chorus were only about 22 members strong, now they had doubled in size
and what a nice sound they made! “So”, I asked, “Did you have a big recruitment
exercise like we have within BABS called ‘The Learn To Sing Course’?” “Oh
no”, came back the reply, “We like to think it was something to do with our new
chorus director”. As he said this he had a kind of ‘twinkle’ in his eye! Their rehearsal took place in a local school, and each and every member as they arrived
shook hands with me and, as with all barber shoppers the world over, there is that
instant friendly comradeship and I felt very much ‘at home’. Then I was introduced to their chorus director and now I know why Jacques had a twinkle in his
eye! A very nice young female who teaches music at a primary school and, as a
bonus for me, spoke the most perfect English. So I enjoyed their rehearsal night and even joined them on the risers for
“Old St. Louis”, and of course the last two songs. Their break time consisted of wine, beer, soft drinks or if you
wanted, the usual tea and coffee OR a liqueur that was called “Gleniver” – blimey what a kick that had!
I had a short meeting with both Jacques and Ton Husson who are the organisers for the ‘Barbershop Ontmoetings Festival’ 2009 and I told them that The Kentones would like to come back to Den Bosch as per 2005 and that we had
roughly 32 members ‘signed up’ to come. They were more than enthusiastic to welcome us. The rehearsal finished at
10.00 pm and, whilst the memb ers were being measured up for their new stage uniforms, the others gathered around,
drinking and having an impromptu ‘after glow’; naturally I joined in with a few of the old favourites. So a final farewell to all and at roughly a quarter to midnight I was dropped off back at my hotel. Now I was feeling well and truly
tired!
The remaining couple of days were spent in and around this wonderful city. There
is a market square right in the centre (much like Bruges for those that have been
there) and they have a market of sorts every day, be it of flowers, fruit or food. Oh,
and we can’t forget the visit to “Vroom & Dressmann” department store – go right
up to the 5th /6th floor and the restaurant. If the weather is nice you can sit outside
with a wonderful view over Den Bosch. On
the ground floor there is a bakery bigger than
Sainsbury’s and, oh, all those lovely chocolates & sweets on display! Now, for those
who can still remember, facing the market square is a C&A store! When was it
Bromley get rid of theirs? Then it’s sitting outside at one of the many, many
pavement cafes around the main square, or those which are tucked away down
little alleyways, under heaters with lots of hearty food and drink. We even found
a cafe that brews its own beer – has a small brewery round the back. I will certainly return to that one (I have the necessary details and where to find it!!). Now,
after a wonderful trip, its back home, and I really, really am tired!
So, Den Bosch is ready and waiting for us – roll on 2009!
Bob Gilbert
The Kentonian
Page 5
Getting to know you…
Colin, our Assistant CD and Lead singer in Southern Brand, bares his soul and enables us to get to know him a little better.
Colin Couves
Born in Derby in 1943, I lived for the
first 9 years of my life with my mother,
father and 4 sisters at the White Hart Hotel Public House in Duffield, a village
about 6 miles north of Derby. The Pub
was managed by my uncle, George
Thornewell, a former professional footballer with Blackburn Rovers, who was a member of the
team that won the F.A. Cup in 1928. My interest in football
was therefore kindled at an early age and visits to the Baseball Ground, Derby and to Wembley stadium were the norm.
graduate from Imperial College. She was employed by Shell
at Shell Centre, Waterloo. We married on 11th January 1969
and celebrate our Ruby Wedding in the New Year. 40 years
of married bliss!!!!!!?? We in fact married on her birthday.
How can I possibly forget!!
On 4th March 1968, at the tender age of 24 and weighing
10st 4oz, I joined the Metropolitan Police and was sent to
the Police College at Hendon for basic training. This was a
real culture shock having never been away from home comforts, apart from the odd holiday abroad. It took some time
to adjust to life but I survived and, on 24th June 1968, I arrived at West End Central Police Station, Saville Row W1
(‘C’ Division) to begin my police career. For the next six
months I lived in a Beak Street Section House, just off Regent Street W1. What a place!! Three floors of cubicles for
single men. It was like living in a matchbox!! To chat to
your neighbour all you did was to stand on the bed and look
over the top!! In spite of this somewhat primitive existence
good friends were made and a certain camaraderie existed.
My father, Lesley, was also a keen sportsman in his youth,
playing football and cricket in his home town of Gravesend.
He was an engineer employed by Vicars Armstrong and it
was at the start of the 2nd World War that he was seconded to
Rolls Royce in Derby. It was there he met my mother Doris,
a native of Derby and a niece to uncle George. My father’s
side of the family originated from Gravesend and many were
connected in some way to the River Thames, either as Pilots
The West End of London was a colourful and exciting place
or Tug Captains. My grandfather was Trinity House Thames
to be and was policed by three separate stations, West End
Pilot and my great grandfather was a sea captain.
