The Christmas month started with a great flourish with the staging of a ‘Live & Local’ production on 1st December at the village hall. The event featured the Daniel Smith Blues Band which delighted a packed audience with a talented repertoire of blues numbers appealing to all tastes. Daniel who hails from Scotland gave up special-needs teaching after 13 years to form his travelling group which performs all over the country at clubs, festivals even the Edinburgh Fringe to rave reviews. His fellow instrumentalists, Jon (T-bone) Taylor on guitar, George Pearson on bass and vocal and Pete Miles from Brisbane on drums, displayed an amazing breadth of musical talent which reached its high point when a lively number was given forth upon Pailton’s somewhat elderly upright piano. The event was organised by the Village Trust who organised the ticket sales, served at the bar and offered cheese and biscuit snacks during the interval. A raffle with many prizes contributed yet again to a profitable and extremely enjoyable community function.
Click here for photos of the Daniel Smith Blues Band event
The next event on the social calendar at the village hall will be on 27th January 2007 taking the form of an ‘Old Time Music Hall’ production by Mike Allen of Rugby Theatre with talent drawn from the local area.
On Sunday 3rd December a combined Christingle and Carol Service was held
at St Denis Church conducted by Richard Latham.
A choir had been assembled by local musicians Patricia and Mark Barnett who
had spared no effort in presenting a varied programme of favourite carols and
anthems which delighted the exceptionally large congregation. Before the start
of the service they played a duet of Christmas music, with Patricia on cello
and Mark at the keyboard. A skilful balance of voices was provided by Christine
and Peter Saywell, Ruth Bilson, Patricia Barnett, Zoe Baxter, Alan Morton,
Phillip Morris-Jones, Mike Hudson, all of Pailton, augmented by Patsy Howes
and Geoff Lines of Brinklow and Aileen Wright and Carol Wye from Harborough
Magna.
The service combined all of the familiar traditions of the Christingle service
and Carol service. Much attention was given by Ruth Bilson to the many young
children for whom the lighting of the Christingle candle, arranging the figures
in the crib and distribution of the Christingle oranges added to the excitement
of the occasion.
Around these activities was woven the reading of the lessons and the carols
so beautifully sung by the choir and congregation.
After the conclusion of the service everyone was invited to sample mulled wine
and mince pies provided by a group of ladies who shared the considerable credit
bestowed by the departing congregation on what was acclaimed as a moving and
well conducted service.