​Singers from across Swindon will come together with displaced Ukrainians living in the area for a very special Christmas celebration on Sunday, December 15th, at 2pm. 

Pattern Church is hosting a Ukrainian Christmas celebration service of worship, prayer, carols and Christmas readings. The program will include traditional Ukrainian carols and hymns, as well as performances from a specially-formed Ukrainian choir, and singers from the North Swindon and Highworth with Shrivenham Good Afternoon Choirs.
 
The Ukrainian Christmas celebration service will take place at Pattern Church, Penzance Drive, SN5 7JL, at 2pm on Sunday, December 15th.Admission is free, and all are invited to join in supporting the Ukrainian community in Swindon and experience a taste of a traditional Ukrainian Christmas celebration.
 
For more information, please contact Maryna Shpylova, Ukrainian Pastoral Worker at Pattern Church, at [email protected]
 
ENDS
 
 
Прес-реліз
 
Співаки зі Свіндону зберуться разом з переселенцями-українцями, що живуть у цьому районі, на дуже особливе святкування Різдва у неділю, 15 грудня, о 14:00. 
 
Церква "Pattern Church" організовує українське Різдвяне служіння-івент з колядками, різдвяними привітаннями, піснями, молитвою. Програма включатиме традиційні українські колядки, відомі різдвяні гімни, а також виступи спеціально організованого українського хору та співаків з Північного Свіндона і Хайворта, а також Шрівенхемський "Good Afternoon" хор
 
Святкове українське Різдвяне служіння-івент відбудеться в церкві “Pattern Church”, Penzance Drive, SN5 7JL, о 14:00 в неділю, 15 грудня. Вхід вільний, і ми запрошуємо всіх приєднатися до підтримки української громади у Свіндоні та відчути смак традиційного українського Різдвяного святкування.
 
За додатковою інформацією, будь ласка, звертайтеся до Марини Шпильової, українського служителя в церкві "Patern Church", за адресою.. Church, at [email protected]
 

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The popular Wells Good Afternoon Choir will present an evening concert at St Thomas’ Church in Wells on Saturday November 2 at 7.00pm (doors open 6.30pm).
 
The choir is led by Ruth Jenkins with over 60 enthusiastic members who are busy preparing their programme for the concert which will support the ‘I See You’ Charity.
 
The Good Afternoon Choirs were started by Bath-based Grenville 15 years ago and there are now 32 across the South West of England, as well as London, with over 1,200 members ‘Singing in the Afternoon’.
 
There are no auditions to join and members of the Wells Good Afternoon Choir come from in and around the area, they meet every Tuesday afternoon from 2pm-4pm at St Thomas’ Church, in Wells. Everyone is welcome to come along to meet Ruth and the members of the choir.
 
The special guests for the concert will be The Brue Boys, a male choir from Baltonsborough whose repertoire includes a wide variety of music from classical pieces to songs from the shows, sea shanties, folk songs, Zulu chants, rock’n’roll and much more.
 
Tickets priced £8 are on sale from gac.ticketlight.co.uk or by calling 0844 888 9991 – they will also be available on the door on the evening of the concert.
 
Ruth said;
 
“It is going to be a great evening of music and we are absolutely delighted to be sharing the stage with The Brue Boys.”

​The Chippenham & Calne Good Afternoon Choir will join forces with the West Wilts Good Afternoon Choir to “Sing Out” at Neeld Community & Arts Centre on Friday November 15th at 7.00pm (doors open 6.30pm).  
 
Bath based music man Grenville Jones launched the first Good Afternoon Choir in Bath back in 2009 and there are now 31 Good Afternoon Choirs around the South West and beyond.   Four of them – including Chippenham & Calne and West Wilts – are taken by popular Leader Matt Finch.
 
Matt is well known in the area for running multiple Choirs and as the Musical Director of Bath Light Operatic Group.   As well as enjoying Chippenham & Calne Good Afternoon Choir and West Wilts Good Afternoon Choir perform some of their favourite numbers, this concert will give audience members the opportunity to participate in a good old-fashioned “singalong” with Matt!
 
Chippenham & Calne Good Afternoon Choir meet on Tuesdays 1.30-3.30pm at Pewsham Community Centre, Chippenham.   West Wilts Good Afternoon Choir meet on Fridays 1.00-3.00pm at Holt Village Hall.
 
Come and join Matt and the two choirs for what is sure to be a fun filled evening of song.   Tickets cost £10 (no charge for under 16s) and are available on the door or in advance from gac.ticketlight.co.uk
 

​If you love to sing and have always wondered what it’s like to join a community CHOIR, now’s the chance to find out!  The new NO-AUDITION West Wickham Good Afternoon Choir starts on Monday November 4 from 1pm-3pm at The Assembly Halls (Minor Hall), West Wickham BR4 9JW and there’s a warm welcome to go along and find out more.
 