Central, Bow Street and Vine Street. On one hand there
At the age of 9 the whole family moved to Gravesend and it were seedy clubs, vice, gambling, drugs and the down and
was shortly after that when my musical interest began to be outs and, on the other, the more sedate and refined areas of
developed. I became a chorister of Christ Church and re- Mayfair and St. James. Covent Garden came under the jumained a member for 9 years, during which time I became risdiction of Bow Street and within its bounds were the
head chorister and attended a number of singing courses run Royal Opera House and the vibrant Fruit, Veg and flower
by the Royal School of Church Music. Pocket money in market. I served at all three stations over a period of 6 years
those days was supplemented by singing at weddings for a and enjoyed the experience. Ceremonial Duties were also a
regular feature in the West End, the annual Trooping of the
princely sum of two shillings and sixpence.
Colour being just one of a number of events I had to attend
After primary school I was sent to Milton Court, an inde- in ceremonial uniform. I quickly became involved with Dipendent school in Gravesend, where, on Wednesday after- visional sport and represented the Met. at Hockey and
noons, we played either football or hockey. The head was Cricket.
an ex-marine officer, Capt Harry True. He was a giant of a
man and he took great delight in kicking us off the park if The West End was fine but I was attracted to detective work
so another spell at Hendon was required at the Detective
we had transgressed in some way.
Training School. On completion I was posted to ‘Sunny’
I left Milton Court at the age of 18 not really knowing what I Deptford, where I encountered, amongst other things, fraud,
wanted to do. Two of my classmates joined the Police Ser- domestic violence, child protection issues, football violence
vice but I was not terribly interested in joining them at that ( Millwall), burglary, rape and murder. My previous bankstage. For the next 2 years I was employed by Equity and ing experience enabled me to adapt to fraud investigation
Law Life Assurance Co. in Lincolns Inn Fields. It was at and so, after 3 years, I was posted to Met. Police Company
this juncture I became involved with a singing group ‘The Fraud Department in Holborn. This was a branch of ScotChancery Singers’ whose conductor and choirmaster, Rob- land Yard and was known as SO6. It was there that I experibie Robinson, was one of the chorus masters at Covent Ga r- enced Franchise Fraud and Public Sector Corruption. Anden Opera House. Concerts were usually held in St Martin’s other 3 years elapsed and I was posted back out to Division
in the Fields, Trafalgar Square.
and to Plumstead and Woolwich. This large area in many
ways had all the same problems as Deptford. However
After 2 years of boredom I changed employment and was Thamesmead, a large domestic housing area, was being derecruited by National and Grindlays Bank in Bishopsgate. veloped and right in the middle was a large lake, ThamesLife at the Bank was slightly better than my previous job and mere. It was here that I first experienced the sport of sailing.
had the added attraction of a sports club at Blackheath.
So began another interest and chapter in my life which still
remains today.
It was during this period (1967) that I met Sue. She was a
It was almost 3 years to the day that I returned to the Fraud
member of Gravesend Lawn Tennis Club and a maths
Contd. p6
The Kentonian
Page 6
Getting to know you… Contd.
Department. There I became involved with a multi-million
corruption investigation in the oil industry which led to my
departure to the Serious Fraud Office. There I remained for
the next six years before being posted once more to the
South East. I spent my last 3 years attached to a murder
team based at Shooters Hill Police Station. The ups and
downs of police work over 30 years would not have been
possible without the support of Sue and the family. Sue in
particular has been exceptional and has supported me in all
my interests, including barbershop. Andrew and Jonathan,
our sons, are heavily involved in sport. Andrew is a senior
manager with Sport England and Jonathon is a senior manager with London Development Agency. Both are involved
with 2012 Olympics and the legacy of the games.
Since retirement some 10 years ago I have been involved in
the coaching of Hockey and Cricket in numerous schools in
Bromley and Lewisham and at Blackheath Hockey Club.
(To be continued…...Colin’s experience in Barbershop will
follow in a later Issue of The Kentonian. Ed.)
Who is this?
It’s David Tindall!
Dark and handsome
then, still handsome,
if not quite so dark,
now. But the grin that surely gives it
away.
CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO A
CHRISTMAS GET-TOGETHER
Now who is this?
ON THURSDAY 18 th DECEMBER
This little fellow
surely grew into
a fine, strapping
hunk. In some
ways he was a
big boy even
then! But who
is he? That is
the question.
(Please note the new date!!!)
A CHANCE TO CHAT, DANCE AND
BE ENTERTAINED. NO COST, BUT
PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN DRINK
AND GLASSES AND A
CONTRIBUTION TO THE FINGER
BUFFET.
8:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Answer in the
J a n u a r y /
February issue
of The Kentonian.
Wives, partners and friends are all welcome
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE
Dictionary of Barbershop Terms (W-Y)
Wall of Sound Seamless, continuous vocalization.
Whomp-Ping Ratio The ratio of resonance to ping in the voice.
Woodshed To improvise your part in a song, hopefully not me lody.
Yawner A very boring and poor performance of a song.
Yodel-Chord A phenomenon in woodshedding, where two voices
land on the same note and simultaneously move to the missing
part.
Passed on by Mike Corr
Christmas Banter
Deduce the banter by using all nine letters. Wherever
you start you must only travel via adjacent letters and
you must only use each letter once.
(Answers on back page)
S E N
B N A
E O E
O T S
I
I C
E R Y
S L T
C G S
M P E
R R C
T I M
K I N
The Kentonian
Page 7
Judges’ Post-Contest Evaluation Report 2008
Song 1: If I Loved You
Song 2: Sweet Georgia Brown
Singing Category - Total Singing Score: 371
Song 1
Song 2
Mike Taylor
62
62
David King
61
60
Peter Iseger
65
61
Song 1: Nice start of the song. Sing with the same tone, colour and timbre. For example in "Past me by" you could
hear there was no blend. There was pow erful singing, but this results sometimes in over singing. Some solo voices
stacked out of the chorus. Make it more section unity.
Song 2: The song started out of tune and with lack of synchronisation. Your powerful singing makes the sound very
dark. Keep more high resonance and an open throat. Sections did not blend well together. At the end of the word
"brown" use the "n" sound more as a singable consonant, so the forward motion is served by doing this. Sing always
with resonance from high to low.
Strengths: You showed you know what basic vocal skills are. Powerful singing.
Areas for Improvement: Tuning and synchronisation are elements to work on.
Presentation Category - Total Presentation Score: 377
Song 1
Song 2
Nick Frampton
58
59
Wayne Jackson
71
69
Mike Warner
60
60
Song 1: The song had a confident start and the chorus were pleased to be there. A good positive start which set a
'dreamy' mood, but there were some synchronization problems. There was a good lyrical flow which was warm and
planned with a few interruptions 'by…….soon'.
There was a nice dramatic pause into the tag which you could have held longer - the visuals distracted.
Song 2: At the start of this song the pitch was not secure and that prevented a mood set. The dynamic changes were
good, but you failed to really capture this 'scintillating' woman. Say her name with feeling (passion?). There was
some vocal/visual disparity and the vocal delivery let you down - major 'tonal centre' problems.
Strengths: Loads of visual energy with a good moves plan and everyone understood it.
Areas for Improvement: Listen more carefully during periods of visual energy. Make it your goal to get firmly
into 'B' scores. Use an emotion plan to capture and unify emotions.
Music Category - Total Music Score: 384
Song 1
Song 2
Paul Davies
65
67
David Morehen
65
63
Song 1: Some excellent chorus work marred by out-of-vocal chords. Either these were poor tuning or arranger's
choice; we suspect the latter. Two judges gave 2 penalty points each for unstylistic harmony and shortage of perceived BS 7ths (same thing from different angle). One example was "me", exacerbated by a swipe. You had a strong
interpretative plan for this song and showed good thematic development. Word delivery is often pedantic; work on
"Singlish" - the joined-up, conversational delivery of words in a musical setting. Some embellishments clunky and
inartistic. Bari flat on "bye". Tag used a novel progression but was not cleanly delivered. Generally a high level of
consonance.
Song 2: You showed a solid understandin g of the musical/lyrical theme of this song and delivered it with great spirit.
Tidying is needed, especially the synchronisation of word-starts. Rangy melody needs careful handling by the leads
to prevent it being buried by other parts. "Who's that mister?" deteriorated into sing-speak, with notes of indistinct
pitch.
The Kentonian
Page 8
W e w ish all
Season's
m em bers of the
G reetings and
Chorus and our
very best w ishes
Supporters Club
for the N ew
a very H a p p y
Year.
Christm as
G eoff & S tella
M o u n tn e y
Season.
B r e n d a & B a rrie Best w ishes for a H a p p y , H o ly and H arm onious Christm as to
N ew m an
all m em bers and Supporters of the K e n tones, and especially to
the m em b ers and fam ilies of C o r d o n B leu. A lso to those w ith
w h o m I have w o rked closely on projects – m y thanks.
Ann and John Vaughan
Christm as is a -com ing,
The goose is getting fat,
W hat d'y o u think the turkey
Is going to m ake of that?
H ave a great C h ristm as, and m a y
all your chestnuts be w arm .
