​PRESS RELEASE
 
Wednesday November 23rd, 2022
 
Christmas Starts Here!
 
Good Afternoon Choirs across the West Country will open their doors for family and friends to join them for their annual Christmas Carol Celebration Concerts in the next few weeks. 
 
Bath-based music man Grenville Jones started his Good Afternoon Choirs 12 years ago and there are now 24 across the West of England. You can find a Christmas Celebration Concert near you below… Everyone is welcome – come and join the choirs for some festive favourites and get into the Christmas spirit. 
 
Each Good Afternoon Choir raises money for local charities or organisations nominated by the members each year. So far this year the choirs have raised nearly £18,000 for various local organisations across the West Country, with that total set to increase with retiring collections taking place at each of our Christmas Celebrations.
 
 
YEOVIL GAC Christmas Celebration Concert
Friday December 2nd - The Gateway/Yeovil Community Church - 2 - 2.45pm
Join the Yeovil GAC for their annual Christmas Celebration Concert and enjoy some festive favourites. 
FREE ADMISSION with a retiring collection for Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance.


DEVIZES GAC Christmas Celebration Concert
Friday December 9th - St Andrews Church, Devizes - 1.30 - 2.30pm
The Devizes Good Afternoon Choir will once again host their very popular open Christmas Celebration concert on December 9th with children from Wansdyke School. 
FREE ADMISSION with a retiring collection for Julia's House Hospice 




TRURO GAC Christmas Celebration Concert
Monday December 12th - Truro Methodist Church - 1.30-2.30pm
Join the Truro GAC for their Christmas Celebration Concert from 1.30pm with special guests, children from Archbishop Benson CofE Primary School. 
FREE ADMISSION with a retiring collection for Children's Hospice South West. 




BRISTOL GAC Christmas Celebration Concert
Monday December 12th - Westbury on Trym Methodist Church, BS9 3AA - 1.30 - 2.30pm
Join the Bristol GAC for their annual Christmas Celebration concert from 1.30pm. They will welcome children from St Ursula E-ACT Academy
FREE ADMISSION with a retiring collection for Life for a Cure.




FROME GAC Christmas Celebration Concert
Monday December 12th - Holy Trinity Church Frome - 2 - 3pm
Frome Good Afternoon Choir will hold their annual open Christmas Carol Celebration on Monday December 12th from 2pm with special guests, Vallis First School. 
FREE ADMISSION with a retiring collection for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance




WELLS GAC Christmas Celebration Concert
Monday December 12th - St Cuthbert's Church, Wells - 1.30 - 2.30pm
Join the Wells Good Afternoon Choir for their annual Christmas Celebration Concert at St Cuthbert's Church in Wells. Their special guests will be children from St Cuthbert's CofE Junior School & Horrington Primary School.
FREE ADMISSION with a retiring collection for Wells First Responders and Wells in Bloom




CHEDDAR VALLEY GAC Christmas Celebration Concert
Tuesday December 13th - Shipham Hall, Shipham - 1.45 - 2.30pm
Join the Cheddar Valley Good Afternoon Choir for their open Christmas Celebration with special guests, Shipham First School. FREE ADMISSION with a retiring collection for The Space.




TAUNTON GAC Christmas Celebration Concert
Tuesday December 13th - Temple Methodist Church - 2.30 - 3.30pm
A Christmas Celebration Concert with Taunton Good Afternoon Choir. Join the choir for some festive songs!
FREE ADMISSION with a retiring collection from Devon Freewheelers and RAFT.




YATE & CHIPPING SODBURY GAC Christmas Celebration Concert
Wednesday December 14th - St Mary's Church, Yate - 2-3pm
Join the Yate & Chipping Sodbury Good Afternoon Choir for their annual Christmas Celebration Concert with special guests, children from St Paul's Catholic Primary School.
FREE ADMISSION concert with a retiring collection for Great Western Air Ambulance.




