‘Calm was the sea’ in Sandown Bay on Saturday evening where, on the shore in Christ Church, a large audience were ‘lulled’ into waves of joy as they listened too, and joined in, with the Newchurch Male Voice Choir and the Sea Gels Shanty Band as they entertained them in a concert of ‘Songs of the Sea’.
The Choir’s selection of songs included, ‘Calm is the sea’, The Jolly Roger song’, Crossing the Bar’, A-Roving’ and Sailing. They had the audience ‘swaying’ along with ‘Sweet Caroline’ and a selection of ‘Back to the 60’s’ songs.
Piano accompaniment
The Choir were accompanied on the piano by Cate Clark on her return to the Island for a visit before she returned to her home in Aberystwyth, Wales and so the Choir sent her on her way with a rousing rendition of ‘Gwahoddiad’ sung in Welsh.
The Sea Gels treated the audience to a selection of shanty songs, that had the audience joining in.
Supporting the lifeboat crew
The concert was for the the benefit of the Sandown and Shanklin Independent Lifeboat, and quite aptly the Sea Gels included the shanties ‘Home from the Sea’ which was about a lifeboat dealing with an incident.
They then sung ‘Throw out the lifeline’ and did throw out lots of cloth lifebelts to the audience.
£500 raised
Mark Birch, Coxswain of the Lifeboat thanked everyone for the support, which was received with great pleasure.
The retiring collection raised the sum of £500 for the lifeboat.
News shared by Bob on behalf of Newchurch Male Voice Choir. Ed
