Choir adds 100 to to Christmas (From Oxford Mail)

Choir adds 100 to to Christmas

5:13pm Monday 21st December 2009

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CHORISTERS completed a marathon performance of the Twelve Days of Christmas — updated and expanded to include mentions of X Factor stars Jedward and MPs’ expenses.

Wantage Parish Choir trebles sang a two-and-a-half hour version of the traditional classic – and added 100 extra days at the performance at the parish church in The Cloisters, Wantage.

The extra verses were made up from suggestions by residents about life in the noughties – including lines about 74 fat-cat pensions, 52 well housed ducks and 41 Beckham beards.

Children sang in teams to give each other a rest before being cheered on by the spectators for a rousing final verse.

More than £500 was raised to support music at the church.

Will Stanton, 12, from Merifields, in Wantage, sang in the choir.

He said: “We got really tired because we would sing for about 20 minutes then have a five minute rest before starting again.

“It was fun singing all the funny verses and it’s good because the money will go towards music at the church.”

Other youngsters have been spreading Christmas cheer by performing carols at homes for the elderly and hospitals.

Pupils from Wantage CofE Primary School dropped in at local elderly homes to stretch their vocal chords, making six visits to residential homes around the town.

Music teacher Karen Wymbs said: “We encouraged the elderly people to sing along as well – at the Wantage Day Centre performance they got quite rowdy calling out requests.

“We’ve really enjoyed it and have been invited back next year.”

Year Three pupils from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, in Headington, Oxford, sang for patients and staff at the Oxford Children’s Hospital and at the Adams Ward at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Marianne Julebin, of the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Charitable Funds, said: “All the patients and staff were delighted by the visit from the pupils.

“Their singing carried all along the corridors, filling the ward with beautiful music.

“They really got everyone in the Christmas spirit.”

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