A s ever,
E v e l y n & P h illip K h a n -P a n n i
Ken and Sandra W alker w ish
all M em bers, Supporters and
their fam ilies a very happy
C h r istmas and a prosperous
N ew Y ear.
To all our friends, a very H a p p y
Christm a s a n d a W icked N e w
Year.
L o ts of love,
M ik e , Jen, H a n n a h ’n ’ S o p h ie
xxxx
A H a p p y a n d H e a lthy
Christm a s a n d N ew Y e a r .
B ill & Joyce M iller
Ian & S u e G illies w ish
all m em bers of the
Kentones and their
fam ilies a very happy
C h r istm a s
and
a
healthy and prosperous
N ew Y ear.
H a v e a M erry D ancin g
Christm a s
and
a
Boogiefull N ew Y ear!
A ll our love,
Jackie and Peter.
H arm onious Christm as greetings
to all M em bers and Supporters.
A lso to Jackie and M artin for their
help and expertise.
A v ril and C h ris Sydee
From Peter and Pauline G ib b s ,
w ishing everyone a very m erry
Christm a s a n d a h a p p y N ew
Year.
Christm a s a n d Noo Yere greetings
tw o e v e r y t w o , tree, fore, phive.
L in d a a n d B r ian
M erry Xm a s a n d a h a p p y
N ew Year to the Kentones
and Supporters.
C h a r l i e a n d R o s e G ates
The Kentonian
Page 9
G reetings to everyone for a m erry Christm as
a n d a h e a l t h y a n d h a p p y N ew Y e a r .
J e a n a n d J o h n M esure
To all Kentones, Supporters
and Friends - e v e r y g o o d
w ish for C h ristm as and the
N ew Y e a r , and w arm est
thanks for all your m oral
and practical support
throughout 2008.
D a v i d a n d P a m T in d a ll
A H appy Christm as
and another year of
great barbershopping
in
2009,
to
all
K e n tones, Supporters
and their fam ilies.
D enis and P a t
D elaroute
To all our Barbershopping friends
T h is w ish is m ost sincere,
Y o u r c o m p a n y a n d frien d ship
W e e n joy throughout each year.
A n d w h e n t h e o ld year passes
A n d w e w e lcom e in the new ,
W e pray that w e can still be here
To share it all w ith you.
A V e ry M erry Christm a s a n d
a H a p p y N e w Y e a r to you all.
Peter and Pam
M arg aret & C h ris
G arrard w ish you
all a very happy
Christm a s a n d a
peaceful N ew Y e a r .
S e a s o n ’s
greetings
and Happy New Year
to all K e n tones and
their fam ilies, also not
forgetting our Su p porters
and
their
fam ilies.
Frank Bostock
H appy Christm as
a n d a su ccessful
B arb ers h o p N e w
Year to all C lu b
M em bers
and
Su p p o rters.
Pam and Frank
T ay lor
J o h n a n d D i R a y field w ish all C h o rus
friends and their fam ilies a very m erry
Chris tm as and a healthy and happy
N ew Year.
W ith w arm greetings at Christm astim e to all asso ciated w ith the
club, and a w ish for health, happiness and ong oing success in 2009.
D avid & N o rm a S o u thgate
T o all the m em bers of this great
club of ours, Joyce and I w o u ld
like to w ish everybody a great
Christm as and a healthy fort h com ing N ew Y e a r . M a y w e g o
o n w a r d s a n d u p w a r d s !!!
John and Joyce W eeks
W e w ish A L L K e n tones,
Supporters and Friends a
Joyous Christm a s a n d a
N ew Y e a r o f G o o d H e a l t h
and Prosperity.
O u r Love
Peggie & M ollie Bensaid
M erry Christm as to all
the K e n tones, w ives,
partners and Supporters.
C a r o l e a n d L e s M oore
The Kentonian
Page 10
Cordon Rouge?
Cordon Bleu sang at
the Dartford Masonic
Ladies Lunch on 12th
October, and by special request of the
ladies, wore their
pink jackets. With
new boy Alan Lynch
joining them for the
second time, and
with everyone present, it seemed a
good idea to have a
new photo for our
publicity leaflet. We
have some big
singouts coming up,
and would be interested to hear from
any Chorus members
who can generally be
available
during
weekdays.
For the benefit of the new boys, Cordon was founded 10 years ago with the aims of providing an additional opportunity to learn and practise the chorus repertoire, and of learning a few new songs. Such was the demand for our
services, peaking at 40 singouts a couple of years back, that we added an aim to have more comedy songs in our
programme and, if possible, not to sing Chorus songs, though that didn't stop the Chorus pinching Nightingale ,
64, Sitting and Don't be a Baby from Cordon! David Tindall is our raconteur, our main link with the audience,
and, until recent family pressure, our administrator.
