St Helena

On Wednesday 26 July we were engaged to present a surprise concert for an ex-chorister Maurie Callow who had retired about twenty years ago. His family had started negotiations with Garry Salisbury for us to celebrate his 90th birthday but various operational issues had intervened until we were able to turn up for his 92nd at Liscombe House, St Helena near Greensborough. Although not as mountainous as Napoleon’s exile island, finding a berth and walking up the hill to the venue did present some challenges. Admirably, Garry came down from Echuca to take part and was joined by 14 Blackburners. Faleiry and Lorna officiated and Ann Roberts wrangled the mixer as well as taking photos, multitasking at its best.

As Maurie was wheeled in and we started up with *Gwŷr Harlech*, it was marvellous to see him start singing along with the words still firmly in his memory bank. President Tony Davies reminded him which of the choristers would have known him from years back. Naturally, he was somewhat overwhelmed by what was happening, but he was soon joining in as we went through the program. There were solos from Roger Bartlett, Barry McMahon and Tony Hosemans and a duet from Drew Hopkins and Roger. Tony H joyfully led Maurie and the residents in a well-chosen medley of old songs before donning the Magpies scarf and leading the assembly in Maurie’s team’s Collingwood Song.