More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Sheppey came alive to community singing on Saturday when Sea Folk Sing paid a visit.
The six-strong choir and five-piece band comprising singers and musicians from the Island and Medway Towns took over the Sheppey Gateway in Sheerness High Street for a free concert at 1pm.
It then braved the elements around the clock tower at 3pm before entertaining at Sheerness East Working Men's Club at Halfway in the evening.
It was the fifth and final outing for the choir. It had already performed around Kent including Priestfield Stadium, Gillingham, and Gravesend Town Hall.
The group held workshops to thrash out ideas and ended up with eight songs based on the maritime heritage of the area including Chatham Royal Naval Dockyard.
Songs included The Dockyard Rush, when 6,000 workers tried to arrive and leave through the dockyard gates together, and the haunting We're Coming Home (Over The Swale) about the Sheppey Crossing.
Among those taking part were Islanders Jo Eden and Linda Brinklow and percussionist Lucky Moyo from Milton Regis.
The show was put together by choral director Debbie Sowter and music leader Bob Carling and produced by Kevin Grist and Janet Moore of Sparked Echo. It was commissioned by Lucy Medhurst and coordinated by Sarah Davies, both from the Sittingbourne-based arts group Ideas Test.
Music was provided by The Flowing band which featured Russell Jemmett on guitar, Hannah Ellerby on violin, Vicky Price on French horn and accordion and Theo Dudhill on double-bass. Music was arranged by Katherine Burr.
