Wokingham

Over 400 schoolchildren brought the Loddon Valley Leisure Centre to life with festive cheer at the annual Wokingham borough primary schools’ carol concert on Sunday December 9 which was hosted by Wokingham Borough Council’s Mayor, Cllr. Annette Drake.

Programme sales and a collection after the concert raised over £4000 for the Wokingham mayor’s chosen charity, which this year is Building for the Future. This is an umbrella group of five charities that already work with disabled children and their families locally: Peapods, Friends of Ryeish Green Bungalow, Mencap, Wokingham Autism Spectrum Partnership and Friends of Bridges. The charity’s vision is to provide a state-of-the-art building to cater for children’s individual needs as well as for community groups.

Some 22 local Wokingham schools formed the choir and they have spent many hours over the past few weeks rehearsing for the annual event. The schools involved were: Arborfield, Newland and Barkham CE Junior, Bearwood Primary, Crazies Hill CE Primary, Farley Hill Primary, Grazeley Parochial Primary, Hawthorns Primary, Keephatch Primary, Lambs Lane Primary, Loddon Primary, Nine Mile Ride Primary, Palmer CE Junior, Radstock Primary, Rivermead Primary, Robert Piggott Junior, Shinfield St.Mary’s CE Junior, St. Pauls CE Primary,
St Sebastian’s CE Primary, St Teresa’s RC Primary, Westende Junior, The White House, Winnersh Primary, Woodley CE Primary.

Berkshire Maestros Corelli Orchestra provided the music for the concert and the children sang a variety of songs including ‘White Christmas’, ‘Angel’s Carol’ and ‘Away In A Manger’ to name just a few. Musical director James Baker conducted the choir and the 50 strong orchestra, who also performed instrumentals including ‘Sleigh Ride’ and ‘Christmas Festival’.

Over 1,000 people watched including parents and teachers. They joined in the singing of Christmas favourites such as ‘Silent Night’ and ‘Hark The Herald Angels Sing’.

Wokingham Mayor Cllr Annette Drake said: “There certainly is no better way to start the Christmas festivities than at the annual primary schools’ carol concert. It is always one of the biggest civic events of the year and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

“The annual carol concert is a time to celebrate the musical talents of the young people of the Wokingham borough. It has been fantastic to see the children’s enthusiasm and hear their wonderful voices. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the teachers who have spent a great deal of time preparing the children for this concert, the conductor and the young musicians of the orchestra.”

Wokingham Borough Council