West Country based music man Grenville Jones started the Good Afternoon Choirs 15 years ago and there are now 31 across the West of England and beyond.  Over 1,500 people enjoy ‘Singing in the Afternoon’ with his Good Afternoon Choirs.   If you aren’t available to rehearse on Monday afternoons with West Wickham Good Afternoon Choirs then why not try one of our other London choirs instead.  They are on:
 
Tuesdays 2.00-4.00pm – Croydon East Good Afternoon Choir who rehearse at Shirley Methodist Church with Nicola Wydenbach as Leader.
 
Wednesdays 1.00-3.00pm - Beckenham Good Afternoon Choir rehearse at St John’s Church Hall, Beckenham with Bev McGarey, who also takes the Biggin Hill Good Afternoon Choir on
Thursdays from 1.00-3.00pm at Biggin Hill Scouts Hall.
 
The West Wickham Good Afternoon Choir leader is Steve Urie.   Steve studied music, film and television at Canterbury Christ Church and, having taught in Croydon schools for the past 18 years, is now a part-time primary school music teacher.  Over the last 25 years, he has been involved in various amateur dramatic societies in West Wickham and Croydon, both on stage and as music director.  Favourites to date have been music director for Follow The Star, a musical nativity with St John's Dramatic Society in Selsdon and being on stage with his son in Oliver! at the Churchill Theatre with West Wickham Operatic Society.
 
Good Afternoon Choirs sing popular melodies in harmony and each choir raises money for a local charity selected by the members.  In 2023 the choirs raised over £30,000 for local charities and organizations. 
 
Steve says:
 
“Everyone is welcome to come along to the launch on November 4 or on any Monday afternoon at The Assembly Halls (Minor Hall), West Wickham from 1pm-3pm.  There’s no charge for attending your first rehearsal and there are NO auditions - come along, alone or with a friend.  Either way you can be assured of a warm welcome.”
 
“Choirs are great for meeting new people and enjoying the best hobby in the world,” adds Grenville.
 
See www.goodafternoonchoir.org for further information.

​A major fundraising concert will take place on Saturday, October 12, at St John’s Church, Keynsham, supporting the work of the Royal British Legion in and around the Keynsham area.
 
The concert which starts at 7.30pm features the celebrated City of Bath Male Choir, conducted by Laurie Jones, plus over 100 voices from the Keynsham and South Gloucestershire Good Afternoon Choirs, conducted by John Hare.
 
Grenville Jones is the founder of Bath Male Choir and the Good Afternoon Choirs, he said:
 
“Bath Male Choir have a strong link with the Royal British Legion and have supported their work on a number of occasions and my choirs are delighted to be able to sing for them again on October 12 at St John’s Church.”
 
Tickets priced £15 available from gac.ticketlight.co.uk or by calling 0844 888 9991 as well as on the door on the night from 7.00pm.
 
Grenville’s choirs always have a busy performance schedule ahead of them and each of the 32 Good Afternoon Choirs will be working soon towards Christmas concerts which will support many local charities.
 
The Mayor of Bath is the Patron of Bath Male Choir and next April they will be visiting Alkmaar in Holland to help celebrate the 75th year of the link between the two cities.
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​The popular Devizes Good Afternoon Choir will present an evening concert at St Matthew’s Church in Rowde on Saturday October 5 at 7.00pm (doors open 6.30pm).
 
The choir is led by Grenville Jones with over 60 enthusiastic members who are busy preparing their programme for the concert which will support Sidmouth Street Club, Devizes, Alzheimer’s Support.
 
The Good Afternoon Choirs were started by Bath-based Grenville 15 years ago and there are now 32 across the South West of England, as well as London, with over 1,200 members ‘Singing in the Afternoon’.
 
There are no auditions to join and members of the Devizes Good Afternoon Choir come from in and around the area, they meet every Friday afternoon from 1pm-3pm at St Andrew’s Church, in Long Street, Devizes. Everyone is welcome to come along to meet Grenville and the members of the choir.
 
The special guest for the concert will be soprano Chloe Jordan, a professional singer, specialising in classical genres; however, she boasts an extensive repertoire ranging from Music Theatre, Jazz to Contemporary styles.
 
Tickets priced £10 are on sale from gac.ticketlight.co.uk or by calling 0844 888 9991 – they will also be available on the door on the evening of the concert.
 
Grenville said;
 
“It is going to be a great evening of music and we are absolutely delighted to be sharing the stage with Chloe.”

It’s the time of year to start a new hobby! Across the UK thousands of choir loving folk will be dusting off their choir music and setting out again to their weekly choir rehearsal.
 
With the increase in community choirs post-Covid thousands again will be tuning up and preparing for concerts ahead, fundraising and Christmas!
 
Grenville Jones is one of the most experienced choir leaders in the UK and from next Monday his 35 choirs that are spread across the West of England and London will once again tune up at Church Halls and community rooms.
 
Grenville is based in Bath where he personally leads two evening mixed-voice choirs as well as the much-travelled and celebrated City of Bath Male Choir. It was 15 years ago when Grenville first introduced daytime singing with his Bath Good Afternoon Choir. Such was the success of this choir, aimed primarily at retired folk who were encouraged to ‘Sing in the Afternoon’.
 
