Emotional nights at calendar shows

PERFORMERS taking part in this year’s Henley Living Advent Calendar have raised money for charities close to their hearts.

On Wednesday last week, Martyn Cooper, lead singer of Yoko Mainwaring Experience, sang for Headway Thames Valley, a Henley charity which helps people with a brain injury.

He was supported by the charity himself six years ago when he had an acquired brain injury after being diagnosed with brain cancer and undergoing surgery.

Mr Cooper said: “I’m particularly fond of Headway as they were helpful in the early stages of my recovery after surgery, so I was very happy when I heard we’d be raising money for them. They’re a lovely charity.”

The group performed at the Catherine Wheel in Hart Street and received a warm reception from the crowd on a cold night.

“You’re brilliant,” shouted a member of the audience, halfway through the set. The singer replied: “I hope someone from the Henley Standard is writing this down.”

Other members of the group were Tom Hall on guitar, Mike Holland on the ukulele, and Simon Windisch on bass.

They sang Christmas songs and carols, including Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Jingle Bells, Walking in a Winter Wonderland and Silent Night.

They were also joined by another Living Advent performer, Jonny Bidgood, in a rendition of Dominick the Donkey, with a chorus of “hee-haws” from the audience.

Each song was followed by a joke, told by Mr Holland, who was wearing a snowman onesie and jingle bells on his hat.

“What happened to the man who stole an advent calendar?”, he asked. “He got 25 days!”

Jenny Bell, Headway’s music therapist, who watched the performance, said: “Headway is like a family as people come for so many years and it’s lovely that they get to see the same friendly faces.” Jamie Higgins, Headway manager, said: “This is fantastic for us because it raises money and our profile.”

A raffle created a good-natured bidding war between Mr Holland and town councillor David Eggleton, with the musician finally securing a prize of an Epson projector and screen worth £600 with a bid of £180.

On Thursday last week, a group of singers rocked Holy Trinity Church in memory of Carolyn Molyneux, who passed away earlier this year after a battle with cancer.

The 40-strong Rock Choir performed a mixture of Christmas and popular hits while wearing tinsel, Santa hats and reindeer antlers.

Songs included a mash-up of The First Noel and Silent Night, Merry Christmas Everyone by Shakin’ Stevens and God Only Knows by The Beach Boys.

It was a particularly emotional evening as Ms Molyneux had been a member of the group and was instrumental in setting up the Living Advent Calendar.

She won a Henley Heroes award in 2019 for her long-standing commitment to charities.

The last song, I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t do That) by Meatloaf, was dedicated to her.

The event raised money for the Henley Regatta for the Disabled, of which Ms Molyneux was a committee member.

Regatta chairwoman Lucy Bowley said: “It’s different to other events for disabled people. It’s inclusive for all people with all disabilities and their families and is inclusive for all the family.”

Money raised from the evening, which was sponsored by estate agent Philip Booth Esq, will help with the running of the event. Rock Choir was the first ever Living Advent act and has returned every year since.

On Friday, a band of nearly 90 saxophonists played a range of Christmas and other hits to a large crowd in Market Place.

Sax Bandits, who are made up of six bands from three counties, wore festive outfits with plenty of tinsel and Santa hats.

They played eight songs including Santa Claus is Coming to Town, I Wish it Could be Christmas Every Day and Don’t You Want Me by The Human League.

They finished with their Rockin’ Saxmas medley with well-known festive songs blended together.

The crowd sang along throughout the performance.

Conductor Rob Digweed said: “When we last played here three years ago we had 60 of us and this year we had nearly 90. It’s our first time doing something like this since covid and it was great to be back.”

The event raised money for Henley Mayor Michelle Thomas’s charities, a “covid catch-up” fund for the town’s primary schools and Greener Henley.

On Saturday, six-piece band Highly Strung performed at a busy Henley Rugby Club.

The singers and guitarists performed an assortment of hits, including California Dreamin’ by The Mamas & The Papas, Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac and You Belong to Me by Bryan Adams.

