Once again this year, Christ Church Choir has been out and about over the Christmas season. Despite a busy programme of services and concerts in the church itself, members of the choir found time to visit the Great Western Hospital where they toured wards throughout the hospital, singing carols and to the De Vere hotel where they entertained Christmas visitors with a short programme of carols. Both events have become annual fixtures over the years and help us to be more visible to the local community.

Tony Hillier, Swindon’s Community Poet Emeritus

The De Vere concert was particularly memorable this year as the choir found itself being celebrated in poetry. Tony Hillier, Swindon’s Community Poet Emeritus, was in the audience and wrote this celebration of the event.

Hotel Angels

We’re all here@the De Vere
to hear Swindon Christ Church singers
(this time minus the bell ringers) hitting notes high
to hear them Ding Dong Merrily the Sky

We welcomed large glass gratis of warmed mulled wine
plenty of surplus choir gowns made a picture fine
until we were Away, not with the fairies, but the Manager
We Harked to Heralds of bespectacled men in backrow
harked to red-lipped women in front row
each with red halo around their graceful, voiceful necks

We did wonder what yonder peasant wanted
but all was Silent on that Xmas Eve De Vere Night
though, if we listened carefully, we could just hear the cattle
lowing in the Lower Shaw Farm barn

We came, All we Faithful, to sit at large, round, white-surplassed tables.
Gathering round in Once-in-Royal-Wootton-Bassett’s-neighbour-wannabe-City-Swindon
we, wealth or rank possessing, had the chance to remember
our fellow citizens who may be little, weak and helpless
and having heard the Christ Church Singers beautifully chime
with this De Vere prime, we were ignited to have
a Simply Wonderful Christmas Time!