Cordon Bleu Recent Events:
October 1st, Frank Taylor’s - Rehearsal; 12th, Dartford - Masonic Lunch; 14th, Wandsworth Town Hall - Senior
citizens Independence and Well being event (300 people); 17th, Carshalton - Old Peoples Event.
November 29th, St Georges Church Beckenham - Beckenham Festival Chorus, competing as Cordon Bleu Octet
John Vaughan
An Evening at the Races
A very enjoyable evening was had by all who attended the Race Night on Friday 10th October. The event,
which was organised by Brenda Newman and took place at The Saxon Centre in Orpington, was to raise
funds for the Kentones. The races were run by six wooden horses, each of a different colour. Bets were 50p
a horse and, once under starters orders, three dice were thrown by three volunteers (who know nothing about
horse racing). Then the horses were moved manually along a course board according to the way the dice
fell. After three races the punters took stock of their finances, whilst our stable maids served up a ploughman's lunch
and the horses took a well earned rest. Having taken our own preferred beverages, some of us were a little un-stable by
this time and launched into the second half with renewed confidence. Geoff Mountney, (always a front runner in any
event) conducted the heads and tails game, which was well supported, and the winner by a short head was Avril Sydee,
who scooped a cool £30. As usual the winners were the bookies and the amount raised on the evening was £540. Our
thanks to Brenda and her band of loyal Supporters, to whom we owe so much for the hard work and financial assistance
they often give us. It must be said that these people are working Supporters. They not only cheer us on at Convention
but contribute much more to our club than a lot of us realise. On behalf of all Kentones, I thank you ladies.
Explaining 'Heads and Tails'.
Each player must pay in a pound before a coin is tossed,
Then predict the side on which the coin lands.
To register your prediction, in the interest of fair play,
You show by positioning your hands.
So make your choice and if you think the outcome will be
heads,
Then you must place both hands upon your head.
However if you've chosen tails, your hands should clasp your
rear.
But don't clasp someone else’s rear instead.
These actions are repeated every time the coin is spun
And those who've guessed it wrongly must sit out.
But the ones who've guessed correctly have another
chance to play
And this is what the game is all about.
This elimination process continues to the end,
To determine who has won a princely sum.
So there it is, you have a choice, it's hands upon your
head,
Or you may prefer to place them on your bum.
Peter Aylett
In Memoriam
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Mrs Elsie Wall, a great supporter of the chorus. She was
especia lly good at the Boules, along with her daughter Jane. Our thoughts are with the family in their loss.
The Kentonian
Page 11
THOUGHTS ON A FIRST SOLO FLIGHT
I had to wait until my fiftieth year to realise a lifetime's ambition to be at the controls of an aircraft on my own. The long awaited experience came, not in a piston engined aircraft or a sleek
jet, but in a glider.
After several week-long holiday courses which commenced in 1980, I finally
made it on Thursday 11th August 1983. Along the way to this point I had gone
through all the things that the novice needs to, in order to gain the necessary experience and confidence. For example I don't suppose anyone as a novice could
be expected to go automatically through the correct actions to recover from a stall or spin situation...
This, like many other things, has to be learned. I well remember my first flight in 1980, in a very old
two-seater with side-by-side seating, called a T21, and a cockpit open to the elements.
The launch by winch-operated cable literally took my breath away; from a standing start the acceleration is to 60 mph in just three seconds! The wind roaring in the ears, the Instructor shouting
"Keep the wings level" when all I could see was sky, the altimeter spinning round, 800-900-1000
feet, then the horizon appearing as the nose of the glider now over the top of the winch was gently
pulled down, and suddenly an almighty bang as the cable back-released and we were on our own.
Now it was not so noisy and I could hear the Instructor telling me to settle down and assume the normal flying attitude. Frankly I didn't know what the normal flying attitude should be...thus commenced the first le sson in the air. I was quickly told the correct attitude was to keep the horizon approximately a hand's breadth above
the edge of the cockpit in front of us.
Then there was the primary effects of the controls. The co-ordination of movement and amount of
pressure required from feet and hands together, to achieve a turn at a particular angle of bank. As all
these things progress there comes a phase when, as I now understand, the pupil feels that all is never
going to be mastered. It is at this stage that some give up, but, being by nature an obstinate cuss, I
carried on, making mistakes, poor turns, heavy landings, not properly planning the circuit and so on.
I felt discouraged. I didn't go back in 1982: just couldn't afford to go on holiday to the U.S. and go
gliding as well.
