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CMVC - Member of the Month
August 2009 - John Webb
Second tenor John
is shown below with his wife Margaret. John is the choir's current Concert Manager.
BIRTHPLACE:
Wiltshire born and bred - quite a minority group in the choir (apparently) - I am proud to be a 'Moonraker', and have never lived outside the county.
WHY JOIN THE CHOIR?:
I am a comparitively new comer to the choir, having joined in 2005 after being encouraged by some members that I served in the Lansdowne Strand Hotel in Calne when they came in for refreshment after performing at a concert in the town.
I had mentioned enjoying an evening at a public house in Cornwall when a local male choir had spent an evening singing in the bar. Little did I realise at the time that this would lead to me singing in the joint concerts that CMVC undertake with Cornish choirs in the St Ives area.
MUSICAL BACKGROUND:
My previous singing had been limited to school productions of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. Apart from that I had played the cello in the school orchestra for which I was awarded the school music prize in 1954. Practising the cello at home was not an enjoyable experience for my family, and I soon gave it up to learn to play the church organ.
I was organist at South Marston Parish Church from 1957 to 1969, but then found that as I was working long hours, the demands of playing for two or three services each Sunday with a young family were too great. Sadly, lack of practise and arthritic fingers have now taken their toll.
PERSONAL BACKGROUND:
I married Margaret at South Marston Parish Church in 1964 - where we lived for many years - and have three sons. I spent most of my working life as a transport manager in the sand and gravel industry.
Margaret and I also looked after the Plough Inn at Ashton Keynes - now sadly closed - for eight and a half years, and I also undertook relief work for the Courage brewery. I thoroughly enjoyed the role of 'mine host', and this led me to take up part-time work in the trade after I retired - which ultimately led to my involvement with the choir.
HOBBIES:
My hobbies include vegatable gardening (not flowers), caravanning and photography - but my main interest (apart from the choir) is long distance trail walking.
I completed the 631 mile South West Coast Path in 2008, and am now walking the 290 mile Macmillan Way from Abbotsbury in Dorset to Boston in Lincolnshire in aid of Macmillan Cancer Care. One of the most enjoyable parts of the walk is coming across out-of-the-way country pubs, and participating in a pint of good real ale for refreshment.
PERSONAL THANKS:
I thoroughly enjoy singing in the choir, and the fellowship and banter that occurs on practise nights and during concerts - and I particularly appreciate the tremendous dedication of Bob our conductor and Sarah our accompanist to whom I feel we are all so indebted.
Our concerts would also not be quite the same without Peter Field and his monologues. I know the enjoyment that we receive is reflected in our performances which in turn is much appreciated by our audiences.
I also enjoy the gathering in the Gladstone Arms after the choir practise, when we are often able to put the world to rights in much the same manner as the husband in one of Peter's monologues.
It was a privilege to be asked to become Concert Manager in 2008 - a roll that I have enjoyed - and I would like to thank the members for their forbearance and co-operation in assisting me in my endeavours.