I was adjudicating at a Festival recently and someone had commented that they had done some research on me!!! They then surprisingly said that they had enjoyed reading my blogs and had found out a lot about me! So, I resolved to start again! I am really going to try and blog each week, but for now it’s time for a bit of a catch up. My last blog commented on the death of Her Majesty The Queen and in my diary for 19th September I simply wrote HMTQ funeral – thinking that like most people I would be watching it on TV. I had, like so many others watched the wonderful coverage offered by the BBC and had marvelled at The Queens final journey back to London and the detail and speed at which the succession had happened.

Having held a second singing day raising funds for Fairfield School on Saturday 17th September, I returned home that night to the letter I had been expecting all week. To say I was relieved was an understatement. If you haven’t guessed already, it was both confirmation of my attendance and ticket to attend the funeral at Westminster Abbey on the Monday.

I was to represent The British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech of which I was the Chair and for which The Queen had been Royal Patron for more years than she had been on the throne. It was as you might imagine an opportunity to be a small part of history. In due course I will blog about the day itself! But suffice it to say I was honoured to pay my respects and that of the Federation to our Patron who had given unswerving service to the people.

An experience shortly afterwards reminded me that words can hurt and thought should always be given to the impact of comments made in the heat of the moment!

In both October and November I had led singing workshops with Junior voices in both Carlisle and Skipton and it reminded me of the power of singing and that musical memories made with young people last forever!

Likewise, the same with adults; having travelled to the Isle of Man to lead a singing day on Jenkins – The Armed Man. An ever poignant piece of music, written in the hope that conflict and war could be resolved peacefully in the millennium. Conducting this work against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine was an emotional experience for us all.

Travelling back, had its problems – cancelled plane, train and replacement bus resulted in a taxi ride which meant I met James Arthur’s brother! A chance meeting I hadn’t expected.

Having undertaken quite a few Festivals during the Autumn term it has been heartening to see performers coming back and in good numbers. The value of amateur festivals is not in question as music and performing arts subjects in some schools are being downgraded! Our festivals have never been more relevant.

As Christmas approached, it saw the usual run of concerts and the return of touring WASTELAND with the Gary Clarke Company in the Spring. But before that Christmas and New Year in the sun! Update 2 to follow soon…..