MALMESBURY GAC Christmas Celebration Concert
Wednesday December 14th - Malmesbury Town Hall (Wesleyan Hall upstairs) 1.45 - 2.45pm
Join the Malmesbury Good Afternoon Choir for their open Christmas Carol Celebration Concert in the Wesleyan Hall upstairs in Malmesbury Town Hall with special guests St Joseph's Catholic Primary School.
FREE ADMISSION with a retiring collection for Alzheimers Support




KEYNSHAM & SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE GAC Christmas Celebration Concert
Wednesday December 14th - St John's Church / Keynsham Parish - 1pm - 3pm
Join the Keynsham and South Gloucestershire Good Afternoon Choirs for a joint Celebration Christmas Concert from 1pm at St John's Church, Keynsham with special guests, Chandag Infant School. 
FREE ADMISSION with a retiring collection for Dementia Action Alliance and Dementia UK.




NORTH SOMERSET GAC Christmas Celebration Concert
Wednesday December 14th - Nailsea Methodist Church - 1.30 - 2.30pm
Join the North Somerset Good Afternoon Choir for their annual Christmas Celebration from 1.30pm on December 14th at Nailsea Methodist Church. The choir will welcome children from Golden Valley Primary School as their special guests.
FREE ADMISSION with a retiring collection for Springboard Opportunity Group




CIRENCESTER & STROUD GAC Christmas Celebration Concert
Wednesday December 14th - Cirencester Baptist Church - 1.30 - 2.30pm
Join the Cirencester & Stroud Good Afternoon Choir for their annual Christmas Celebration from 1.30pm on December 14th at Cirencester Baptist Church. They will welcome children from Chesterton Primary School as their special guests.
FREE ADMISSION with a retiring collection for Longfield Community Hospice Care




BATH GAC Christmas Celebration Concert
Thursday December 15th - Widcombe Baptist Church, Bath - 1.30 - 2.30pm
Join the Bath Good Afternoon Choir for their annual Christmas Celebration with special guests, children from Widcombe Junior School.
FREE ADMISSION with a retiring collection for the Peggy Dodd Centre.




THORNBURY GAC Christmas Celebration Concert
Thursday December 15th - Thornbury URC - 1.30 - 2.30pm
Join the Thornbury Good Afternoon Choir for their annual Christmas Celebration at Thornbury URC from 1.30pm with special guests Crossways Infant School.
FREE ADMISSION with a retiring collection for Jigsaw Thornbury.




NORTON RADSTOCK GAC Christmas Celebration Concert
Thursday December 15th - Midsomer Norton Methodist Church - 1 - 2pm
Join Norton Radstock Good Afternoon Choir for some festive songs on December 15th from 1pm at their Christmas Celebration Concert. They will welcome local school, Welton Primary School to sing a few songs!
FREE ADMISSION with a retiring collection for Children's Hospice South West




 
NEWQUAY GAC Christmas Celebration Concert
Thursday December 15th - St Michael's Church, Newquay - 1.30 - 2.30pm
Join the newly formed Newquay Good Afternoon Choir for some festive songs on December 15th from 1.30pm at their Christmas Celebration Concert. They will welcome The Bishops' CofE Learning Academy, who will sing a few songs!
FREE ADMISSION


NORTH SWINDON GAC Christmas Celebration Concert
Thursday December 15th - St John's Haydon Wick - 1.30 - 2.30pm
Join the North Swindon GAC for their Christmas Celebration Concert with special guests, children from Catherine Wayte Primary School. 
FREE ADMISSION




FALMOUTH GAC Christmas Celebration Concert
Friday December 16th - Emmanuel Baptist Church, Falmouth - 1.30 - 2.30pm
Join the Falmouth Good Afternoon Choir for their Christmas Celebration on December 16th at
​Emmanuel Baptist Church. 
FREE ADMISSION with a retiring collection for Children's Hospice South West
​
 
Choir founder Grenville Jones said;
 
“If you love to sing and have always wondered what it’s like to sing in a CHOIR, now’s the chance to find out! Come along to your local Good Afternoon Choir in January and find out what’s it’s like to sing in the afternoon! There are NO AUDITIONS and everyone is welcome – bring a friend!”
 
