East Garston

On Sunday afternoon, at a well attended family service, 35 children came to the altar rail to renew the Baptism promises made on their behalf by Godparents, during the last 10 years. They were each given a blessing by Mr Cumberlidge, who explained that as they grew up they were on a journey leading to Confirmation and that they represent the future life blood of the Church. Mr Cumberlidge showed them the current Baptism Register with their names entered, together with their Parents’ and Godparents’.

He then showed them to the ancient registers that future generations of their families would look at, to see their Baptism entry, just as people today were looking back to see evidence of their great, great grandparents Baptisms. Parents and Grandparents watched in support. As one of the mothers put it, “It was a very moving experience for the children”. The wonder on the children’s faces said it all! After the service, a very happy tea party for everyone, organised by PCC Treasurer Rachel Brown, took place in the village hall.

The church and churchyard were decorated very effectively with dainty white flowers on a Baptismal theme. The scheme was designed by Diana Pilling, who arranged the exquisite centre piece on the top of the font. Ann Phillips, Vikki Brooks and her Mother, Vanessa Lee and Victoria Shute, together with their children, arranged the fifty white posies that lined the churchyard path and each window sill inside the church. In the evenings tea lights were lit around each posy inside the church and outside. Nicky Wall very effectively continued the posy theme with her arrangement in the East Window (Below)

On Sunday evening, a Songs of Praise service took place, supported by the choir of St Michael All Angels Church, Lambourn and their choirmaster Stephen Holmes. As ever, they were in good voice!

Parishioners who have made a strong contribution to the church in the last year, chose the hymns. These were Ivor and Glenys Denton, Trevor and Janet Butcher, Norton Lee and Diana Pilling, together with the Vicar and Churchwarden.

The festival was designed to appeal to all tastes, and on Saturday evening, Seventy people came to a sparkling concert, which took place within the church, and it was a privilege and a pleasure to have such very professional artists appearing.

Wantage Youth Brass

Players are aged between 8 and 18 and play at a variety of engagements and occasional contests throughout the year. There is a friendly fun atmosphere, but the band always aims to play at a high standard.

Established favourites at East Garston, the Band played at last year’s Fête and, for the past three years, at our Remembrance Service at the War Memorial. All who witnessed the young trumpeters playing Last Post and Reveille with such amazing skill and feeling will remember it well.

Conductor: Roger Middlebrook played viola and clarinet as a child, but it was while studying Mining Engineering at university in London that he discovered a deep interest and love of music in the form of singing.

As a singer and conductor he has performed choral, chamber, solo and orchestral works. His varied experience has taken him to St John's, Smith Square, the Royal Opera House and the Royal Festival Hall.

Andrew King MA (Cantab) FRCO

Andrew started his musical career as a chorister at St Paul’s Cathedral and at 14 started playing the organ.

He moved to Northampton after obtaining a degree in music at Jesus College, Cambridge where he was Organ Scholar; he now works as a freelance teacher, pianist and organist and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists.

He has toured widely, giving concerts and recitals throughout the UK, Europe, USA, Canada, Singapore, Poland and New Zealand. He is equally at home playing in a large concert hall or at an intimate setting such as here in East Garston!

He composes on an occasional basis, and has had a number of compositions and arrangements recorded and broadcast on radio and television. He has a wide range of musical tastes, and plays piano and keyboards in big bands and small jazz groups.

Peter Gritton MA (Cantab), LRAM (Director of Music)

Peter is Director of Music at St Paul’s School, London. He is also rapidly becoming known as a leading figure in choral publications: Encores for Choirs 2 (OUP) won Best Classical Publication at the Music Industries Awards in 2005. In the educational field his contributions are Folksongs from around the World (Faber). Also from Faber is his piano series Simply Classics – the aim being to introduce young pianists to the milestones of Western music through arrangements of great symphonic and choral masterpieces. However, he is probably best known for Follow that Star, Christmas song arrangements for choir published by Chester Music.

His first musical, Mary Seacole, has been showcased at the Greenwich Theatre, while he hopes that his second, Jones, will allow him to retire to his own island! He was particularly excited to have conducted the BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC Singers and 1000 London state-school pupils in a performance of his own football cantata Pitch Perfect at the Wembley Conference Centre a few years ago.

Peter is occasionally spotted performing as countertenor with vocal ensembles I Fagiolini, Tenebrae and with barbershop group Flash Harry and the City Slickers. In his time he has also accompanied singers such as Ian Partridge and Henry Herford.Peter is occasionally spotted performing as countertenor with vocal ensembles I Fagiolini, Tenebrae and with barbershop group Flash Harry and the City Slickers. In his time he has also accompanied singers such as Ian Partridge and Henry Herford.

Joya Logan – Contralto

Joya graduated from Trinity College of Music where she studied Piano, Flute and Singing. She is an accomplished consort singer, and has performed throughout Europe and the UK with the English Concert, Serenata Voices, The Shutz Choir, Singscape, Tenebrae, The Gabrieli Consort and The Choir of the Enlightenment. She is also is a member of the Guards Chapel Choir. Joya has performed regularly on BBC Radio and has appeared as soloist on many recordings for the Hyperion Label with the Corydon Singers. She also appeared as guest soloist at ‘The Spirit of Christmas’ at the Grosvenor Chapel in the presence of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

Joya has recently returned from Rome, where she performed at the wedding of Petra Ecclestone as part of the choir Tenebrae, with whom she will tour Spain in December. Her future solo engagements include a performance of Handel's Messiah on November 12th, 2011 in Romsey Abbey.

Joya is much sought after as a singing and piano teacher and is Assistant Director of Music at Thomas’s Prep School, Clapham. She also founded “Mini Crotchets”, a leading music Group for toddlers in London.

The Wantage Youth Silver Band, conducted by Roger Middlebrook.

The grand finale involved everyone, including the audience, singing or playing, Any Dream Will Do from Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. A comment from one of the audience was “how marvellous that the church was filled with music, noise and infectious happiness!”

The Revd Tony Cumberlidge and I, thank the complete cross section of people who helped in a myriad of ways to bring this festival to fruition with such success. A very special thank you is due to all those people who lent their Christening gowns and provided text as well as photographs of previous family members wearing the same gown. Thank you also to everyone who came to the church during the weekend – without your support there would not have been a festival

Sally Wright - Churchwarden