1 July 2023 – Come and Sing, in Dursley
Alumni and guests were invited to a morning and afternoon in St James the Great Church, Dursley, studying Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, culminating in a quality performance, also including Samuel Barber’s well-known Agnus Dei.
20 May 2023 – Tour of Hellens Manor (Much Marcle)
A group of 21 people were treated to an excellent tour round this historical site, including a delicious lunch.
5 May 2023 – Opera at Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
A small group watched the English Touring Opera’s performance of Lucrezia Borgia, preceded by dinner.
1 April 2023 – Choral Concert in St Matthew’s Church, Stroud
On exactly the first anniversary of the inaugural concert of the Standish Consort, the alumni choir performed some well-known pieces by Fauré, Allegri, Byrd, and Schütz to a packed-full church. A highlight was the specially commissioned work by Gemma Cartmell: O Saving Sacrifice. Eleven choir members contributed solos within these pieces, and Edward Byrne (Organ Scholar at Magdalen) provided organ accompaniment.
26 March 2023 – Boat Race Viewing with Refreshments
A group of about 20 Oxford and Cambridge alumni gathered in Standish Village Hall to watch the races on TV while enjoying prosecco, sandwiches, cakes etc. An enjoyable get-together, despite the disappointing outcomes of the races.
23 March 2023 – Severn Bore Viewing with Breakfast
It was an early morning start for a group of OUS Gloucestershire alumni to see a unique Gloucestershire spectacle – the Severn Bore. We met at the home of one of our members, then walked to the river, where a group of surfers had entered the water to try and catch the wave. The downstream flow of the river gradually slowed and then we heard the Bore coming before we could see it. The wave swamped the river bank, the river level suddenly rose, and the flow reversed to a fast upstream direction. It was all over in 10 seconds but well worth seeing. We then returned to our host for a delicious late breakfast of pastries and croissants.