You can find a Good Afternoon Choir near you on www.goodafternoonchoir.org  
 
 
 
ENDS
 
Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934.
 
Caption: Members of the Good afternoon Choirs recently raised £1,121 for the Royal British Legion with a very special concert at Bath Abbey.

​PRESS RELEASE
 
Monday 12 September 2022
 
 
Sing in the AFTERNOON!
 
If you love to sing and have always wondered what it’s like to belong to a CHOIR, now’s the chance to find out! The new NO-AUDITION Mid-Devon Good Afternoon Choir starts on Tuesday October 4 from 2pm-4pm at Holy Cross Church in Crediton, with a warm welcome to go along and find out more.
 
Bath-based music man Grenville Jones started his Good Afternoon Choirs 12 years ago and there are now 24 across the West.
 
Jon Rawles conducts the new choir. He was born in Bristol, where he gained a choral scholarship at St Mary, Redcliffe under the direction of Anthony Pinel. Jon studied musicology at the University of Durham, directing his own and other college choirs. He then moved to Canterbury where he studied for his post-graduate diploma in piano accompaniment. During his time at Canterbury, he accompanied and directed many shows and performances.
 
An accomplished organist, he has played in most Cathedrals throughout the UK and was the accompanist and musical director of a number of shows in Tunbridge Wells. Jon also led the community choir CREATE, helping to support local events and businesses. He has also recently been the director of the choir at All Saints Hove and leading tours to Chichester, Guildford and Rochester Cathedrals, as well as St Paul’s Cathedral London.
 
In his spare time Jon enjoys spending time outdoors keeping active and travelling, especially on the coast, as well as working in local theatres. He is looking forward to leading the new Mid-Devon Good Afternoon Choir at his home Church, Holy Cross in Crediton, a community choir for everyone – no auditions – great music!
 
The Afternoon choirs sing popular melodies in harmony and each choir raises money for a local charity selected by the members. Since returning to singing after Lockdown the choirs have already raised over £13,000 for local charities. Over 1,000 people sing in the Good Afternoon Choir across the West Country.
 
Choir founder Grenville Jones said;
 
“Come along and meet Jon and the Mid Devon Good Afternoon Choir on any Tuesday afternoon from 2pm at the Holy Cross Church. There’s no charge for attending the first rehearsal and bring a friend.
 
“Choirs are great for meeting new friends and enjoying the best hobby in the world!”
 
See www.goodafternoonchoir.org for further information.
 
ENDS
 
Images show leader Jon Rawles and the Good Afternoon Choir singing in Truro Cathedral, pre-covid.
 
Press enquiries to choir founder Grenville Jones on 07778 282934.
 

​PRESS RELEASE
 
Monday 12 September 2022
 
Singing in the Afternoon
 
If you love to sing and have always wondered what it’s like to sing in a CHOIR, now’s the chance to find out! The new NO-AUDITION Weston super Mare Good Afternoon Choir starts on Tuesday October 4 from 1pm-3pm at Locking Castle Church and there’s a warm welcome to go along and find out more.
 
Bath-based music man Grenville Jones started his Good Afternoon Choirs 12 years ago and there are now 24 across the West of England.
 
Ruth Jenkins will lead the new Good Afternoon Choir in Weston super Mare. Ruth graduated in Music at Birmingham University, specialising in voice and conducting the University Chamber Choir. After training as a Music Therapist at Roehampton Institute, and conducting the Wimbledon YMCA choir, she worked in the NHS for 7 years in clinics and hospital settings.
 
Since training as a teacher at Warwick University, Ruth spent the last 12 years teaching music in schools and sings for her local church. Ruth also conducts the popular North Somerset Good Afternoon Choir every Wednesday from 1pm-3pm at Nailsea Methodist Church. 
 
