Saturday 12th December at St Nicholas Church, St Nicholas Church Street, Warwick CV34 4JD. Village Voices Christmas Concert.
More details to follow.
Author: VV-Admin
Quiz and Fish ‘n’ Chips Supper
On Friday 7th November 2025 the choir held a very successful and enjoyable ‘Quiz and Fish ‘n’ Chips’ Supper. It must have been a very private event, as no photos, videos or recordings escaped to appear on this website!
The quiz was set by Claire Darlington and we are so grateful for her putting it all together. Thanks to Anne Love who assisted in helping to pull together some of the teams – in total 7 took part.
Also, thanks to Ken and Sandra Hayward for organising the Fish ‘n’ Chips and to them, Julie Barr and Anne Love for setting up Northgate Methodist Church Meeting Room and clearing away afterwards.
The team calling itself ‘We Are Only Here For The Fish ‘n’ Chips’ was disappointed not to have come last in the quiz. Meanwhile, the Altos went out on a high!
£217 raised from the event will be provided to Northgate Methodist Church, towards their refurbishment fund.
Kieron & Shirley Band
The Shirley Band from Solihull in the West Midlands has appointed Kieron Howe as its new Musical Director.
This a major step up for Kieron in the world of brass band music and Village Voices send him our sincere congratulations and wish him all the very best in his new role.
We are pleased to say that Kieron’s new band appointment has no bearing on his continued musical directorship of Village Voices.
30th Anniversary Meal
On Sunday 5th October 2025 Julie Barr did a wonderful job in organising a 30th anniversary meal for Village Voices at Alderson House, Warwick.
30th Anniversary Meal
From the arrangements and decorations in the room and on the tables, to the placement names and ’30 year’ balloons – it was perfect and Julie also organised two raffles – the first was normal, the second – an Irish raffle!
As part of the entertainment, Ken Hayward read ‘Ode to Village Voices’.
Julie Barr’s Table Decoration
All in all, it was a very enjoyable event.
Roger Haygreen Retirement
Helen Pugh took over accompanying the choir, during the 2025 summer term, from Roger Haygreen who unfortunately had to retire due to ill health.
Roger has been with the choir for 15 years and during that time has worked with a number of the choir’s musical directors. He has been adept at adapting to each director’s specific style and approach. He has a great sense of humour and an instinctive ability to appreciate the choir’s requirements. We wish Roger all the very best for the future.
All the World’s a Stage
The choir held its 30th Anniversary Concert at All Saints’ Parish Church, Leamington Spa during the evening of Saturday 19th July 2025 – All the World’s a Stage – (Seven Ages of Man), with Cubbington Silver Band.
Proceeds in aid of Warwickshire Vision. During the evening the choir was accompanied on piano by Helen Pugh.
Outside the Church
The Cubbington Silver Band
The Dignitaries
Choir and Band
The event was a great success with a packed church and included readings by Annie Othen and Alexandra Darlington. Our musical director, Kieron Howe, did a brilliant job, as did Helen Pugh and the Cubbington Silver Band.
Narrator Annie Othen
Raffle Prizes
Ken Speaking
Warwickshire Vision Representative
Village Voices Choir
Audience
Part Choir & Band
Some recordings from the concert:
When I’m 64 by John Lennon & Paul McCartney
Excerpt of Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton Arr. Roger Emerson
Excerpt of Wherever You Are by Paul Mealor
Excerpt of The Road Home by Stephen Paulus
Excerpt of Shosholoza – traditional
Many thanks go to all those behind the scenes who helped to organise and provide for the event – including Top Nosh, refreshment servers, our furniture movers, entrance & raffle ticket sellers and those who provided and prepared the raffle prizes.
Also to All Saints’ Parish Church, Leamington.
Wendy Sergeant Workshop & Yeovil Concert
On 12th/13th July members of the choir took a weekend away for a workshop in Bristol with Wendy Sergeant and later travelled to Yeovil to perform in an evening concert with South Petherton Ladies Pop Choir.
Kieron & Village Voices Members
South Petherton Ladies Pop Choir
All very much enjoyed both events and were very grateful to Wendy and to the Ladies Pop Choir for there involvement. Please click on the following to read the full Report.
80th VE Day Remembrance
Thursday 8th May 2025 the 80th anniversary of VE Day. The choir sang in the early evening at a short service of Remembrance at Leamington Spa War Memorial.
80th VE Day Remembrance in Leamington
Village Voices sang “Only Remembered” from Warhorse and the lovely hymn “Nearer My God to Thee”.
Zimbe!
About Zimbe! A note from the composer Alexander L’Estrange.
Zimbe is an Anglicised version of the Swahili word ‘Ziimbe’. meaning ‘Sing Them’, Just as others have shared these wonderful songs with me, I wish to pass them on now. Scored for SATB choir, unison children’s choir and jazz quintet, with copious percussion, the settings reflect my own musical make up. Within the piece we find references to jazz, pop, the Western choral tradition and, of course, world music.
African songs are easy to learn and impossible to forget; that is the very nature of the communal song tradition. The songs I have chosen to arrange are fun, moving and infectiously tuneful – and through them we find ourselves in a wonderfully simple, joyous realm where music imitates life and life inspires music. I hope you enjoy ZIMBE!
The photograph of Alexander was taken at the choir’s last rehearsal on the 3rd April 2025 before the concert, when the choir made a presentation to thank him for his very energetic and inspiring session.
Alexander L’Estrange is a fresh and exciting voice in choral music. With roots in the British choral tradition and a successful international career as a jazz musician and arranger. Alexander has been described by composer and broadcaster Howard Goodall as ‘the ideal 21st-century musician’, an accolade acknowledging not just his outstanding musicianship but also his huge versatility.
Accompanist Helen Pugh
Helen took over accompanying the choir during the 2025 summer term from Roger Haygreen who unfortunately had to retire due to ill health.
Helen was born in Warwickshire and started playing the piano at the early age of 5. She later took up the French horn and went on to study music performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Since coming back to the area, she has accompanied a variety of groups including Espressivo Chorus, Sing It Loud, Alcester Male Voice Choir and the Hadland School of Dance. She also frequently accompanies music exam candidates.
During the day she currently works for Warwickshire Music, teaching brass instruments in schools in and around Warwick. Helen has performed in a variety of places including Symphony Hall in Birmingham and underneath the Statue of Liberty!