Christmas Concert at Friends' Shop
Christmas Concert fills Friends’ shop with Festive Spirit
The pandemic may have stopped us from holding our annual Christmas Concert last year, but nothing could stop us this year.
So on Thursday December 3, we were also able to fulfil our ambition to present the wonderful sounds of the Invicta Grammar School Chamber Choir to the public when they sang outside the Fremlin Walk shop to delight late-night shoppers and chorister families alike.
After two outside sessions, watched by dozens under the festive lights, and interval hot drinks and mince pies for all, the choir sang as beautifully inside the shop, with an audience of more than 60 enjoying every moment, carol and seasonal song.
An Autumn raffle with tickets sold over several weeks gained a sales boost at the concert, with Elaine Craven and Pam Angley doing a great job of selling the tickets. Some 15 prizes were displayed on a table, with a quilt and two dolls handmade by Mrs Elizabeth Marsden – many thanks to her for her generous donation and superb craftmanship – attracting much attention.
The dolls were won by music teachers Ms Fletcher and Ms Hughes, who were delighted with their prizes. More than £150 was raised from the raffle.
We were honoured to welcome the Mayor of Maidstone Cllr Fay Gooch and her escort her husband Peter – both Museum Friends. She chatted to the choristers and thanked them for a special evening.
Thanks go to Invicta’s head teacher Mrs Beales, the staff of the music department, Elaine and Pam for the raffle, Sue for serving refreshments to the choir during the interval, Ivan for setting up the shop and serving teas, coffees and mince pies, and trustees who donated raffle prizes.
This was the seventh Christmas Concert we have held, previously in the Museum but now in the Shop, which we think is a good location for the event as it takes the music to the people and offers another opportunity to promote Maidstone Museums and MMF.
This event signals the start of Christmas for many and we hope we can continue to offer it in partnership with Invicta Grammar School for many years to come.
