Armistice Cantata raises over £600 for The Royal British Legion

Approximately two hundred children from local schools, including Stamford Junior School, took part in a Royal British Legion Primary Schools Singing Day in Stamford on Thursday, 3^rd October 2019. The concert succeeded a similar event last year, proving so successful that the Schools invited attendees to participate once more.The concert took place in the Oswald Elliott Hall and aimed to feature music and songs linked with military events throughout the ages. These songs began with the Agincourt Song, followed by Elvis Presley’s Wooden Heart, The Dambusters’ March, The lady with the Lamp, Mairzy Doats and You can’t keep a horse in a lighthouse, culminating in an evocative rendition of No wars will stop us singing.The pupils from each school spent many weeks learning the songs independently, coming together during the day to form a massed choir.  Nicola Sandall, performing as ‘The Teacher’, and three young members of Stamford Pantomime Players introduced each song with their own brand of humour.The performance, under the expert direction of Fergus Black, Director of Music at All Saints’ Church and ably accompanied on the piano by Duncan McIlrae, Director of Music at Stamford Junior School, was an enormous success. The theatre was filled with both parents and siblings, who aptly displayed their  enjoyment of a most memorable afternoon, which not only displayed the singing skills of those involved, but taught about the effects of war, the meaning of Remembrance and the sacrifices which are sometimes necessary to maintain the freedoms of which we all enjoy today.The Royal British Legion commented their thanks to all the schools concerned: Stamford Junior School, Malcolm Sargent Primary School, The Bluecoat School, St Gilbert’s Primary School, Copthill School, and John Clare Primary School in Helpston. Additionally, thanking Mr Will Phelan, Principal of Stamford Endowed Schools, and all his staff for the use of the hall and for all their help in mounting the event, alongside the Burghley Estate Trust for their support.Finally, they recognised and thanked the parents and others present who so generously gave the magnificent sum of £611.13 in the collection for the work of the Royal British Legion on behalf the Service and ex-Service communities and their dependents.