End of Term

It’s been a busy and eventful final week of term. The final video recap for Never Forget is up on the site and we’re now, if not on holiday exactly, taking a break from our regular weekly rehearsal routine.

We have Bungay Christmas Market tomorrow, Christmas meals Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, plus the big Ipswich Carol Sing on Wednesday.

Then Wreath Making in Ipswich the following Saturday, followed by a somewhat relentless run of gigs.

Firstly, The National Horse Racing Museum early afternoon on Saturday 13th – complete with pony and trap rides, I believe – then Sunday 14th at Ipswich Rugby Club, West Suffolk Hospital on Monday 15th, St Elizabeth Hospice on Tuesday 16th, Thetford Garden Centre on Saturday 20th. Finally, we round off the season on Sunday 21st at Henley House in Ipswich.

We’ll be back to rehearsals week starting 12th January 2026.

Portman Road

Even if you weren’t there, you can’t have missed the excitement in the chat and on social media about our appearance at Portman Road last Monday. Mercifully the rain held off and I think we can safely say that we managed to get the crowd right where we wanted them for Kevin Sinfield’s big arrival. This was the first of Seven marathons in Seven days and no doubt you've been following his progress the rest of this week like I have.

The Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) were absolutely bowled over with what we did and sent me a lovely email:

“The energy that the choir brought to the event was incredible. You really did make the event extra special.”
Motor Neurone Disease Association

We saw some old friends and made some new ones. Kevin was unbelievably gracious and more than a little generous with his time. What an impressive individual he is. We’ll be doing plenty more work with MNDA over the next few months.

Kevin was clearly delighted with the reception and even thanked us directly in his speech.

"What a wonderful choir!"
Kevin Sinfield

Thank-yous

As you know, I’ve got no plans to grow Pop Club Choir beyond our current four locations and nor do I plan to take on any “staff”. Been there! Done that! Didn’t much care for it! However, there’s a wonderful group of people that generously give their time and enthusiam to make your Pop Club Choir experience what it is.

I’m always a bit nervous when starting a list of thank-yous in case I forget anyone. But, throwing caution to the wind, a huge thanks to our tea and coffee people (At Bury, Sandra, Grace and their deputies Kim and Suzy; Margaret at Bungay; Linda and Gay at Thetford). Same again to Maureen and Janice who cover the door at Bury, Elaine who has organised some amazing social events this term and done “Tech Support” for Ipswich, along with Sharon and Kim again who covered all things "tech" at Bungay and Bury/Thetford respectively.

I should also mention Carolyn and Judith who have organised our Bury/Thetford and Bungay Christmas meals and of course Sarah, who prepares the lyrics sheets for us.

There’s a further team of Cake Sale people who make all that happen as well as all of you who’ve made such generous donations and of course who’ve bought stuff too.

Last but not least, I want to thank our wonderful photographers and videographers who capture our various performances for posterity and of course, our irrepressible cheerleader and resident Santa Claus. Do I have to say his name?

I’m so very grateful to you all.

No list of this sort is complete without a mention for my wonderful (and sometimes long-suffering) wife, Helen. Everything that you enjoy at Pop Club Choir is thanks to her. She is the person, without whom, I am nothing.

Songs for next term

The songs for next term are ready to go though I’ve yet to decide what order I’ll be doing them in. I’m expecting plenty of tasters in the new term so expect a nice easy one to start with. I’ll probably go for a “classic track” rather than one of the modern ones that I’ve got lined up but rest assured, I’ll be trying to bring you a range of styles, eras and tempi over 2026.

As discussed at some length, I try to balance these factors out, take into account the ones you vote up in the Song Chooser and of course, keep in mind what I think will work well at gigs.

Carols at Ipswich Sports Club - Wednesday 10th December

A final shout out for our post-Christmas-dinner Carol sing. We’ll run through our Christmas set and a few carols and see if we can encourage some of our audience to join in. It’ll be fun and informal and we’ll be collecting for the wonderful St Elizabeth Hospice.

Both the gig and the meal are open to all so do come along if you’re free.

Book your place at the gig by going to the Calendar section and hitting gigs and set yourself to “coming” as usual.

Order your meal at popclubchoir.uk/shop

And finally…

In the unlikely event that I’m not going to see you before next term, have a wonderful Christmas and new year and I can’t wait to see you all in 2026!

If you have any questions then do get in touch. You can email me at ed@popclubchoir.uk, or WhatsApp, call or text on 07973 110075.

Ed