CONCERT IN CHURCH: From the opening notes of Choral Dances by Benjamin Britten, the large audience in Bishampton Church on Saturday, June 11, realised they were in for a special evening's entertainment. In a Church wonderfully decorated for the Flower Festival, the Mosaic Choir, under their new director, Richard Jeffcoat, effortlessly showed their musical skills and versatility by moving through songs with music by Hubert Parry, Edward Elgar, Arthur Sullivan and others. Highlights from the first half were probably The long Day Closes (Arthur Sullivan), sung with tremendous sensitivity, and My Love Dwelt in a Northern Land by Elgar.

The second half opened with three songs using words from Shakespeare's plays put to music by Vaughn-Williams. These were followed by five songs, eminently suitable for a flower festival, with music by Benjamin Britten, one of which The Ballad of Green Broom allowed the choir to illustrate deft touches of humour linked with some tricky timing. The evening concluded with three songs in a somewhat lighter vein allowing the audience to go home both enthralled and smiling.