Wedding Singers.

Today we went with 40 choir members to Tawstock Court  to sing at the wedding of the daughter of the couple who run the rugby club where we have our weekly sessions. It was a secret from the bride & groom and their guests so we had to arrive early and park in an overflow carpark. We then had to quietly go in through the back entrance (below) and wait in the bar.

Then we had to make our way to the space below the stairs and wait in silence, not something we often do, until the ceremony was finished. Then the bride and groom came in, from the right, and we sang Alleluia. The bride was moved to tears, in a good way, and some of us more sentimental folk also had to wipe away a tiny tear. The bride thanked us and said how much it meant to her. Little did she know that we were going to sing once more after the family photos had been taken.

While we were silently waiting we had a good look at the grand decoration of the place with its impressive cupola right above. We may have been quiet as we waited but kept ourselves warm by gently swaying or flexing various joints. Laughter nearly broke out when we began bobbing up and down like pigeons or the targets in a fairground shooting range.

After the first song we returned to the bar where we had tea or coffee and enjoyed the warmth and smell of the log fire. 

 Me with my good friend Janet.

The main part of our singing was in this yellow room (stock photo) which was set up with small tables. We stood right where the photographer must have been. We sang the first few songs with the wedding party watching and then we carried on while drinks and canapés were served. (Hah, found out how to get the accent - type an incorrect spelling and it appears.) Once people were chatting we increased our volume including a rousing rendition of Shona, one of our South African songs. It looked like our singing was appreciated but eventually it was time to leave the wedding party to carry on without us. The bride's sister said that it had always been the bride's dream to have a choir sing at her wedding.

The view from the front of the house/manor looking down to the church.  

The road to Tawstock is a very steep and winding lane. Pleasant memories of being back in the country but I wouldn't like to drive there in icy conditions.