Good Afternoon Choirs sing popular melodies in harmony and each choir raises money for a local charity selected by the members. Since returning to singing in October the choirs have already raised over £13,000 for various local organisations across the West Country.
 
Choir founder Grenville Jones said;
 
“Come along and meet the Weston super Mare Good Afternoon Choir and Ruth on a Tuesday afternoon from 1pm at Locking Castle Church. There’s no charge for attending the first rehearsal and bring a friend.
 
“Choirs are great for meeting new friends and enjoying the best hobby in the world, see you there!”
 
See www.goodafternoonchoir.org for further information.
 
ENDS
 
Images

• Ruth Jenkins
• The GAC’s performing in Cornwall recently.

 
Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934.

PRESS RELEASE
 
Monday 12 September 2022
 
Singing in the Afternoon
 
If you love to sing and have always wondered what it’s like to sing in a CHOIR, now’s the chance to find out! The new NO-AUDITION Newquay Good Afternoon Choir starts on Thursday October 6 from 1pm-3pm at St Michael’s Church HALL and there’s a warm welcome to go along and find out more.
 
Bath-based music man Grenville Jones started his Good Afternoon Choirs 12 years ago and there are now 24 across the West of England.
 
Andy Farris will be the conductor, he already leads the popular Good Afternoon Choirs in Truro on a Monday from 1pm-3pm in Truro Methodist Church (Parlour) and Falmouth on a Friday from 1pm-3pm at Emmanuel Baptist Church.
 
Andy Farris (pictured) has been involved in choirs for over 40 years starting as a boy chorister at Sheffield Cathedral from the age of 7. Follow on, he was a member of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain. Andy went on to do professional work as a member of the chorus at Scottish Opera as well as doing solo concerts in London and abroad.
 
He moved from London to Cornwall and has been working for the Cornwall Music Education Hub as a vocal mentor and assistant conductor of several of their choirs, as well as running other amateur groups around the county. 
 
He is delighted to be part of the GAC team and to help to reboot the choral scene in the Truro and Falmouth area after a long year of enforced choral inactivity.
 
The choirs sing popular melodies in harmony and each choir raises money for a local charity selected by the members. Since returning to singing in October the choirs have already raised over £13,000 for various local organisations. The recently featured on BBC South West Spotlight News.
 
Andy Farris said;
 
“Come along and meet the NEW Newquay Good Afternoon Choir on a Thursday afternoon from 1pm at St Michael’s Church HALL. There’s no charge for attending the first rehearsal and bring a friend.
 
“Choirs are great for meeting new friends and enjoying the best hobby in the world!”
 
See www.goodafternoonchoir.org for further information.
 
ENDS
 
Images

• Andy Farris
• Truro and Falmouth GAC’s at a recent fundraising concert for Children’s Hospice South West.

 
Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934.
 

PRESS RELEASE
Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934 or email jonesgrenville@aol.com www.grenvillejones.biz
 
Monday 8 August 2022
 
We’re Singing in the Afternoon
 
Image shows …. Good Afternoon Choir members from Cornwall ‘Singing in the Rain’
 
 
Singing if the Afternoon is becoming a popular weekly hobby for retired people across the West of England as the Good Afternoon Community Choirs become one of the largest and most popular singing groups in the West of England.
 
The choirs start back singing again in September.
 
Bath-based choir leader Grenville Jones had the idea for these daytime groups 12 years ago. He is one of the best-known choir conductors in the UK and recognised, that for many people, getting to an evening choir rehearsal caused problems, especially on cold dark winter nights.
 
“I was told that in some European countries singers, when they reach 65, automatically move from evening choir to join a daytime choir. That prompted me to first launch the Bath Good Afternoon Choir myself in Bath. That was 12 years ago and by the end of this year we will have 26 across the West of England from Gloucester to Cornwall with over 1,000 people Singing in the Afternoon.
 