So back I went for a week in May 1983. The first flights I had were with the Chief Flying Instructor, who remarked
on what a difference he noted. I was relaxed at the controls - looking before making turns, planning the circuit and
approaches, also the landings were much improved. I'd had a year to study books and think about where I was going wrong, so now I felt I had it pretty near licked. One more week should do it.
August came, warm and sunny, and I was back again. I really felt this was going to be it. On the Thursday, having
just completed my first flight of the day, apparently to the satisfaction of the Instructor, he said "How do you feel
about going up in the K8 (solo machine) after lunch?". "Fine" I replied, without any hesitation. But now was to
come the acid test. I wasn't allowed too much time to get cold feet, and, before I knew it, we were back on the field
and I was invited to strap on a parachute and climb into the K8. Then followed a careful briefing on what I should
and should not do. "Do you feel all right about it all?", I was asked. "OK", I said, "I'm ready to go". With people
wishing me good luck, and with the knowledge that my friend Kiwi was operating the winch, I did the pre-flight
checks, closed the canopy, and with a rush was airborne. The heart was racing, the mouth dry, the palms of the
hands sweaty and the muscles of arms and legs tensed, but I did my circuit and later all said the landing looked perfect. Two more launches immediately followed, everything successful. It's a tradition in the Club that a first-time
soloist stands a round of drinks in the bar that evening, so, although this was an expensive evening, it was also a
very jolly one.
The following day was the last day of the course. My turn to fly came late in the afternoon. Conditions were ideal: calm air, good visibility, lovely blue sky with just a puff of white cloud here and
there. I had four launches in the K8 and really enjoyed them, and I certainly hoped to continue
gliding.
The final remarks to me by an Instructor were "You now know enough to realise just how little you know". How
very true!
Barrie Newman
The Kentonian
Page 12
Peggie’s Patch
The year 2008 beckoned and seemed to stretch endlessly into the future with the magical season of
Christmas hovering somewhere on the distant horizon.....and now....it’s no longer a mirage for we are
being drawn into the ever increasing buzz of the Yuletide festivities.
Throughout this busy year the Supporters have cheered and enjoyed the Kentones singing at many events, among
them the exciting Convention in Cheltenham where they achieved such splendid results.
Many Supporters and friends met at Seal in mid summer for a friendly Boules Tournament. The chairman of
their club kept everything swinging along but somehow the shots did not always reach their intended target....but
we do try. The staff at the CROWN, the headquarters of the Seal Petanque Club, provided a splendid buffet
lunch and said they look forward to a visit from us all next year. What better way to unwind and enjoy oneself?
We also recall many social occasions and celebrations which gave so much pleasure to everyone. A most successful "Race Night" took place in October and proved to be a winner. Many thanks to the committee for help,
along with special thanks to Brenda for organising the event. Between events, and producing endless cups of tea
on practice nights, the committee organised the ever popular QUIZ EVENING with Geoff and Stella at the helm
steering the way through some sticky questions. Of course we knew all the answers but forgot to write them
down! Again special thanks to Geoff and Stella, here’s to the next time!
Having just returned from a short, pleasant stay in sunny MALTA we found time to relax and reflect on previous
trips and consider pastures new, before being lured by the magical appeal of destinations worldwide. With so
many options to choose from decisions are difficult to make. A former visit to PERU, carefully planned between
the Peruvian Tourist Board and Mike Kay, President of the A.T.T.C., was an easy decision, and a seventeen day
"NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN" trip on the trail of the INCA'S became an exciting reality, but all this is now
just a great memory.
As time marches on towards Yuletide we " shop till we drop" and do those things we usually do at this time of
year. Already I hear the faint tinkling of sleigh bells, or is it the double glazing sales Rep. ringing my door bell.
Just a gentle reminder that this lovely Christmas Season is on its way and Santa is peering around for suitable
chimney's to squeeze into.
On behalf of the Committee may I thank you all for your generous support at our events and wish you all a very
Happy Christmas and a Healthy, Successful New Year.....I look forward to seeing you on Thursday 18th Dec. at
our Christmas Party.
We send Get Well wishes and prayers for those that are sick and cannot be with us at this time and our sincere
condolences go to Jane and her family at the sad loss of her mother, Elsie Wall, one of our members and a loyal
supporter. Jane still wishes to continue as a member and we welcome that.
All Blessings and Love.
Peggie Bensaid
YES WE CAN
It seems like yesterday when a young African man stumbled upon an old local newspaper inviting
men to join a singing course. I must say I was a bit nervous when I realised that I was the only dark
skinned man here. The warm welcome and the genuine smiles tore my fears apart and made me look
on the bright side of life.
The audition was like the proverbial saying “ many are called but few are chosen.” It felt really nice to be amongst
the chosen few. Unfortunately I could not be at Convention but I was with you in spirit.
