Wed 5th July 2023

 Gentlemen

I’m delighted to report a good turnout last night but a frankly disappointing display of bare knees - only 6 were visible out of a potential 42 - well done the two Mikes and Dave E for keeping the belief in summer alive…more optimism next week please team, summer is still with us👍🏼🤞😎 - next week let’s see how many naked knees we can muster between us!!!

A welcome back last night to our most recent newlywed, Peter - he seems to have come through the experience unscathed but had a weary smile on his face 😂. We were all jealous to learn that Peter and June’s reception was in the Alnwick Brewery tap room 🍺🍺🍺 but Peter swears it was a tee total event 🤩🤭🤥. Who’ll be the next member to get wed - I’ll not tell you who my money is on😎😎😎.

I have to report that there were however one or two notable absentees last night - some were work related (thanks lads for keeping the economy going and ensuring the rest of us get our pensions paid ✔️🙏) - but others (Rik!) were being cultural and visiting the Royal Academy 🖼️ 🖼️ 🖼️ - I’m not sure that we’ve ever had culture put forward as a valid excuse in VoiceMale - but anyway we hope you enjoyed it Rik 😀.

Keith, on the other hand, offered his apologies as he traveled to London to see the Boss🎵🎸🎶🇺🇸😀. Not sure about that!!!!

Last nights singing was first rate - having put Bold Riley to bed, Jon focussed on his very complex (?) arrangement 🤓 of Train🚂 for Glory - I couldn’t grasp the timing of the Ba Ba Ba🐑 🐑 🐑but luckily others could so I, and others, were spared those mental gymnastics. Good solos by Will and Joe🎵🎶!! 👍🏼. We then had a revisit to a song from last year, Roll on THE day which went surprisingly well given that only about half of us had sung it before (well done you other guys) - beautiful harmonies and a very intellectual discussion on grammar led by (you guessed it) Gez as to whether the old man “laid” or “lied” thinking about happier days…”lied” won (I think 🤔).

As you may know we held a committee meeting in the Tap before our session last night. Jon is pleased with our musical progress and I have to say that I’m pretty sure we’re all happy with Jon’s inspirational leadership. We do seem to be going from strength to strength.

We agreed that our Autumn term would start a bit earlier than normal (Wednesday 30th August) as our first gig is the Harbottle Show on Saturday 2nd September. The term will consist of 14 sessions plus our normal Xmas do at the Tap on the 13th December. We’ll have a one week break for half term. We’ve set the cost for next term at £70 which works out at to the equivalent £5 a session compared to this terms £6 a session - happily, we’ve been able to do this due to an increase in our membership numbers. We hope you approve.

So some dates for you diaries:
- 19th July - last session this term
- 30th August - first session Autumn term
- 2nd September - The Harbottle Show
- half term (one week), date tba
- 13th December - Xmas party @ Tap & Spile.

Onwards and upwards VoiceMale ✔️🎶🎵🛶🚀🔺see yous aaa’ll next week.
Cheers
Chris