This year Chipperfield Choral Society celebrates its Diamond Jubilee. Shortly after World War 2, Joyce Herman Allen, who was a tutor at the Watford School of Music, gathered together a small group of local singers to form the Society and for many years she was its Musical Director. Today the Society has grown to around one hundred singers and for the past fifteen years has enjoyed Delia Meehan as its Conductor and Musical Director. Delia has a wealth of musical experience both at home and abroad and the Society must be one of the best in the land.

Back in December St. Paul’s Church was full to capacity for two performances of the Society’s Christmas concert Small Wonder the Star.

The singers were conducted by Delia Meehan with Rosemary Venner at the piano, Nicholas King at the organ and Rosie Clifford as soloist.. The programme included some sparkling renditions of Christmas music composed by John Rutter and Paul Wigmore. There were, of course, a number of traditional carols for everyone to join in.

Highlights of the concert were two new carols written specially for the choir and performed for the first time. Rejoice And Be Merry written and conducted by Alan Taylor and ‘Twas In The Moon of Winter Time, a 17th century Huron indian carol, with music composed by choir member Robert Cattle, arranged by Alan Taylor, who also conducted. The singing was superb and the evening was a truly wonderful experience. A few days later the Society repeated the concert at Mount Vernon Hospital in aid of Cancer ResearchUK and raised over £1,500.

Preparations are now well in hand for the Spring Concert – a performance of Handel’s Messiah which will take place at St. John’s, Boxmoor on Saturday 1 April.

Terry Simmonds