Gallery of Events | The Friends of West

Past Events

Saturday June 15th saw the return of the Ipswich Hospital Band to Mersea. They regaled the crowd with familiar theme tunes from the world of television and film including medleys from The Lion King and The Beach Boys. For encore they played the theme from the Great Escape to much applause.

A selection of finger food was served in the intermission along with some delicious wines.

10 lucky winners one prizes in the raffle.

All proceeds from event go towards the repairs to the church porch.

Feb 2025

Academy of Swing Feb 2025

Friends host cool sounds, cocktails and canapes to swing into spring!

Saturday 8th February saw the Academy of Swing under the direction of Mersea resident, Stephen Watkins,perform Glenn Miller era music to a packed audience in St Peter and St Paul’s church. The 12-piece band came together last year and have not had many chances to perform. However, when the first notes of Moonlight Serenade sounded, we knew we were in for a magical evening. Many favourites from that era were included in the programme – In the Mood, American Patrol, and a

Nightingale sang in Berkeley Square to name a few. We were treated to a saxophone solo and beautiful

singing too.

During the interval, the audience were invited to sample a selection of cocktails and canapḗs to sustain them before more lovely music plus some singalong numbers – You’ll never walk alone, and When the Saints being sung with gusto as a finale. There was just time for an encore before the evening drew to a close.

This event was a joint venture with Academy of Swing. They decided to donate their share of the proceeds to EDS, which supports one of the band members, in lieu of taking a fee. Information was available about this organisation and the (perhaps little-known) debilitating condition Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. We really appreciated the musicality and the considerable

effort put in to attending the concert by Lizzie, the flugelhorn player, and hope she felt the warmth and

welcome from the audience and organisers.

June 2023

Gilbert & Sullivan June 2023

Saturday 24th June saw the return of the Ipswich Gilbert and Sullivan choir to the church for the first time since 2016. It was a quintessentially British way to celebrate mid summer – the lovely cool church resounding with the beautiful voices singing many of the old G & S favourites. There was a capricious rendering of Three Little Maids and a heartrending version of Buttercup. This is from the operetta HMS Pinafore, which the Society are staging at Seckford Theatre, Woodbridge this autumn (check their website for details http://www.ipswichgands.org.uk). We were also entertained by Sylvia reading Rendercilla, an amusing version of Cinderella in the style of Stanley Unwin, with words altered in a playful way. Pia from Lithuania sung a solo in her native tongue, backed by the choir for the final verse. What dedication to learn such an unusual language!

Strawberries and cream were served in the interval, with many of the audience and choir taking the opportunity to go outside on such a warm evening. We are very grateful to Wilkin & Sons for donating the delicious strawberries. They were thoroughly enjoyed!

The second half of the concert was just as entertaining and the finale was a beautiful choral version of Over the Rainbow, and a toe-tapping performance of Rhythm of Life, which sent us all home with a spring in our step!

The Friends Committee would like to thank the choir for travelling all this way to perform for us (some come from deepest, darkest Suffolk), Wilkin and Sons for the fabulous strawberries, the volunteers who helped on the night and with the organisation, No 4 and Myrtil and Rose for ticket sales, and lastly, all of you who came along on the evening to support us. We hope to see you again at our next event.