Bournemouth was an amazing experience. This was the first singout for some of the new guys but we did very well
and enjoyed every bit of it. It made all the hard work worthwhile.
The turnout at my church was really great and I want to thank everyone who was able to join us. The congregation
really enjoyed it and will want to hear us sing again.
I was surprised and humbled to be given the Most Improved Singer award but it has given me the motivation to keep
on singing. Joining the chorus, to me, is a personal achievement. Singing has given me a new confidence in all
spheres of my life and I look forward to every Thursday evening.
Most of all I am looking forward to convention 2009, where I believe we can make the 70% ma rk. Did I hear you
ask CAN WE? YES WE CAN!
Samuel Newlove -Agbonlahor
The Kentonian
Page 13
Sore throats and shoes
It’s really great to be back singing again after my three-month lay off. You have all been most kind in enquiring into the condition of my throat and I thought it would be a good idea to use the Kentonian to explain
the cause of my afflic tion.
Back in the spring of this year I bought a pair of shoes on the internet. When they arrived I found that they were both for
the left foot. Initially I thought I would telephone the supplier but there didn’t appear to be a telephone number on the
web site. I therefore sent an email explaining the error. The following day they replied, advising me to send the shoes
back; which I promptly did.
A week later I received a parcel containing one right shoe. Whilst this was encouraging, solving 50% of the problem, I
was still in deficit to the tune of one shoe. After a further returned email, I awaited delivery of the left shoe. Sure enough,
the parcel arrived. Sadly it contained another right shoe. I was now rather annoyed and wrote a strongly worded email.
They replied explaining that the confusion arose due to another customer having a similar name, Peter Willington, who
lived in Catterick. They went on to explain that he indeed had two left shoes of the same style and that it would be expedient if we were to simply post each other the surplus shoe.
I thought this rather a strange, but logical, conclusion so dispatchedThe
oneChorus
right atshoe
off to Catterick
by first
class parcel
the Cheltenham
Convention,
2008
post. I was delighted to receive a parcel the following morning containing a left shoe. That delight however turned to
dismay. You see, Peter Willington is rather a small person. Indeed, one may say a midget. And his size 12 and my size
12 are generationally challenged.
At this point I was now in possession of one right shoe, size 12 adult, and one left shoe, size 12 child. They were lovely
shoes of superb quality but, nevertheless, not really a going concern in terms of footwear. At this stage I thought it prudent to simply return both shoes to the supplier and demand my money back. It was during my walk to the post office
that it began to rain quite heavily and I got soaked through. Later that day I caught a chill that quickly turned into a cold.
The cold went to my chest and finally to my throat. I sang through the cold and consequently damaged my throat.
I trust this adequately outlines the circumstances of my recent debilitation and I thank you all sincerely for you concern.
It’s great to be back on the risers!
Peter Wiggington
Great to be back on stage
Well finally I've made a sing-out. Two actually. And it's great to be back on stage even if the lips are miming, nimble as a mountain goat! First there was the concert with the Force 10 Big Band, on Thursday 16
October at Erith. There I was uniformed up to specification and ready to go - with one minor thought nagging in my mind. I thought I had the repertoire for the evening. Most of the songs I had heard. Many I
had sung. Some I knew ! Of course Mike's selection for the evening bore a small resemblance to the order
of service I had seen previously, and we rehearsed several in the warm-up including the moves (after
which I went to pot and screwed them up in performance).
So on to the stage we sprang (?). The first numbers went OK (moves excepted) and I winged those falling into my lesserknown repertoire, feeding off the chorus around me and watching Mike's lips for aides memoires. Of course due to my
nimble choreography and inherent good looks (and your problem is …..?) I am in the front row - fully exposed to audience appreciation - supported by Sam, having the same attributes and positive contributions to the chorus. Finally the
piece de resistance - was it introduced by David as the most famous Al Jolson song (my dots don't mention Al Jolson)
"Rockabye your baby"? I have never heard this song! We haven't sung it at rehearsal in the year or more I have attended
(OK - so my attendance is intermittent, but ….) and what does Mike do? He stands to the side of the chorus - the better to
compound my embarrassment!
So, with some forethought of mind I am better prepared for my next singout on Saturday 8 November at Sidcup. As it's
just a half hour performance (that's what I was told!) I fit it in on the way up to Cambridge to see my daughter, appearing
in 84 Charing Cross Road. My wife and I have lunch across the road from the venue and breeze in for the warm up and
performance. The programme has grown from last time, but I can wing all the songs. Oh and - my comments above notwithstanding - Mike has moved me backwards in the chorus, even further than foreseen as we rapidly fit the planned three
rows into four to suit the size of the stage. Unfortunately I have to run off afterwards as the one hour sing-out has rather
compromised my schedule and eaten into my stock of Brownie points. (And No! it wasn't my wife shouting to be let
out!) Now onto Bexleyheath on Saturday (where presumably we will have performed with aplomb by the time you read
this).
