Cultures collide in spirit of giving

A CELEBRATION of different cultures was staged during the third week of this year’s Henley Living Advent Calendar.

The d:two centre in Market Place played host to performances of songs from India, South Africa and Ukraine on Tuesday last week.

Rajesh Peter performed an Indian song of praise, Ho Teri Stuti Aur Aradhana, in Hindi and was accompanied on violin by his daughter Natasha.

He was followed by Valeriia Mocharska-Liulchyk, who sang a folk song from the Hutsul community in Ukraine, which is based on the western border of the country and spans into Romania.

Ms Mocharska-Liulchyk said: “Ukraine is a huge country and within one country we have a lot of different traditions, dialects and even separate cultures.

“You also might know that Ukrainians are a very musical nation and this is absolutely true because we have preserved a lot of old songs. Actually, we have hundreds for individual cycles of the year.”

Ms Mocharska-Liulchyk explained that the Hutsul song she had chosen to sing, a carol, was traditionally sung to wish upon a young woman that she finds a good man to marry in the following year.

She said: “The Hutsuls are a group living in a mountainous area of Ukraine in the Carpathians. They are modern Ukrainians who cherish their traditions and culture and pass it on to their children and spread it all over the world.

“I am not a Hutsul but I am in love with how they treat their culture because I firmly believe that language, tradition and culture in general are the bases of a national identity and I am glad that Ukrainians have kept it and today I can tell you about it.”

The final performance was led by half a dozen members of the South African community at the church, who sang a version of the carol Silent Night in Afrikaans before Father Jeremy Bray led the audience in a rendition of Oh Holy Night. The event was raising money for Henley Debt Centre, which is based in the building and is run in connection with Christians Against Poverty.

The Henley Baptist Church, which is based at the centre, is run by Fr Jeremy and his wife Jo, following the departure of Roger and Diana Cole, who retired in 2021 and moved away.

Fr Jeremy said: “We are raising money for the debt centre which does some incredible work in this community. Your donations will be changing lives. It’s a wonderful, wonderful charity to support.

“This evening our church is offering something a little bit different. We have quite a diverse community in our church and we are really privileged to have people from many different nations.

“We don’t promise to be professionals, we are rough and ready but we are heartfelt.”

On Wednesday last week, crowds at the Christ Church Centre in Reading Road were surprised by a performance from the Henley String Collective.

The group was made up of four members of the Henley Symphony Orchestra, including violin teacher Anna Del Nevo, who was joined by six of her students from the Suzuki violin group.

They performed songs including Palladio by Karl Jenkins, Ashokan Farewell by Jay Ungar and Bulgar from Odessa by Edward Huws Jones as well as the carol Ding Dong Merrily on High.

Ms Del Nevo said one of her favourite moments of the night was when one of her students, Shree Rao, played Winter by Vivaldi.

She said: “I think that was the highlight of the performance because she is such a good player. Some of the children played the solo in the double violin concerto by Bach. It’s a duet so two played each part. We wanted to do something a bit different from the normal as you get a lot of Christmas songs and carols. It seemed to go really well and the audience really enjoyed it, as did all the performers.”

Organiser Richard Rodway, who chairs the trustees of the calendar, said: “The performance was superb, I was in awe of them really. I thought it was really good and an interesting contrast with some of the mad stuff that we do and it continues the novelty that you don’t know what the act is going to be until the night.”

On Thursday last week, Saxaphonly Fans, a trio of saxophone players led by Rob Digweed, played festive songs at Handelsbanken in Tuns Lane.

Each musician appeared at a window on the first floor of the building, which was lit up by Christmas lights. Their set included Frosty the Snowman by Gene Autry, Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt and Merry Xmas Everybody by Slade.

The event was in support of the Bell Surgery Charitable Trust, which is fundraising to get £8,000 for a new body mass index monitor.

Liz James, chair of the trustees, said: “The trust has not been going very long but it’s for the benefit of the patients to buy things that the NHS doesn’t pay for. Things that we have done have been quite small so far, including purchasing wheelchairs, upgrading IT stuff and blood pressure monitors.

“In the lobby, there is a big machine where you can weigh yourself, take your blood pressure and height and it will tell you what your BMI is.”

Anne Sandars, 77, of Church Street, said: “I love saxophones, my brother-in-law is a saxophonist and plays in a big band, so I love it.”

Mince pies and mulled cider were provided by Zoë Ferreira, 42, owner of Henley Larder. She said: “I did it last year when we were at the Kenton Theatre. We were asked if we wanted to join in again this year and I was delighted to do one with the Bell Surgery because I think it’s a fantastic local surgery and we’re very lucky to have them.”

On Friday last week, the River & Rowing Museum hosted musical duo Nothin’ But Covers in the Thames Room.

The pair, singer Ellen Fazakerley and guitarist Jimmy Grant performed a set including Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee, Angels by Robbie Williams, Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison and Fairytale of New York by the Pogues.

Afterwards, town councillor David Eggleton performed some magic tricks which included a disappearing handkerchief.

The evening was sponsored by Henley Business Partnership which provided mulled wine and mince pies.

Museum director Steve O’Connor said: “It was a great night and it was fantastic to see the museum busy and obviously great to support the town and the Living Advent Calendar.

“What money was raised will all go towards our education programme through which we teach about 4,000 children a year.”

On Saturday, about 100 people gathered at Robinson Sherston estate agents in Bell Street for a performance from band the Muttons.

The band members wore Santa hats as they performed covers including Feliz Navidad by José Feliciano, Dakota by Stereophonics, Sweet Home Chicago by the Blues Brothers and Santa Claus Is Coming to Town by Mariah Carey.

Mr Rodway said: “This is the 287th living advent calendar performance but the first one at this venue. Remember where you were on December 14, 2024.

“It seemed like a good plan in August and it was even better in December. I think we have inadvertently stumbled upon Henley’s new cool live music venue.”

The partner for the evening was the Old Bell in Bell Street and the event was raising money for Wyfold Riding for the Disabled.

On Sunday, the cast of this year’s pantomime Snow White at the Kenton Theatre was the surprise act.

The cast, comprising Lois Glenister as Snow White, Dan Whitley as Muddles, and Brian Elrick as Holly Honeybum, performed 15 minutes on the stage at the New Street venue.

Theatre manager Lottie Pheasant said: “It went really well and it was really busy. The cast did a short review of the panto and a few songs and dances to give people a flavour of the show.

“There was a really big crowd and it was brilliant having so many people supporting it. There was a really positive reaction — it was really good fun.”

The night was sponsored by Henley Gin, which offered guests complimentary spiced apple drinks and gingerbread biscuits and the money raised will go towards the upkeep of the theatre.

The remaining performances will be at the following venues: December 20, the Eyot Centre; 21, Henley Rugby Club; 22, Henley Cricket Club; 23, town hall and 24, St Mary’s Church.