“There are no auditions involved and many folk are singing in a choir for the first time,” says Grenville, who still takes four of the Good Afternoon Choirs himself each week. He employs 20 talented freelance musicians who either lead the choirs or are the accompanists.
 
The choirs are in Bath, Devizes, Bristol, Thornbury, Yate/Chipping Sodbury, Keynsham, Frome, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Wells, Yeovil, Truro, Falmouth, Cheddar Valley, Cirencester & Stroud, Taunton, Malmesbury, Norton Radstock, Swindon, Salisbury. Starting in September are Chippenham/Calne, Newquay, Bridgwater, Weston Super Mare and Mid-Devon.
 
As community choirs they each chose a local deserving organisation to support with fundraising and concerts. Since starting back after Covid restrictions were relaxed they have raised over £13,000 which has been distributed across these groups; A Life for a Cure, Springboard Opportunity Group, JIGSAW Thornbury, Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance, Great Western Air Ambulance, Dementia UK, Southwestern Air Ambulance Charity, Wells in Bloom, Keynsham & Saltford Dementia Action Alliance, Peggy Dodd Centre, Julia’s House Children’s Hospice, Freewheelers Blood Bikes, Refugee Aid from Taunton, Children’s Hospice South West, Sue Ryder, The Space, Prospect Hospice, Longfield Hospice and Salisbury Hospice.
 
Full information on choir rehearsal days, venues and times are listed on www.goodafternoonchoir.org where each choir has an individual page.
 
ENDS
 

PRESS RELEASE
Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934.
 
Monday, August 8, 2022
 
 
If you love to sing and have always wondered what it’s like to belong to a CHOIR, now’s the chance to find out! The new NO-AUDITION Chippenham & Calne Good Afternoon Choir starts on Tuesday September 6 from 1pm-3pm at Pewsham Community Centre Association (Lodge Road, Chippenham) and there’s a warm welcome to go along and find out more.
 
Bath-based music man Grenville Jones started his Good Afternoon Choirs 12 years ago and there are now 24 across the West of England.
 
Matt Finch will lead the Chippenham & Calne Good Afternoon Choir. Matt lives in Bath and is well known as the MD of the Bath Light Operatic Group. He takes two other Good Afternoon Choirs in South Gloucestershire and Frome each week.
 
The choirs sing popular melodies in harmony and each choir raises money for a local charity selected by the members. Since returning to singing in October the choirs have already raised over £13,000 for various local organisations this year across the West of England.
 
Choir founder Grenville Jones said;
 
“Come along and meet Matt on a Tuesday afternoon from 1pm at the Pewsham Community Centre Association. There’s no charge for attending the first rehearsal and bring a friend.
 
“Choirs are great for meeting new friends and enjoying the best hobby in the world!”
 
See www.goodafternoonchoir.org for further information.
 
ENDS
 
Image shows Matt Finch, leader of the Chippenham & Calne Good Afternoon Choir, in action.
 
 
 

PRESS RELEASE
 
Monday, June 13th, 2022
 
 
Devizes’ popular Good Afternoon Choir will present a charity concert at Devizes School Hall on Friday July 8th at 7.30pm.
 
The choir is led by Bath’s ‘Music Man’ Grenville Jones with over 70 enthusiastic members who are busy preparing their programme for the concert which will support Julia’s House Children’s Hospice, a local charity chosen by members of the choir. They have already raised £1,618.54 with their fundraising events since January this year.
 
Special guests will be the Pewsey Belles Ladies Choir.
 
The Good Afternoon Choirs were started by Bath-based music man Grenville Jones 12 years ago and there are now 20 across the South West of England with over 800 members ‘Singing in the Afternoon’.
 
There are no auditions to join and members of the Devizes Good Afternoon Choir come from all around the area, they meet every Friday afternoon from 2-4pm at St Andrews Church in Long Street. Everyone is welcome to come along and meet Grenville and the choir. There’s no charge for your first rehearsal “come and meet us on a Friday,” says Grenville.
 
