Christmas memories 7. Singing for my supper

Throughout my grammar school career I always sang in the school choir,  Fortunately enthusiasm was enough qualification, and joy in singing was considered to be more important than innate ability.  There were of course a few star singers but the rest of us were there to provide volume rather than quality.

The choir formed almost as term began in September with weekly rehearsals but by early December the rehearsals were several times a week as the music master tore out his already thinning hair trying to get a decent sound out of his motley crew.   My recollection was that by the time the carol service came along we sounded more than OK.  Best white blouses, neatly tied school ties, and perfectly pressed skirts were required for girls and boys wore their school blazers as well.  (And trousers not skirts before you ask.)  We had to rehearse getting in and out of position, how to sit when we were not performing and indeed how to stand up and sit down together.  I wonder if schoolchildren today would consent to being so regimented.

The carol service was always done three times: twice for parents and other guests and once as the final assembly on the last day of term for the whole school so it marked being let off the leash for Christmas.  

There were perks to being in the choir.  We would go out en masse (about sixty of us) and go carol singing on  few streets around the school which could be great fun and I know it was appreciated by the local residents.  We would collect cash for a local children's home but one or two householders would have mince pies or gingerbread ready for us as well.

The best perk however, was the party at the headmaster's house.  "Sir" was normally quite a distant figure but once a year he would invite the choir to his home.  We would sing for his family and neighbours, his wife would provide a nice supper, then he would provide a shuttle service in his camper van to take us back into town.  A wonderful man.