Now, in 2024, there are 32 Good Afternoon Choirs across the West of England with new groups starting in Manchester, Wales and South London… and more to come.
 
www.goodafternoonchoir.org choirs are listed here Monday-Friday.
 
Grenville’s Good Afternoon Choirs employ 30 talented freelance musicians, either as choir leader or accompanist. Over 1400 people ‘sing in the afternoon’.
 
“The benefits of singing are well documented and with our growing number of choirs we see the positive effect of bringing people together, making music, creating new friendships and, quite simply, having fun in the afternoon and being home for the 6 o’clock news!” said Grenville.
 
The choirs have a strong fundraising ethos and in recent years have raised many thousands of pounds for local charitable groups and organisations.
 
“We prefer to support smaller groups as it is a fact of life that a donation of £1,000 to a local community group makes a terrific difference to their work and with our Good Afternoon Choirs it is the members themselves who select the local organisation/charity that they will support during their singing year,” continued Grenville.
 
Within the next two weeks new Good Afternoon Choirs - with no audition and warm a welcome to anyone who wants to experience singing in a choir (perhaps for the first time) will start in Chepstow, Torquay, East Croydon and Manchester… Grenville plans to add more in the months ahead, of course he does!
 
Apart from the weekly rehearsals and fundraising concerts there are many occasions during the year when the choirs join together to perform at a BIG SING with venues including Bristol Cathedral, Bath Abbey, Clifton Cathedral, Wells Cathedral, Malmesbury Abbey and Taunton Minster. With Christmas on the horizon many of Grenville’s Good Afternoon Choirs will welcome local primary schools with joint concerts bringing together the ‘Young with the Young at Heart’.
 
Apart from Grenville’s choir interests he is of course the respective founder of the Goldies Charity where Sir Cliff Richard is the Patron.
 
“Goldies is NOT about choir singing but quite simply fun community get togethers with over 150 sessions across England and Wales – Goldies Cymru,” said Grenville.
 
It’s September – it’s time to sing!
 

​The popular North Somerset community Good Afternoon Choir will have a new leader and MD when they start back after their Summer break on Wednesday September 4 at Nailsea Methodist Church.
 
Andrew Kirk will take over from Ruth Jenkins who has stood down since starting and leading the choir, she has moved house away from the area.
 
Andrew is a freelance choral director, accompanist and composer/arranger working mainly in the Bristol and North Somerset area.  He is the Musical Director of Henbury Singers, as well as playing the organ and conducting choirs at various churches on Sundays. He has worked with all age ranges of singer over a 30 year career, in a variety of styles. He was Director of Music at St Mary Redcliffe Church Bristol for two decades, a highlight of which included a live BBC1 TV broadcast on Christmas Day!
 
There are no auditions to join the North Somerset Good Afternoon Choir and new prospective members are always welcome to go along to meet Andrew and the Choir any Wednesday from 1pm-3pm in Nailsea Methodist Church.
 
“Come along and start a new Autumn singing hobby, singing is good for you!” says Grenville Jones, founder of the Good Afternoon Choirs.

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The Highworth with Shrivenham community Good Afternoon Choir will have a new leader when they start back after their Summer break on Wednesday September 4 at Highworth Community Centre.
 
Sarah Summers, who also leads North Swindon Good Afternoon Choir, takes over from Jessie Thompson who has stood down since starting and leading the choir to pursue her PhD.
 
Sarah has been leading community choirs for several years and has taught Music in Primary School's, as well as working with piano students for all of her adult life.  She loves singing and particularly likes the focus that Community Choirs have on having fun.
 
Sarah has enjoyed playing keyboard and working with singers on three Chocolate Theatre Shows and was involved in the Summer Youth Project at Swindon's Wyvern Theatre.
 
There are no auditions to join the Highworth with Shrivenham Good Afternoon Choir and new prospective members are always welcome to go along to meet Sarah and the Choir any Wednesday from 1pm-3pm in Highworth Community Centre.
 
“Come along and start a new Autumn singing hobby, singing is good for you!” says Grenville Jones, founder of the Good Afternoon Choirs.
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​The popular Bath community Good Afternoon Choir will have a new leader when they start back after their Summer break on Thursday September 5 at Widcombe Baptist Church, Bath.
 
Tanya Davidson will take over from Grenville Jones who has stood down after his 15 years, since starting and leading the choir. His increasing travel commitments with his 35 choirs across the West and London and as founder of the Golden-Oldies Charity and Goldies Cymru (in Wales) have forced his decision to stand down.
 
Tanya is a pianist and soprano, based in Warminster and was previously accompanist for the Jane Lilley Singers. She has led youth choirs and musicals, directed and performed in many local theatre productions, and for several years was Assistant Musical Director and Accompanist for Warminster Military Wives Choir.
 
There are no auditions to join the Bath Good Afternoon Choir and new prospective members are always welcome to go along to meet Tanya and the Choir any Thursday from 2pm-4pm in Widcombe Baptist Church, Bath.
 
“Come along and start a new Autumn singing hobby, singing is good for you!” says Grenville Jones, founder of the Good Afternoon Choirs.
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