Hendon - February 2009

Following the severe weather that hit the midlands this week we were pleased that the coach ‘pick up’ from Mickleover went smoothly and the coach arrived at the rear of our hall ready for loading. Once the drum kit, display boards, Songster flag, guitar amplifiers and other such equipment required for these events were safely stowed, we were ready for our scheduled departure at 09:30hrs. Unfortunately, there was an additional fifteen-minute delay awaiting the arrival of TWO stragglers who, anticipating the usual delays, had indulged in a cooked breakfast before setting out. (You know who you are!!!)

The trip down to London was uneventful - the roads had been adequately gritted - and as we sped quickly south, we enjoyed looking at the countryside in its blanket of snow. Even with our delayed start, and the two scheduled stops at the Motorway Services, the coach arrived promptly at Cadogan Hall, Central London; the venue for the prestigious Hendon Highlights.

The Hendon Highlights event has been taking place for 24 years at various London venues. These include: The Queen Elizabeth Hall, The Westminster Central Hall and the Royal Festival Hall. The event moved to the Cadogan Hall in 2006.The hosts of this event are Hendon Salvation Army band. They have had many prestigious and high calibre guests over the last 24 years. These include: The King’s Singers, Don Lusher, The Childs Brothers, Jude Gotrich, Simone Rebello, Evelyn Glennie and Richard Marshall; as well as well known Salvation Army ensembles such as The International Staff Songsters, Enfield Band, the New York Staff Band – and this year, Derby Central Songsters, conducted by Ian Hammond.

After a swift unloading of the Coach and meeting up with those Songsters who had travelled to London by car we were ready to rehearse.

When we arrive at new venues, our afternoon rehearsal enables the Songster leader to rearrange songsters’ places, depending on the number of seats which can be accommodated on the ‘rises’ provided. This is never an easy task as he is sometimes inundated with cries of ‘I’m not moving for my normal position!’ and sometimes there just isn’t enough space to accommodate us all comfortably! During the rehearsal the Songster Leader can also arrange a sighting line ‘between, around, over or any which way’ through the Songsters to the pianist, drums and rhythm sections. There is also an opportunity for the Songsters to become familiar with singing in the different environment and to generally give everyone a feel good factor [or not] about performing in their new surroundings

Once this had been achieved on Saturday, it was time for the songsters and band (under the leadership of their new Bandmaster David Rudd) to jointly practice Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s ‘Vitae Aeternum’. This was to provide the finale for the evening performance.

Having successfully negotiated the rehearsal time we were now free to find sustenance in the surrounding eating places, provided we were back and changed out of our travel uniforms and ready for a pre-festival prayer prior to the 19:30hrs festival start.

In addition to the aforementioned Band and Songsters, also taking part was Sheona White, one of the world’s most accomplished tenor horn soloists, formerly the principal horn with the YBS Band. As the pre-festival literature suggested she did indeed amaze us with her technical wizardry, superb musicianship and exciting presentation.

At 19.30hrs the programme began. It was ably led by Lieut-Colonel Bill Cochrane who during his ‘reading and comments’ slot provided concise and thought provoking words.

Detailed below is the programme as presented during the festival. As a participant it is always difficult to judge the impact of ones presentation, however we believe that the musical feast provided will have been used by our Lord Jesus Christ to further His kingdom.

Sunday 8th March saw us all arriving at Hendon Salvation Army Hall a bit bleary eyed after late suppers and even later bedtimes. However, we had all been accommodated comfortably and well looked after.

The day’s worship started with pre-meeting music provided by the Songsters. Songs included ‘Give me Jesus’, ‘In the love of Jesus’, ‘Mid all the Traffic’, ‘Written in Red’ and ‘Morning has Broken’.

The deputy songster leader, Darren Willis, conducted ‘His Strength is Perfect’ to open the morning’s meeting. Lieut -Colonel Cochran, who conducted the Holiness Meeting, gave a concise message and reminded us that we are the body of Christ, its not the building but the people within it that matter and that we should stand up for Christ in our everyday lives and not be invisible but should standout.

Major Freda Benneyworth (Derby Central Corps Officer) led us in our prayer time and Graham Eacott gave a nostalgic children’s story recalling his own school days and how we can learn from these, as we grow older. Songster Lindsay Bawden, on her first weekend away as a songster, was initiated into the group by offering a word of personal testimony.

The Corps YP Band and Singing Company presented musical contributions very well. Our own Songsters enhanced the worship further by presenting the reflective and deeply moving song, ‘Somebody Prayed for me’.

At the conclusion of the meeting tea/coffee and biscuits were available for all during a time of fellowship together. Soon afterwards we returned to our billets for lunch.

Sunday afternoon Praise and Evening Worship commenced at 16:00hrs with the Songsters singing two songs in contrast: ‘Then will the very rocks cry out’ and ‘There is a Green Hill’.

These were followed by a block of six songs; ‘Sing out’, ‘In a Moment’ (soloist Ceri Hammond), ‘He knows how much you can bear’, ‘Daniel, Daniel, Servant of the Lord’, ‘There’s never been a Mountain’ and then this block was completed by our rendition of the extended Choral work by Ken Downie, ‘Veni Emmanuel’.

Following the announcements and offering the mood of the meeting was altered through the singing of ‘Soon I will be home’ (soloist Hayley Stubbs), a testimony by Alan Losh and the song ‘Calvary is the Sea’.

Lieut-Colonel Cochran concluded his thoughts for the weekend by reminding us that God is always there no matter how high we climb or low we sink. The Songsters completed the weekend with the songs ‘Great, Great morning’ and ‘The Lord Bless You and Keep You’.

Throughout the weekend the Songsters wore their new USA Tour Badges and the members of the congregation were asked to remember our forth-coming visit to America in prayer. Everyone was invited to purchase a Tour Prayer Sponsorship Badge.

Following the conclusion of the meeting, it was time to change into our travel uniform and, after consuming the refreshments provided prior to our departure, make our way home.

The Journey home proved to be an adventure in itself as we battled our way up the motorway in blizzard like conditions. On our voyage back North, we dropped off songsters at various points of the motorway, leaving them to dig their cars out of the newly fallen snow! Nevertheless, we made it back to Derby safely and departed to our homes with the Songster leader’s words ringing in our ears ‘See you all at practice on Tuesday’.

Ian and the rest of the songster locals expressed their satisfaction at a job well done throughout the weekend. However, we continue to prepare ourselves both musically and spiritually for our forthcoming trip to the States. We look forward to our next venture with great anticipation and excitement.

Report by Bob Johnson