So the moral of my tale (or is it the tail of my morals) - my cri de coeur - can we please agree a core repertoire and give
some rehearsal time to "older" songs which are new to newer chorus members? I imagine I am not alone in my suspect
knowledge of one or two (or ..…)! Maybe even some section rehearsals to cement those tricky passages which may have
become blurred over time? Just a thought at twilight …………..
Simon Pollard
The Kentonian
Page 14
Sundry Singouts
16th October
Erith School
The Rotary Club of Erith
(Photo courtesy of Brenda Newman)
9th November St. Michael’s Welling Festival of Remembrance
On Sunday 9th November 'The Kentones', under the direction of Mike Corr, had the honour of taking part in a Festival of Remembrance service in St Michael's Church East Wickham. The event, organised by the East Wickham
and Welling War Memo rial Trust, was attended by the Mayor of Bexley, Councillor Nick O'Hare, the Bishop of
Woolwich, The Right Reverend Christopher Chessun, members of parliament and other prominent guests.
The Belvedere Concert Band, under it's conductor Guy Bennett, provided the excellent instrumental music and the
Kentones, in a cappela style, sang three songs, Roses of Picardy, A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square and I'll Be
Seeing You, all being wartime favourites appropriately chosen for the occasion.
Peter Aylett P.R.O.
15th November
Christchurch
Bexleyheath
Photos Courtesy of
Norma Southgate
The Kentonian
Page 15
Summer in France:-
We were really pleased when
Steve invited us for a meal
from what he called his “New,
demon barbeque” but we became increasingly concerned
that the steak was getting a
little overdone.
Even the best sailor can have a small
boating accident.
Steve enjoyed several
litres of good, French
beer.
Everybody enjoyed
Geoff’s cooking especially Geoff.
Geoff Mountney
Meanwhile, for the rest of us:-
!
Cordon Christmas Started Already
Here are some of the goings on at the Cordon Christmas lunch, held at Coombe Lodge on Wednesday 26 November. It was great that Pam Tindall was able to come. John Vaughan gave a speech outlining plans for Cordon in
the coming year. With new members, Steve Beaney, Alan Lynch, Les Moore and Chris Garrard, having recently
joined, and a couple of guys possibly joining soon, the numbers could be up to 16, which is great news.
The restaurant was very busy and on our way out the other guests commented that they had enjoyed the singing!
(Photos courtesy of Avril)
Avril Sydee
The Kentonian
Page 16
THE KENTONES
Meetings:
Club Night
Venue
-
Thursday at 7.30pm
St. Paul’s Church Hall, Crofton Road, Orpington, Kent.
Main Committee:
Chairman
Vice Chairman
Secretary
Treasurer
Membership Sec.
Public Relations Officer
Singout Sec.
-
Denis Delaroute
John Weeks
Brian Scothern
Les Moore
Geoff Mountney
Peter Aylett
Chris Garrard
Music Committee:
Chorus Director
Asst. Chorus Director
Section Leaders:
Lead
Bass
Tenor
Baritone
-
Magazine:
The Kentonian, published bi-monthly.
Editor
David Southgate Tel: 01322 279803
Proof-reader this Issue
Norma and David Southgate
Printer
Dyrck Lamble
-
Mike Corr
Colin Couves
Jack Willoughby
John Mesure
Alan Lamprell
John O’Connor
E-mail: southgate@classicfm.net
Velvet Harmony
100 CLUB DRAW
1st Prize
2nd Prize
3rd Prize
October
November
90 Mike Carpenter
64 Joan Mattinson
16 Joan Mattinson
45 Claire Hills
91 Kate Hughes
86 Velvet Harmony
Kentones Diary Dates
Sat
Thur
Sun
Thur
Date
Time
Venue
Function
6 December
18 December
21 December
15 January
1.00 pm
8.00 pm
10.45 am
7.00 pm
Old Elthamians Rugby Club
St Paul’s Church Hall
The Glades, Bromley
The Club, Beckenham
Family Day
Christmas Get-Together
Charity Singout
Club meal
Copy Deadline for January/February Issue - Thursday 15th January
Articles, comments, views, reports, photographs etc... please submit them to the Editor as early as possible but by 15th January at the latest. By hand, post, email or telephone.
Christmas banter (page 6):
Mince pies, Cranberry, Mistletoe, Stockings.
Answer to puzzles.
Prison Cell (Page 3):
There is one possible escape route, as shown. The pri
soner was not prohibited from re -entering his own cell. If
he had been, there would be no solution to the problem.