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December 2022 December 2022

The new Chairman, Teresa AUTUMN LEAVES FIRST THURSDAY CLUB
Rekowska, approached David
Mellor in the summer to
b e c o m e t h e i r P a t r o n
particularly for his experience AUTUMN LEAVES STORY
and knowledge as former
Secretary of State for Culture 1972 - 2022
and Media and for his love of This club had its origins back in 1967. At
music. David has a weekly that time the main A35 road ran
programme on Classic FM through the village and a lady called
Radio and is the Opera critic for Kathleen stopped outside the butchers
The Mail on Sunday. David has shop to consult her map. The butcher
a home in Corfe with his partner Charlie Jeeves went to assist her. He
Penelope Viscountess Cobham. offered her a cup of tea and about an
The choir and David are looking hour later Kathleen left the shop with a
forward to working together and are passionate about bringing a high standard
of music to their local community. pack of sausages. A few weeks later
David Mellor is a British broadcaster, barrister, after dinner speaker, former Charlie travelled to Surrey to meet
Member of Parliament for Putney and a Government Minister for 11 years. Born Kathleen and they were married the
in Wareham, Dorset, David was educated at Swanage Grammar School, next year.
and Christ's College, Cambridge.
Kathleen came to live in the village
Teresa says ‘I am delighted that David Mellor has agreed to become the Patron and started her florist business at the
of Wareham Choral Society. He has a deep understanding of the joy that music back of the butchers shop. Not
can bring into our lives. The choir and I are excited to celebrate our 75 content with setting up home with
th
anniversary by beginning this new partnership and look forward to collaborating Charlie, and setting up her business,
in the future’. Kath started getting to know village
people. Kath was a lively gregarious
This Autumn the choir has provided a free Taster workshop and on 5 November person and a talented and gifted
arranged a very well attended and successful ‘Come & Sing’ day of Karl Jenkins’ pianist and soon made friends.
‘The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace’. There was a free performance in the
afternoon which David and Penelope attended alongside others from the local 1n 1972 it was decided, there should be a
community. group, where older people (over 60’s) could get
together once a month to meet have tea and
Wareham Choral Society have some exciting plans for the future including a some fun. The first accounts reveal that Kath
magnificent ‘Magnificat’ Christmas concert on 10 December in Lady St Mary lent the club a temporary start up loan of £5.00
Church 7pm featuring the lovely soprano Lucy Braga. Of course the audience (about £53.00 in today’s money). By the end of
also have an opportunity to sing many of their favourite Carols. Tickets can be August a coffee morning, a few donations, a
purchased via www.warehamchoral.co.uk or from Joys Menswear in Wareham. raffle and (sale of peanuts?) meant the loan
The choir will also be singing Christmas Carols on 19 December at the Wareham was repaid. The 1972 November Parish
Day Centre for the elderly with dementia. Magazine reports that the first meeting had
Wareham Choral Society are looking forward to an exhilarating programme in taken place and the club was officially opened
2023 performing Mozart’s Coronation Mass on 22 April in preparation for King by Dr. Boyd.
nd
Charles’ Coronation in May and then performing a remembrance concert 4 The club started its meetings on the second
th
Wednesday every month at the old WI hut

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