George Haslam and friends were playing at the Broad Face pub – where there is jazz every Sunday afternoon.
George will be conducting his Big Band, Swingtime, on Feb 19th to raise money for the Abingdon Arts Festival. The Choose Abingdon community shop will become the Arts Festival gallery and information centre up to and during the festival which starts on 17th March.
When we got there ten minutes before the show the stewards were putting out additional seats round the walls.
The mini opera, Amahl and the night visitors, lasted forty minutes. The event was free, thanks to sponsors, but there was still a lot of money piled on the retiring collection plates. It had been a full house at St Helen’s church. The show was very well performed.
At Trinity the Christmas Eve torchlight service happened this afternoon – the 9th January. There was snow and ice on Christmas Eve and it had to be postponed. The show consisted of scenes played out by the children as well as some solos by them.
(video removed after John’s comment)
The Salvation Army will also be holding a carol service – next Sunday, and next Saturday at 7 pm at St Helens Church – not postponed but planned – there will be a performance of Amahl and the Night Visitors. It is ‘a delightful seasonal opera (which lasts about forty minutes and is free)’.
Chris Macklow – the man in white – formed Abbey Brass over 34 years ago and has been its leader ever since. In that time, about 500 people, mostly children, have been taught to play. He recently stepped down from leading the Abbey Brass, but will continue playing for a local Oxford based swing band.