Barclays House Choir

Musical Director James GrocottChairman Dave Cooke

web site http://www.bhchoir.org.ukemail chairman@bhchoir.org.uk

with

The St Peter's OrchestraLeader Andrew Foot

and

David Beeby - OrganSarah Rickett - SopranoDavid Everett - AltoGareth Jones - TenorNeil Cullum - Bass

Conducted by

James Grocott

at

St Peter's ParkstoneRector Canon Nigel LLoyd

In association withBarclays Bank

Sunday11th December2011 - 6:30pm

An Eveningof Christmas

Musicwith Carols

for all

Marking the retirement ofJames Grocott as Musical

Director

TONIGHTS PROGRAMME

Choir Fanfare - Gloria in Excelsis Deo Martin Shaw

Audience Carol ( No.9) O come, all ye faithful arr. Willcocks

Choir Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child Kenneth LeightonWatt’s Cradle Song Bryan KellyMary’s Lullaby John Rutter

Orchestra A Christmas Festival Leroy Anderson

Audience Carol ( No.8) It came upon the Midnight Clear arr. Sullivan

Vocal Solo Sarah Rickett In the bleak midwinter Colin MawbyVocal Quartet Ding Dong! Merrily on high arr. Charles Wood

Choir The RoseThe Christ-child Will ToddEvery Stone Shall Cry

Audience Carol ( No.17) Unto us is born a Son arr. Willcocks

Tribute to Dow Whitehead introduced by James Grocott

INTERVAL

Audience Carol (No.4) God rest you merry, gentlemen arr. Willcocks

Choir Lullay my liking Gustav HolstMyn Lyking Richard TerryLittle Road to Bethlehem Michael HeadThe holly and the ivy Walford Davies

Audience Carol (No.5) Good King Wenceslas arr. Willcocks

Vocal Solo Sarah Rickett The first mercy Peter WarlockQuartet Silent Night arr. Marsh

Choir Down in yon forestGabriel’s message John RutterSans Day Carol

Orchestra Sleigh Ride Leroy Anderson

Choir The Coming of our KingThe Twelve Days of Christmas John RutterA Merry Little Christmas Goff Richards

Audience Carol (No.6) Hark! the herald angels sing Mendelssohndesc. Willcocks

Tribute to James Grocott

James (Jim) Grocott

Tonight see’s the final concert conducted by James Grocott our musical director for almost 35 years.

As a young man, Jim played the tuba and the clarinet and studiedthe piano at the Royal College of Music. Working in London for

Barclays, he joined the Barclays Bank Choir (London). He movedto Poole in 1976 and became a member of the Bournemouth

Sinfonietta Choir.

In 1977 he took over as musical director of Barclays House Choirwhich had been formed six months previously with a small number

of members. Over time, the number in the choir grew, with amaximum membership of 70. Originally the choir gave informal

concerts within the then Barclays International on Wimborne Roadin Poole town centre. Barclays House Choir is now the only choral

group associated with Barclays PLC.

At first, the choir's members were people who worked for the bank,but gradually, membership was extended to others who wanted tosing in a friendly & relaxed choir. Today, the choir performs all itsconcerts at St. Peter's Church, tonight’s venue, having held its first

concert there in 1989.

Jim also sings with the Orlando Singers and continues to be amember of the Bournemouth Sinfonietta choir. He is always ready

to help friends if another bass is needed. He also acts as basssoloist for many groups and events.

Over the years Jim has built up our resident orchestra and many oftonight’s players have performed at many of Jim’s led concerts.

We should also mention Jim’s wife Margaret who has served the choir as librarian for many years. Although Margaret has not sung

for a few years, she is still an integral part of the choir family.

As Jim and Margaret both retire from their positions we wouldpublically pay tribute to them both and assure them they will be

sorely missed. Barclays House Choir will never be quite the sameagain.

This concert is given by kind permission of the Rector and churchwardens

Barclays House Choir

Barclays House Choir, originally named Barclays House Sports and Social Club Musical Society, wasfounded following the completion of the new Head Office of Barclays International in Poole, Dorset.The first rehearsal was held on 5 October 1976, when ten singers met to rehearse for a plannedChristmas Concert. Numbers grew and 21 finally took part in the concert held in Barclays House.Since that time membership has widened and now consists of about 50 members drawn from manyoccupations.

Under the musical direction of James Grocott, who has led the choir for the last 35 years, the grouphas performed many of the major choral works including Handel's Messiah, Haydn's Creation,Vivaldi's Gloria and Brahms's Requiem, as well as more modern compositions such as Rutter'sMagnificat.

2011 saw a first for the choir when in February they welcomed a mixed choir from Poole's twin town ofCherbourg and made a return trip to France.

This concert is the final one under Jim’s direction. From January the choir will be led by James Eaton and our first concert will take place in this Church on Saturday 26th May and will have a Royal Jubileetheme.

Most of the choir's concerts also involve the 30 strong St Peter's Orchestra, whose support is alwaysvery much appreciated.

If you wish to discuss any aspect relating to the choir please speak to David Cooke (Chairman), SylviaElkins (Secretary), or Adrian Purkiss (Treasurer)

Barclays House Choir

SopranosChristine ArnoldDeborah CookeJuliet DodarellThelma DoodySylvia Elkins

AltosPat BakerGillian BlakeIsabel BroomPam BrownPeggy BrownJoy Chiari

TenorsTony BensonAdrian Butement

BassesRoy BirchTony Gatward

Anne HitchcoeJo HollisJo HooperJudith LancasterMargaret Lewis

Maureen ClarkDaphne EarlSally ElliotMarion FugeJill Goreham

Dave CookeKeith Hollis

Ted GreenwayTony Hartle

Mary NorrishMarian PearceSarah RickettPam SpencerHilary Spillard

Joan HawkinsBeryl LenhamIsobel McConvilleHazel PotterJulie Prentice

Gareth JonesAdrian Purkiss

Dick KeslakeNoel Skerman

Marian StarkeySally StedmanSue VerrallJoan WillisJenny Wright

Michelle SmythVickie ThomasEvelyn WadeHilary WarnerMarion White

Paul Thomas

David SpracklenPeter Winter