Social Events and Special Performances

One of the many benefits of joining a choir are the social events and the Edwin James Festival Choir are excellent ambassadors in organising an eclectic mix!

We pride ourselves in not only taking care of our members, but make sure they have a good time on and off the performance stage as can be seen below in our Social Events report.

Events over the last 12 months

SHUFFLEBOARD - October 2018

A fun evening playing Shuffleboard was enjoyed by members of the choir, Littlehampton Twinning Association and the Mayor of Littlehampton.

This was a joint fundraising event with Littlehampton Twinning Association which also included a Ploughmans supper.

Thanks to all who attended and everyone who helped organise the event.

LITTLEHAMPTON HIGH STREET MARKET - September 2018

The choir set up a stall at the market in the High Street to sell various goodies and raised £242 for choir music.

Thank you to those who manned the stall and to the public once again for their support.

LITTLEHAMPTON TOWN SHOW AND FAMILY FUN DAY - September 2018

The choir once again set up a stall at the Show, displaying choir information and details of our next performance plus great bargains to purchase. The day also included excellent family entertainment, superb performances on the stage, other high quality stalls and the annual produce and craft competitions.

Many thanks to everyone helping on the stall and to the public who continue to support us. We raised £111.16 which will go towards the purchase of music.

20TH BIRTHDAY PARTY - August 2018

Click here for the write up and photos

JAMES AND CHRIS' GARDEN PARTY - August 2018

The annual garden party, hosted by our President and Treasurer, took place on a lovely day where approximately 65 choir members and patron's were truely spoilt with a selection of lovely food.

Thank you for a great party !

TRIP TO BRUGES - July 2018

Members of the choir and patrons took a lovely 4 day trip across the pond to Bruges, stopping at Veurne and Ypres.

Click here to view a selection of photos

JAMIE'S WISH FAMILY FUN DAY - July 2018

Hampton, our mascot, is having a fantastic summer!

He is such a lovely cuddly Hedgehog that he was asked to attend the Jamie's Wish family Fun day.

He enjoyed all the events that took place!

SUSSEX DAY CONCERT - July 2018

A special performance of the Sussex Day Concert took place on 20th July at Yapton Village Hall for the Yapton & District Cottage Gardeners' Society, with the choir singing songs of the 70s with Sussex songs and poems.

MAYOR'S PARTY IN THE PARK - July 2018

Hampton, our Mascot appeared at the "Mayor's Party in the Park" on 15th July 2018 at Mewsbrook Park.

The event raised £659.41 for the Littlehampton Mayor's charity for the year, Arun Youth Projects.

PATRONS EVENT - July 2018

The patrons of the choir enjoyed a lovely high tea in beautiful surroundings on a warm sunny day.

The annual event thanks all patrons for their love and support of the choir over the year.

We would like to thank Chris and James for organising the event and supplying the delicious tea and to Norman, Doreen and their family for their hospitality.

WAITROSE COMMUNITY MATTERS - June 2018

The choir and orchestra were recently selected by the Rustington branch of Waitrose as one of three charities to benefit from a share of £1000 which is donated to charity every month.

We are please to announce that we have been granted £280!

Many thanks to Stuart Capelin and everyone who shopped at Waitrose to supported us by popping their green discs into our container.

ARMED FORCES DAY - June 2018

The choir sang a special selection of Wartime songs including some songs from Karl Jenkins' The Armed Man at the Littlehampton Armed Forces Day.

The day was in aid of the Royal British Legion to celebrate and honor those that serve and have served in the Armed Forces.

SUSSEX DAY CELEBRATIONS - June 2018

The choir sang at the Arun District Council event held in Littlehampton High Street by the Dolphin pub on Saturday 16th June 2018.

The event was opened by Arun District Council Chairman, Cllr Alan Gammon, who has been instrumental in promoting Sussex Day.

The event included the Town Crier, Sussex Pond Singers and Clog Dancers, Poetry plus food and drink from Sussex!

SUMMER FAYRE - June 2018

The choir held their annual Summer Fayre on a beautiful sunny day in the gardens of the Littlehampton United Church.

