At the commencement of the Bude production, Ros Dolphin and Amy Jane Marsh spoke warmly about how sudden heart attacks had impacted on both the Bude Church and the Marantha Singers.
In 2017 alone, the group lost Jamie Osborne too soon and Joan Cox, who sang with the singers from its inception — the Bude production was dedicated to her memory.
Joan Fennell from the Bude Refugee Fund committee spoke a few words at Poughill about a new refugee family coming to Bude.
Holy Night was a blend of traditional and modern carols, mixed with modern, secular songs adapted to bring the seasonal message, intertwined with the Christmas story throughout, all delivered by members of the Marantha Singers and written by Lorna Cox.
Lorna is the Marantha Singers conductor and the accompaniment was compiled, rewritten and adapted by Sarah Piviere on piano, Matt Banton on drums, Coral Locke on lead guitar and Matt Bosustow on bass.
Appreciative audiences gave generous retiring collections, raising in excess of £730 at Bude for The British Heart Foundation and £331.88 at Poughill for The Bude Refugee Fund.
Thanks were extended to all those who both provided and served festive refreshments after both productions.
The singers will commence rehearsals for their 2018 summer production in February on Tuesday evenings at Bude Methodist Church.
If anyone would like to participate in any way in this fun bunch of singers then contact Lorna on 01288 341981 or email [email protected]