Audrey Aylmer, stalwart of Bude-Stratton & District Old Cornwall Society (and pictured on the right), organised another successful Society Advent Service commemorating many ‘carols of old’ from North Cornwall on Monday 1 December. Despite the inclement weather, the service was well attended, and the Reverend Colin Biggs welcomed us warmly to St Martin’s United Reformed Church, Bude.
The singing was led by an ad hoc choir made up of a few Old Cornwall Society members and strongly supported by Bude Choral Society, all under the musical direction of John Hobbs and with the accompaniment of Daffyd Thomas on the organ. A selection of carols arranged by the late Michael J Richardson in his book “Carols of the Stratton Hundred, North Cornwall” were sung. In addition, two, ‘O come O come Emmanuel’ and ‘See amid the winter snow’, were delivered in the Cornish language, albeit set to familiar tunes.
The carols were interspersed with bible readings by Jean Balsden, a fascinating insight into the history of St Martin’s Church given by Barbara Madge, and a poem by Betty Saunders. Alan McIntosh, Chairman Bude-Stratton & District OCS gave thanks for the organisational arrangements and the Revd Biggs closed the service with a prayer and a burst of Cornish! Afterwards welcome refreshments were served.
The Society wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year – Nadelik Lowen ha Blythen Nowydh Da!