Thank you so much to everyone who helped man a stall, helped set up, those who looked after refreshments, those who donated (and there were many of you), Chris, James and the Committee for organising it all and to our lovely public for coming along and supporting us - we had over 200 through the gate.

We made a fabulous £1,111 on the day (since increased to £1300) which will go a long way to purchase music for future concerts. This in turn raises money for our chosen charities.

Thank you everyone.

MAYOR OF LITTLEHAMPTON'S CHARITY GALA PERFORMANCE "Curtain Up!" - March 2018

A selection of choir members performed a medley of Musical Theatre songs as part of the Mayors's Charity Gala Performance "Curtain Up!"

They sang songs from Follies, My Fair Lady, Grease, Half a Sixpence and La Cage Aux Folles, all in elegant costume. Their performance included a hilarious appearance of a pantomime horse during "The Ascot Gavotte".

The show raised funds for the Mayor's charities The Friends of Mewsbrook Park' and The Littlehampton Heritage Railway.

A great time was had by all!

PANCAKE OLYMPICS - February 2018

Congratulations to our two teams who entered into the Pancake Olympics - Hampton Fliers, supported by our mascot Hampton The Hedgehog and Daisy's Pancakes, supported by Daisy the Cow.

They are the proud winners of the Silver Medal in the Curling competition!

RACE NIGHT - January 2018

A Race Night was held at the Sea Scout hall in conjunction with Littlehampton Twinning to raise funds for both groups. Competitors had to take their hobby horse down a track based on the role of a dice. The evening included refreshments of beer and wine given as a gift from our twin towns. A fun time was had by all!

ST JAMES CHURCH, FINAL MASS - January 2018

It was with sadness that our lovely church held its final Mass with The Bishop of Chichester. The church has now become a Chapel of Ease and will not be used for Worship, but both the church and the hall will be available to us and for other community activities.

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS CAROL CONCERT- December 2017

The choir performed a special concert for one of our dear Patrons, June, at her home.

SUPPORT OUR SOLDIERS - December 2017

The choir decided to support our soldiers by sending festive cheer to members of the British Armed Forces on active service overseas this Christmas.

We were given a list of suggested food items and donations flooded in, boosted by cash raised from DVD sales of the Remembrance concert on sale to choir members as a memento of the concert.

Photo's below of those donations which have now been handed in but any further donations received will be taken for January's parcels.

Other photo's were taken at their Collection Event at Morrisons, with the Soldiers helping out, our local co-ordinator Penny and our very own Chris.

Thank you to everyone for supporting this cause.

CONCERT FOR ST CECILIA- November 2017

The St Mary's Church Choir were joined by members of The Edwin James Festival Choir to perform an afternoon concert for St Cecilia.

The concert included music to bring joy to the heart and soul with the first half beautifully sung by St Mary's Church choir, singing Blessed Assurance, May It Be, The Music's Always There With You, The Ship That Sails, Address To The Moon, The Lord's Prayer, With A Voice Of Singing, interspersed with poems eloquently read. The Edwin James Festival Choir joined them for the second half to sing The Lord Is My Shepherd and Magnificat by John Rutter, with soloist Pat Franklin sounding superb. The 22 strong 4 part choir blended magnificently in a church with fabulous acoustics, under the expert baton of Mr James Rushman.

Well done everyone and many thanks to the appreciative audience for attending.

PATRONS EVENT - November 2017

We are very honoured and proud to have the support of our Patrons and we thanked them by holding a tea party in Arundel.

It was attended by 52 Patrons who enjoyed a lovely tea and were thoroughly entertained by Mick from Bondwood Tea Shop.

LITTLEHAMPTON BONFIRE CELEBRATIONS - October 2017

Littlehampton's famous Bonfire Celebrations attracted a large crowd to witness the spectacular torchlight procession, mamouth bonfire and seafront firework display.

10 members of the choir took part as one of the walking groups with a theme of "Halloween Wedding from Hell". Last year, they collected £800 and came 3rd in the Collecting Challenge.

This year, they smashed it, collecting a staggering £1,552 coming 2nd to win £50 for our chosen charity, CancerWise, as well as the Laura May's Collecting Challenge Cup.

Well done everyone!