The band had a fairly busy build up to Christmas playing for a combination of Carol services, private functions and community Carol singing.
It all started on 10th December when we played carols for the Skal club. As members finished their Christmas dinner we played around 10 carols, with some joining in with some singing. The highlight of the event for Skal members being the annual singing of 'The 12 Days of Christmas'.
The next event was when a small ensemble of 7 went to Naomi House on 16th December. The band played numerous carols for around 30 minutes for residents, family and staff and marked the first public performance of 'I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas'.
The following day on 17th a well balanced band travelled to Hart Plain Church Waterlooville for a traditional Carol service. Carols such as 'Once in Royal David's City', 'Hark the Herald' and 'Away in a Manger' were interspersed with readings.
On the 18th December a small ensemble of 6 went to play carols for the Rose Window lodge. The appreciative audience joined in heartily by singing 'Ding Dony Merrily', 'Good King Wencelas' and 'Jingle Bells'.
The next event was a traditional Carol service at Romsey Methodist Church on 20th December. A full strength band played 'O Come all ye Faithful', 'The Angel Gabriel', 'Silent Night' and 'As with Gladness' amongst others. At the end of the service we played 'I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas' which was the first time the full band had publicly performed the piece.
The following afternoon on 21st December a small group went to the neurological unit at Southampton General hospital and played numerous carols in the corridors where the sound travelled into the wards to appreciative patients and staff.
On Friday 22nd December the band played outdoors in Braishfield for their village community Carol service. The band played around 12 carols including 'The First Nowell', 'O Little Town of Bethlehem', 'In the Bleak Mid-Winter' and 'God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen'. For this event the band was joined by those currently in the training band, who joined in with half the carols, and hopefully gained valuable experience and motivation.
On Christmas eve the full band visited Bishopstoke Methodist Church for their annual impromptu Carol service. We played numerous carols as requested by the congregation, such as 'See Him Lying in a bed of Straw', 'Come and Join the Celebration', 'A Starry Night' and of course 'The 12 Days of Christmas'.
The final event of a hectic period was carols at Chandler's Ford Methodist Church on Christmas day. The band played outside for around 30minutes as people arrived for the morning service. We then transferred indoors and played 'O Come all ye Faithful', 'O Little Town of Bethlehem' and 'Hark the Herald'. Our final piece of the Christmas season was 'The Everlasting Light' from the Salvation Army's Sounds of Christmas book as the service concluded.