DIGGERS' CHOIR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20098, 18 November 1939, Page 7

DIGGERS' CHOIR

SEASON CONCLUDES AMENITIES EXCHANGED FINAL SOCIAL NIGHT To mar]; the close of its second full season of activity, the Gisborne Diggers' Choir held a social gathering in Findlays' rooms last evening. to which were invited members of the Friendly Circle Choir and the- Gisborne Choral Society. Dancing, choral numbers by the choirs, and a number of other items comprised the programme. and during the evening presentations were made to the honorary conductor and pianist, Mr. T. Burchncll and Mrs. M. Smith.

The indebtedness of the Gisborne Returned Soldiers' Association to the Diggers' Choir was referred to by Mr. Allan Miller, on behalf of the district executive, during an interval in the programme, and Mr, O. Pritchard paid' a tribute to the work of the chairman. Mr. R. Oxenham. Mr. J. Vagg, who with Mr. O. Pritchard, provided dance music during the evening, was thanked for his services throughout the season, and was accorded rousing cbjers.

The chairman expressed pleasure at seeing so many visitors present, and referred briefly to the record of the choir during the year, performances having been given in aid of the R.S.A. hospital comforts fund, and also at the annual reunion of •exservicemen and at the Cook Hospital. The choir had availed itself of opportunities to foregather with members of the Gisborne Choral Society and the Friendly Circle Choir at numerous social evenings. He expressed his thanks to all members of the choir and to members of his committee for their undivided support during the year. Promotion of Good Fellowship Referring t ;) the services of Mrs. Smith and Mr. Burchncll, the chairman stated thai the choir was farmed to oromotc good fellowship and mutual enjoyment of singing, and not to aspire to championship performances" If they had pleased any section of the community, they felt that their year had resulted well. All their work would have been without result, however, but for the enthusiasm of the conductor and pianist, said Mr. Oxenham, who asked Mr. Burchncll and Mrs. Smith to accept small mementoes of a muchenjoyed association. Mr. Burchncll, replying, said that it was his first season witli the Diggers' Choir, and he had enjoyed every practice and every performance. He thanked Hie choir for its gift, and also for its enthusiasm. Mrs. Smith also acknowledged her gift, and said that it was a pleasure to play for such a happy band of Diggers.

Included in the programme was community singing, in which the gathering joined heartily. Messrs. Pritchard and A. W. Hambling acting as leaders, and introducing "Boomps-a-Daisy" amidst much laughter. "Hanging out the Washing on the Siegfried Line," led by Mr. Hambling. was another successful item. The Diggers' Choir sang "Land ol Hope and Glory," and "The Cobbler and the Crow"; and the Friendly Circe Choir was heard in "Is this the Hour of Softened Splendour?" and, with Mrs M Smith as soloist, in "Roses ol Picardy." Misses iV. McCarthy and Paterson. Mrs. Olson, and Messrs. Hambling, H. Johns, and C. Carter contributed songs, and Messrs. .1. Stein and D. Waugh played a successful cornet duet. The programme concluded with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" and the National Anthem.