These were followed by an emotional Happy Xmas (War is Over) by John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band, which was dedicated to Ukraine, with a Ukrainian flag waved throughout.

The evening culminated with a noisy rendition of Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond, just in time for the England versus France World Cup match.

The evening’s partner was the Henley Manor Care Home, which provided festive food, and it raised money for the Henley branch of Parkinson’s UK.

The charity supports 230 people in the Henley area and raises money towards research into the disease.

Highly Strung guitarist Dan Austin was delighted to return on an exciting night.

He said: “We loved it. We’ve performed for Living Advent before but it’s always nice to be asked to do it. The crowd were great and it was nice for so many people to come.”

On Sunday Henley Music School students were the performers, raising money for its new permanent home, Trinity Hall in Harpsden Road.

The mini concert began with a rendition of O Holy Night by singer Ava Reineke, daughter of school’s founder Laura Reineke.

This was followed by songs and carols performed by different groups including the flute group, a young string group of children aged five to 10, a clarinet duet, and wind and brass. Ms Reineke introduced each group.

Among the performers was 13-year-old Ukrainian refugee Eva-Mariia Pavliuk, who played the Ukrainian carol Sleep, Jesus, Sleep on the violin, which had the audience gripped.

The concert finished with the whole ensemble playing All I Want for Christmas and White Christmas.

The audience was given the words for the finale of O Come all Ye Faithful and all performers bowed to a rousing applause. The proceeds will go towards a new not-for-profit company, the Henley Community Hub, which will oversee the project to sustainably restore the hall so it can become a meeting place for community groups.

The project will cost about £1million and Ms Reineke wants to get as many local charities, organisations and people as possible involved.

The partner, Experience Henley, provided mulled cider, Christmas cakes and biscuits.

On Monday, residents learned to belly dance at The Relais.

Advent-goers braved the minus temperatures to gather in the hotel courtyard and see two
performers.

Singer-songwriter Holly Shillito started with her own song Illuminate and then sang a number of covers of Christmas hits such as Coldplay’s Christmas Lights, Stay Another Day by East 17 and 2 Become 1 by the Spice Girls.

The second performer was belly dancer Sheb Bamsey.

Decked in sequins, she wowed onlookers with her moves and encouraged four members of the crowd to join in.

The evening finished with a rendition of Silent Night by Ms Shillito, who encouraged the crowd to join in.

She said: “I normally only sing my own songs, so to finish with one that everyone could sing along to was really nice.

“It has taken time to build up confidence to do this. I only started performing a year-and-a-half before lockdown after always wanting to get involved but being too scared to do so. It has taken me to get to this point to trust myself that I can do it.”

The evening raised money for the Henley Mermaids, five women who take on open water swimming challenges for charity. This year their chosen cause is the Henley Community Hub.

On Tuesday, six Ukrainian women took centre stage at the d:two centre.

In a packed room, they spoke in Ukrainian, with the words translated in English behind them.

They spoke of their Christmases at home, the traditions on Christmas Eve known as the “Holy Evening” and the carols they would sing.

The group performed a selection of these carols including God’s Son was Born This Night, New Joy is to Come and Carol of the Bells.

Between each one they spoke of the difficulties they have faced this year and how, despite the country becoming divided by war, Ukrainians have become closer.

Henley Baptist Church minister Jeremy Bray then took to the stage to ask the audience for silent reflection, remembering the families in Ukraine without light, heat or company.

Two carols were sung in English to finish the evening, Silent Night and O Holy Night.

The evening was in aid of the Ukrainian lunch club which meets every Tuesday and provides the Ukrainian members of the Henley community somewhere safe and regular to meet, and Ukrainian relief.

The remaining list of dates and venues are as follows: December 17 Henley Cricket Club; 18 Market Place; 19 Christ Church; 20 Kenton Theatre; 21 Leander Club; 22 Simmons & Sons; 23 Town hall; 24 St Mary’s Church.

For more information, visit www.livingadventcalendar.co.uk