Tickets for the concert are priced £8, and are available from Devizes choir members or from 01761 472468. There will be a retiring collection for Julia’s House Children’s Hospice and doors open at 7.00pm, with the concert starting at 7.30pm.
 
ENDS
 
Image shows : The Pewsey Belles
 
Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934

PRESS RELEASE
 
Monday, 13 June 2022
 

One of the UKs most celebrated Male Voice Choirs will perform at Cheltenham Town Hall in a FREE ADMISSION charity concert on Saturday July 30.
 
Bath Male Choir hit the headlines on the BBCs popular Last Choir Standing Saturday night TV show reaching the finals. Since that time the choir has sung across Europe as well as visiting Japan and Boston, in the Sates. Later this year they will travel to Nashville for their 2022 tour.
 
200 singers from across the 20 Good Afternoon Community Choirs in the South West will also perform at the Town Hall on Saturday July 30.
 
The concert is FREE ADMISSION with a retiring collection for Sue Ryder.
 
Doors open at 6.15pm with the concert starting at 7pm.
 
The Good Afternoon Choirs were started by Bath music man Grenville 12 years ago and there are now 20 across the South West of England with over 800 members ‘Singing in the Afternoon’.
 
Grenville Jones said;
 
“It is going to be a great night of music and of course this will be the first time since the pandemic that all the choirs have come together for a BIG SING. We are absolutely delighted to be back singing again at Cheltenham!”
 
ENDS
 
Image shows The City of Bath Male Choir with conductor Grenville Jones in Bath Abbey.
 
Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934.
 

PRESS RELEASE
Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934.
 
Monday, May 23, 2022
 
Festival Concert Date 
 
The popular Keynsham Good Afternoon Choir will again be performing at this year’s Keynsham Festival on Friday July 1.
 
The evening of song will be at Keynsham Parish / St John’s Church starting at 7.30pm. Admission is free with doors open from 7.00pm and there will be a retiring collection for the Festival who, of course celebrate their 25th anniversary this year. 
 
Special guests will be the Uke-aholics, a lively Ukulele band from Thornbury at the invitation of Good Afternoon Choir founder and conductor Grenville Jones.
 
Said Grenville;
 
“I met the Uke-aholics at a concert recently in Bristol. They are a super group of folk and this will be a night of fun, songs with lots of chances to join in.”
 
The Keynsham Good Afternoon Choir meet every Wednesday at the Methodist Church from 2pm-4pm – there are no auditions and with 23 Afternoon Choirs across the West of England, 100s love ‘Singing in the Afternoons’.
 
“Love to sing? Come along and meet us any Wednesday,” says Grenville.
 
ENDS
 

PRESS RELEASE
 
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
 
If you love to sing and have always wondered what it’s like to belong to a CHOIR, now’s the chance to find out!
 
The new NO-AUDITION Malmesbury Good Afternoon Choir starts on Wednesday May 4 from 1pm-3pm at The Old School Room, Malmesbury Town Hall, with a warm welcome to go along and find out more.
 
Bath-based music man Grenville Jones started his Good Afternoon Choirs 12 years ago and there are now 20 across the West.
 
Corrie Darker will conduct the new choir. She lives in Malmesbury and has a wealth of experience leading music groups in the area. Accompanist will be Thomas Sladden.
 
The choirs sing popular melodies in harmony and each choir raises money for a local charity selected by the members. Since returning to singing after Lockdown the choirs have already raised over £8,000 for local charities.
 
Choir founder Grenville Jones said;
 
“Come along and meet the Malmesbury Good Afternoon Choir on a Wednesday afternoon from 1pm at the Town Hall. There’s no charge for attending the first rehearsal and bring a friend.
 
“Choirs are great for meeting new friends and enjoying the best hobby in the world!”
 
See www.goodafternoonchoir.org for further information.
 
ENDS
 
Press enquiries to choir founder Grenville Jones on 07778 282934.