SUMMMER CONCERT

Including Songs by WMC CHORALE

ST. LUKE'S METHODIST CHURCH
MARKET STREET
HOYLAKE

Saturday 10th May
7.00 p.m.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

HAMILTON URC,
CLAUGHTON VILLAGE,
BIRKENHEAD,
CH43 8TG

Saturday 13th December
3 .00 p.m.

SATURDAY 15th MARCH 2008 at 2.00 p.m.

CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF COLIN MARTIN

Colin Martin who directed the WRO from its foundation in 1998 to his retirement in 2005 died on 24th January 2007.

HAMILTON URC,
CLAUGHTON VILLAGE,
BIRKENHEAD,
CH43 8TG

On Saturday, 5th March 2008, the recorder players of Merseyside and Greater Manchester joined forces to celebrate the life of Colin Martin who did so much to bring about the renaissance of recorder playing in the North-West of England.

The venue was the Hamilton Memorial United Reformed Church, Claughton Village, Birkenhead, the home of the Wirral Recorder Orchestra which Colin conducted and inspired from its foundation, nine years ago.

The afternoon of music-making was opened by the Manchester Recorder Orchestra, of which Colin was co-conductor along with his great friend, Dennis Bamforth, and there were musical offerings from the Manchester S.R.P. and the Stockport Recorder College, both of which Colin had been associated with for many years. Members of the recorder class in Ellesmere Port also made their contribution. Colin was their director when they were previously located in Chester and it was good to see that they are still flourishing in their new location under Grace Barton's management.

In between the group pieces there was communal playing of arrangements of Welsh folk songs and tributes and light-hearted reminiscences of Colin's many play days at Alston Hall, Gateacre and elsewhere. One of the reminiscences was of Colin's habit of giving verbal mnemonics for musical rhythms and while the Manchester Orchestra was playing "The Italian Girl in Algiers", I could here his voice singing "I want an aaap-ple, I want an aaap-ple". A very happy moment for me.

The Wirral Orchestra were the final performers, after which the afternoon was brought to a very appropriate conclusion with a mass playing of the great Welsh tune Cwm Rhondda.

Afterwards, we all enjoyed a splendid afternoon tea in the church hall. Colin would have enjoyed it all immensely - especially on this particular afternoon when the Welsh rugby team won the Grand Slam!
He was a lovely man.

Jack Foster, March 2008