The Spring Fundraising Variety Concert

Chorlton Good Neighbours 

Fundraising Variety Concert

28th April 2012

This musical event raised much needed funds for Chorlton Good Neighbours. Many thanks to all the singers and groups who gave their time and performances for free. Also thanks to all the volunteers who contributed to making this event such a great success. Here are clips from some of  the performances on the day

Loreto College Percussion Ensemble

The group was formed to showcase the talents of a number of drummers who have passed their Grade 8 examinations on the drum kit/percussion and as a vehicle to stretch and challenge them. They have performed at numerous events during this academic year, including opening the College Award Show at Manchester town Hall in December as well as entertaining the Chorlton Rotary Club at their annual Gala Evening back in October. They compose most of their material themselves and enjoy 

bringing a number of styles and influences into their music. 

The Loreto College String Ensemble 

The Loreto College String Ensemble is a chamber group that forms part of Loreto College's 

"Music Programme". They meet on a weekly basis and their repertoire mainly consists of 

arrangements of Baroque or early Classical material.

The Sweet Cordials 

The Sweet Cordials are Carolyn and Jo. In this clip of them at Chorlton Good Neighbours' fundraising concert on April 28th 2012, Carolyn sings "I will Survive and "Nine to Five"  

and Jo sings and accompanies on the ukelele

The Beech Band

Members of the famous Beech Band, led by Les Jones, played at Chorlton Good Neighbours Spring Concert. They finished with a rousing version of  Ewan MacColl's "The Manchester Rambler" sung by Ken. This was very appropriate as this week saw the 80th anniversary of 

the mass trespass on Kinder (www.kindertrespass.com)

Elaine Evans

Elaine Evans combines her solo career with membership of the Halle choir and bringing up her 2 young daughters with her husband David. Studying for a diploma in choral singing, 

Elaine kindly came long to share her lovely voice with us all at Chorlton Good Neighbours. 

In this clip she sings "I Could have Danced All Night" from West Side Story

Amanda Latham & Tony

Chorlton Good Neighbour's very own Amanda Latham (Wheelchair Support Worker)

 and her guitarist, Tony, perform at the Spring Concert. This clip is of "Breakfast at Tiffany's"

The Melodics

Formed a couple of years ago, and led by Lea Cavanagh, the Melodics are Chorlton Good Neighbours very own singing group, practising a variety of songs each Thursday at 11:30 am in the big hall. In this clip they finish with their own version of the "Neighbours" theme tune, dedicated to coordinator, Helen Hibberd. 

The familiar song now becomes - "Chorlton (Good) Neighbours"

Catherine Tarpey

15 year old Catherine Tarpey, grand daughter of one of our members and a student at Loreto High 

plays the Cornet. Here is a clip of her playing "Maria" from West Side Story

 The Part Timers Choir

The finale to end the Chorlton Good Neighbours concert was a performance of classical and other songs by a group of singers who rehearse in their free time at the Bridgewater Hall and who call themselves, the Part Timers. Their songs range from traditional motets to popular songs of the thirties. Their terrific final number was their version of "Goodnight Sweetheart", originally recorded by the 

Ray Noble orchestra with singer Al Bowlley in 1931

MMU Design Lab Students return visit

MMU Design Lab Student Gemma Latham and two of her colleagues, visited Chorlton Good Neighbours to report back on their 'creating an age-friendly city' project. They talked to people atr the coffee morning on 26th April and showed them Annabel's lamp. This is a visual representation of the concerns and memories of older people in Chorlton they had talked to.

They are working with the City Council Valuing Older People team to provide a model of community engagement. Gemma herself will be finishing off her project with an event on the 12th May at St Clement's where she be asking people to donate memories that will be woiven on to a memorial bench in Beech Road Park - "taking memories and turning them into yarn" - or another way of looking at it - turning Yarns into Yarn!

Gardening project - digging on a very wet April day

We are no trying to clear one end of the allotment to get rid of all the rubble including the remains of an old scout hut base. We've ordered the raised beds made from old scaffold boards for us by TRIM timber recycling in Manchester. Once we have cleared the rubble they are our next priority

Bill Williams' talk on Manchesters Black pre-history

Cracking Good Food's Hot Pot session

Cracking Good Food's Hot Pot session at Chorlton Good Neighbours. We made and ate a tradtional Lancashire Beef Hotpot at this cooking demonstration, the latest of a series held at Good Neighbours. We also made a no-cook Chocolate Mousse using silken Tofu. It all tasted delicious!

Wai Yin's Tai Chi Demonstration

The elders from Wai Yin Women's Society in Manchester give a  Tai Chi demonstration at  Chorlton Good Neighbours on April 1st 2012. They even managed to get some in the audience to join in with them