OS Christmas Carols at Chelsea Old Church
3 December 2018
On Monday, 385 Old Stoics, Current and Former Parents and Friends of Stowe crammed into Chelsea Old Church to welcome in the festive season. Once again, we were overwhelmed with the popularity of the occasion and were thrilled that the church was full to the brim for our second Christmas Carol Concert!
Tallulah Goldsmith (Stanhope, Lower Sixth) opened the proceedings with a beautiful solo verse of Once in Royal David’s City, before the Choir and Congregation joined the throng. The concert was led by the charismatic Reverend Canon David Reindorp TD DL and included a number of popular congregational carols, readings and performances, including a spectacular rendition of Elgar’s The Snow performed by Tallulah Goldsmith (Stanhope, Lower Sixth), Emily Banks (Lyttelton, Lower Sixth), Emily Wilson (Stanhope, Lower Sixth), Poppy de Salis (Stanhope, Upper Sixth) and Audrey Au (Lyttelton, Fifth Form). Audrey Au (Lyttelton, Fifth Form), Ben Grinyer (Bruce, Lower Sixth), Poppy de Salis (Stanhope, Upper Sixth), Rosia Li (Stanhope, Fifth Form), and Toby Thorpe (Chatham, Lower Sixth) also performed Largo from Concerto No.4 in F minor, ‘Winter’ (The Four Seasons) by Antonio Vivaldi. The Old Stoic Choir gathered for a second year and delivered an excellent performance of Ding Dong Merrily on High led by the fantastic Jonathan Kingston (Former Staff).
This year’s concert remembered Tristan Voorspuy (Former Parent). Tristan sadly lost his life on 5 March 2017, after he rode his horse into an ambush on Sosian, a 24,000 acre ranch he co-owned in Kenya's Laikipia region, that was occupied by armed warriors and their cattle. We were delighted so many of Tristian’s family and friends were able to join us to remember him. The concert had an African theme and Tristan’s son, Archibald Voorspuy (Chatham 10), read The Call of Africa by C Emily Dibb in his father’s memory. Adrian Dangar (Temple 81) read an extract from his recently published biography of Tristian’s life, Life on the Edge. Nick Bayley (Stowe Drama) assembled a troop of Old Stoic thespians to perform an adaptation of Noel Coward’s I Wonder what Happened to Him. James Musgrave (Grenville 08), James Sindall (Bruce 08), Alasdair Shaikh (Walpole 06) and Hugh Viney (Grenville 06) delighted our audience with their 1920s characters and excellent expressions, which tied in perfectly thanks to Nick Bayley’s wizardry of adapting the piece to our African theme.
Daisy Gomme (née Lawson, Nugent 01), kindly illustrated the cover of this year’s programme. Her design was inspired by Kenya’s wildlife, which was the focus of Tristan’s passion, and featured species which are important in Kenya, including: a Lilac-Breasted Roller - the national bird of Kenya; a Dark Blue Pansy Butterfly; a Reticulated Giraffe; an Orchid – indigenous to Kenya; and a Bird of Paradise Flower – an important African flower.
The concert ended with a festive note, with Voorspuy family friend, Daisy Ussher (Nugent 12) delighting the congregation with her charming rendition of A Visit from St Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore, before our guests were asked to take to their feet to hear the Headmaster, Dr Anthony Wallersteiner, read John 1:1-14.
At the end of the service, a collection was taken in aid of The Tristan Voorspuy Conservation Trust, a charity that has been set up to cherish the memory of Tristan and continue his philanthropic legacy towards protecting Kenya’s wildlife, both flora and fauna, for the future. We are delighted to announce that the collection raised £1,425.00.
Following the service, the crowds spilled into Petyt Hall and its charming fairy lit courtyard for delicious mulled wine and mince pies. The atmosphere was festive and jovial: it was a delight to see so many Old Stoics and Friends of Stowe coming together to catch up with friends before Christmas.
It would be impossible to hold this concert without the dedicated support of the Stowe Music School, Chelsea Old Church, our readers and performers and helping hand of Jonathan Kingston (Former Staff). A huge thank you to all those who made this year’s concert such an enjoyable occasion for all.
We intend to make this concert an annual fixture on the OS Events Calendar, so please do join us again next year.
Anna Semler (Nugent 05)
Old Stoic Society Director
Click here to view the photographs from the Concert.