Christmas letter 2023

We started 2023 on holiday in Gran Canaria. Back home the UK was in the grip of strikes and the NHS was bursting with flu and covid. 😣😖😫

22 January Katharine went to Rome for a conference on leprosy for St Francis Leprosy Guild (and even saw Pope Francis from afar)
His Holiness Pope Francis
On 29 January 2023 it was World Leprosy Day – logo designed by Georgie Harris Graphic Design. Georgie and Katharine have complementary skills and work together especially for St Francis Leprosy Guild.
Our second recital together at Cley

We had a short break in Tenerife at El Médano

We had a short break in Tenerife 14-19 February at El Médano

We raised the roof at Gresham’s Choral Society’s production of Mendelssohn’s Elijah with a 60-strong choir, orchestra and soloists from Gresham’s. Katharine sang and Mark conducted.

Elijah rehearsal Sunday 12 March

Saturday 25 March Mark conducted Fakenham Choral Society’s production of Samson.

Poster
Then we had a few day’s break at the fabulous Gran Tacande in Tenerife 28 March – 2 April

Then Easter was upon us. Mark conducted four services in Holy week. Especially memorable was the Good Friday service at Hindringham church with the Hindringham Evensong scratch choir. We sang Lotti Crucifixus, Allegri Miserere, Sanders’ Reproaches, Victoria Passion.

Then out of the blue, and with the unexpected departure of its CEO and Finance Director, Katharine was appointed Acting Director at St Francis Leprosy Guild. An exciting few months followed!

15 April 2023 Mark conducted Haydn’s famous Nelson Mass for Fakenham Choral Society’s “Come and Sing.”

Poster
At long last – on the Coronation weekend, (6/7 May) a return to our favourite city – Geneva
To celebrate the marriage of Natalya Kahn and Nicolas Derieux
And NNCO’s latest production – Mark conducting and Katharine playing Nicklaus/Muse

At end of May – Andrew Hynard visited the Dales in Upper Sheringham no less, with his golf friends – playing at Sheringham Golf Club! There was more than ten years of news to catch up on. I’m sorry Debbie wasn’t there.

In June, NNCO performed a concert of “Opera Favourites” at Houghton St Mary’s church (cloak by Henrietta Faire – no less!)
3 -12 July – the day after Gresham’s Speech Day – we had a wonderful beach holiday in St Raphael, near Nice
13 July a lightening visit by Sarah and Anders Klerkefors and Tim and Sally Smales.
15 July we celebrated the marriage of Holly Farnell (taught by Mark at Gresham’s) and Matt Spiers at Holy Trinity Church West Runton and at Beeston Hall School. It was a joyful occasion. Mark played the organ.
We visited the Whites for the last time at 10 Killieser Avenue. So many memories.

Katharine built a new website for North Norfolk Chamber Opera and became Chair

Katharine visited the Klerkefors in Stockholm 19-22 August
And Mark went to Chamonix with Hilary for some serious mountain walking on 21-26 August
Katharine visited (newly married) Gavin and Penny Gilbey in Dornoch in early September

We visited Geneva for a second time in early October to join the choir of Holy Trinity Geneva to sing Handel’s Messiah. Katharine sang and Mark accompanied the choir on the organ.

Then came Gresham’s choir tour to Sorrento during the October half term.

Sorrento – Bay of Naples
Overlooking the bay
Chiesa San Francesco Sorrento
Sorrento and ice cream
St Francis Sorrento
Madonna and child San Giuseppe
Ravello
Duomo di Ravello
Duomo di Ravello
Vesuvius in the background
Pompeii
Pompeii
Pompeii
Choir Tour
31 October – Katharine attended Lizzy Standbrook’s graduation at Chester Cathedral
It was lovely to see Joanne Winchester on 28 November. She was about to receive this prestigious lifetime award the Property Week Student Accommodation Hall of Fame
We sang the Messiah on 10 December – Mark conducted the choir, orchestra, and soloists
Then Joanna Markbreiter and Colin Paterson came to stay. Lovely to see them again and to hear Joanna sing. Merry Christmas!

Mark conducted six consecutive carol services: Fakenham Choral Society’s Christmas concert, Hindringham Choir’s carol service, Fishmongers’ carol service in London with Gresham’s students, Nigel Jenney’s Christmas Iceni choir at Wiverton and Binham Priory and Holt St Andrew’s church choir carol service.

And Christmas was upon us. Katharine sang and Mark played at the Midnight Mass and the Christmas Day sang Eucharist at Holt St Andrew.

Holt St Andrew

We celebrated Christmas with champagne at the Bennett’s then more Christmas cheer at home with my cousin Diana and her son Alistair and Dick Girling and Caroline McGhie. Sadly Georgie was ill with COVID and couldn’t join us or go on holiday to Morocco as planned.

We’ve also seen Anne, Russell and Ellie Starkey for cocktails and beef curry and Sue Hitchcock for lunch at the Swan in Ingham. Finally, we celebrated the New Year with Hilary and Robert Markland in Worcester and then with Robert and Helen White at their super new house in Marlow. It was lovely to see LJ and Richard too. It’s been an incredible year!

Happy New Year! Kx and Mx