For the last nine years we’ve sung carols with a small brass band around Highfields shortly before Christmas. Starting with a few drinks and mince pies (just to warm up of course), followed by an hour or so moving around outside, and usually ending with a few nibbles (and another tipple or two) near to where we started.

No collections. Just for fun.

Those of you who’ve been involved have possibly thought (wistfully perhaps) that, because of Covid, it wouldn’t be happening this year, the tenth year …

Weeelllll….

We’ve come up with a way of making it work (sort of) in a socially distanced way.

Carols 2020 is on!

This year we’ll be having a static carol singing event on our own doorsteps. Matthew et al will be in front of their house in Whitehall Road with their instruments. The rest of us will be in front of our own houses where we will be singing and playing our own instruments (and possibly keeping warm with a little bit of mulled wine as well).

Taking part depends a little on being within earshot of Whitehall Road… However, we’re taking steps to increase what “within earshot” means. Quite apart from singing and playing very, very loudly, we hope to have a little amplification (and possibly even streaming).

When are we doing this?

In previous years we’ve had to juggle school holidays, people being away at different times and all that sort of normal stuff. This year no one is going away..

So we’re doing it on Christmas Eve!

The start time, running order and more details will be published here as soon as they’re known so watch this space.

In the meantime…

To get you in the mood (and just in case you don’t know the words and music) here are the carols. We won’t be singing them all so if there are some that you really, really want to sing/play let me know AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!. We’ll try and make sure your favourites are included.

I would normally say “See you then” to sign off. But this year it’s going to be “Hear you then”.