Pete Mason was a well known local musician, radio presenter and environmental campaigner, who sadly died last year. His wife and members of his band The Woodmen, have honoured his commitment to local music by setting up a fund to offer bursaries to local musicians.
Our Lockdown competition attracted entries of all kinds including a ‘Covid’ adapted version of The Nightmare Song from Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe. The stresses of a Zoom call were ably expressed in a humorous, tongue twisting monologue by Jenny Saunders. Of course, it really needed to be sung at our prize giving ceremony in early September and we are grateful to Gareth Davies from the St David’s Players, Exeter’s G&S Society, for helping us make this happen. Gareth sang this hilarious rendition, with local pianist Roger Stephenson accompanying, and Jenny was delighted to see her piece performed in front of an enthusiastic audience in the town square. Emma Mills from Crediton, a long standing member of the St David’s Players, reports on the history of this popular society and how they have been coping with lockdown.
Amid the doom and gloom about the future of our theatres and concert halls, a group of young musicians has been delighting the residents of Coleford with weekly outdoor performances. Music in the Porch started with a call from the National Youth Orchestra and has become a lockdown highlight for performers and audience alike, as the project coordinator Francisca Van Holthoon explains.
