A NEW carol was given its first public performance at Christchurch U3A Singers’ Celebration of Christmas concert at Trinity Methodist Church, Southbourne.

It gave them extra cause for celebration because the Chorus of the Wise Men was composed by one of their own singers, bass Roger Hewetson.

The carol, which stands comparison with established favourites, is just part of a new cantata, The Birth of Christ, in which the composer refreshingly retells the complete story of Christmas.

Although a retired engineer, Roger, of Aston Mead, Christchurch, whose wife Anne leads the choir, has sung semi-professionally and also taught singing.

He devoted himself to this major work on and off over several years before finally having it recorded this year on a newly issued CD.

The disc is narrated by David Suchet and Roger himself is featured among a number of talented local singers, including the Atkinson family of Bournemouth – parents Lynton and Joy, daughter Isabelle and son James, who are both studying at the Royal College of Music.

Accompanying them are Highcliffe Junior Choir and Orchestra and Southampton Philharmonic Choir.

A packed audience supported the Singers’ concert, joining in well known carols and listening as the choir performed their own selection, including the American arranger Michael Clawson’s version of The First Noel/Pachelbel’s Canon, and a gentle and lesser known work, O Men From The Fields, arranged by Anne.

Among readings was a poem, That Special Night, by Christchurch WI Drama Group member Pauline Green. The concert was accompanied by pianist Phyllis Porter and organists Rayner Skeet and Paul Crosby.

*The CD is available from Christchurch Priory and Wimborne Minster gift shops and Keith Jones Christian Bookshop, Hinton Road, Bournemouth.