Shrove Tuesday

Oh, so today is Shrove Tuesday, otherwise known as pancake day!

As we know, it’s a moveable feast, but cast your mind back to this day in 1862 … The Loughborough Monitor of Thursday March 6th, carried the following report of an event that had taken place two days earlier:

CONCERT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE DISPENSARY

On Shrove Tuesday evening the Loughborough Amateur Choral Society gave their promised Concert for the benefit of the above valuable public charity, in the Odd-fellow’s Hall [now an international supermarket]. As we anticipated, there was a very large and highly respectable audience, although there was a deficiency in the numbers of the elite of the neighbourhood, considering the object for which the concert was given.

The hall itself presented a very lively and greatly improved appearance, having just been cleaned and re-painted throughout, and the walls being finished in tinted coloured panels; many of the audience remarked [on] the pleasant contrast between its present aspect and uses, and its former gloomy condition and somewhat questionable appropriation.

An additional decoration, prepared for the occasion by Mr. G. Russell, was extended nearly the whole width of the room, and consisted of the inscription – “For the benefit of the Dispensary,” – executed in bold letters of vermillion chocolate upon a white [back]ground, the whole very tastefully bordered round with flowers coloured in rose and green.

The excellent acoustic properties of the building proved to be such as to make many wish that our noble Town Hall was equally adapted for vocal and instrumental performances, although there is as much need for improved ventilation as there is at the Town Hall.

The members of the Amateur Choral Society acquitted themselves, on the whole, to the satisfaction of the audience, who very freely accorded their approval at the termination of each piece; although we have no doubt those present who were able to criticise would discover very much that might be, and we feel persuaded will be, amended.

Their success at present is greatest in choral pieces, as there was an evident need of more severe practice in the trios and quartetts [sic.]. We may, however, make very favourable exception in the case of Miss Peel, who sang most sweetly the beautiful song, “My soul doth magnify the Lord”, in which she was deservedly encored. We have no desire to look too closely into any defects that might be noticed, as we cannot forget that the majority of the members of this society are working men, and that their praiseworthy object was to enhance the funds of our public dispensary.

The members of the society were aided by the gratuitous services of Mr. H. Dennis, of Hugglescote, as leader of the orchestra; Mr. West, of Sawley, first violin; Mr. Turner, of Sawley, second violin; Mr. Edwards of Sheepshed Choral Society; Mr. J. Granger, of Nottingham, bass singer, who was heartily encored in singing the bass solo, “Arm, arm, ye brave!” and also by other friends.

A vote of thanks moved by Mr. Mills, and supported by Mr. Marshall, was cordially presented to the Society and to those gentlemen who had so kindly assisted; and this was acknowledged by Mr. Dennis.  We are glad to say that after the payment of all expenses there remains the handsome sum of £6 15s. to hand over to the funds of the Dispensary. We hope the society will ere long give a concert for their own benefit.

The following is the programme:

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Posted by lynneaboutloughborough

With apologies for typos which are all mine!

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