Concert to celebrate the rebuilding of Huntington Church organ and to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Dylan Thomas

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 1ST AT 7.30 PM

On Saturday, November 1st, the final event of 2014 of the Friends of St. Thomas a Becket Church, Huntington, will take place in the church.

This special concert is to celebrate the re-building of the organ, with sounds as yet unheard, following its restoration by Peter Hughes.  The restoration has been made possible from the legacy donated by Mrs. Dorothy Jack and the concert is given in gratitude both for her generosity and for the many contributions made to the church by the Jack family over the years.  A plaque to the Jack Family will be unveiled at the event.

 The Huntington organist Stephen Gilling has been playing this organ for 52 years, when he began with a hand-pumped organ. He and Peter Hughes will be playing popular pieces from Aaron Copland and from Bach to Fauré.  In addition, Mai Jones, who is a former actress and was trained with Judi Dench, Vanessa Redgrave and Richard Harris,  will be reading amusing and poignant extracts from the best of Dylan Thomas, with Allan Lloyd, who needs no introduction.   Other local musicians will be appearing including a choir, the trumpeter Stuart Brain, Ann James, clavinova and even the Revd. Dennis Parry, who is a fine cellist and recorder player.

Stephen Gilling 

Stephen Gilling 

Landscape and Geology from Kington to Hay by Dr. Geoff Steel

 7.30PM, SATURDAY 4TH OCTOBER 2014, HUNTINGTON CHURCH 

Have you ever wondered why villages like Huntington look so different from Eardisley and Weobley, even though they are so close?  Why do the neighbouring Black Mountains and Hergest Ridge have different soil? And why are there quarries around Old Radnor mining different stone?

Dr. Geoff Steel, an eminent scientist and one of the best-known residents of Huntington, has another passion – his love for the area in which we all live.  He will give an illustrated talk on the fascinating rocks of which it is composed and the processes by which they change, revealing how geology has shaped our agriculture, buildings and transport for centuries.

Here is a chance to learn about our environment with its ancient history and fascinating stories for everyone with an interest in both land use and landscape - from the formation and composition of soil we farm to the origin of the rocks we mine and the hills we climb.  This will be an unmissable evening, told by a respected and most likable friend.

Ten Years of Pilgrimages to the War Graves and Battlefields of the Two World Wars

By  Dr. Philip Cleland

7.30 pm, Saturday August 2nd 2014, Huntington Church  

Dr. Cleland attending a Buckingham Palace Garden Party for servicemen and service women

Dr. Philip Cleland, the well known former doctor from Kington, has spent the last ten years as medical support to  the 'Remembrance Travel' section of The Royal British Legion and The Not Forgotten Association.  He has accompanied many groups of men and women to World War 1 and World War 2 Battlefields and Commonwealth War Graves.  They have been veterans, families and those who have been physically and mentally affected by recent conflicts. 

 Dr. Cleland will give an illustrated talk on the inspiring stories and events he has encountered.  This will be an evening not to be missed, which should leave us enlightened, amused and humbled. 

Huntington Church 7.30 pm Saturday 2nd August, 2014

Follow Up Press Release 

 

Orlando Jopling plays Bach Cello Suites Nos 1 in G major, 2 in D minor, 6 in D major

7 pm, Saturday 21st June 2014, Huntington Church

We are delighted that Orlando Jopling has agreed to include Huntington Church in his celebrated

‘Cello Pilgrimage’ 

Orlando Jopling has played the Bach Cello Suites in over 100 historic churches across the country to fulfill his long held dream of re-invigorating them as community gathering places and helping to keep each one in good repair for the next generation. 38-year old Orlando Jopling is a composer for theatre and television as well as a conductor for the Royal Philharmonic and English Chamber Orchestras. He studied under William Pleeth, Raphael Wallfisch and Steven Isserlis. Orlando has given recitals in Europe, the US and India, has played chamber music with leading British musicians and performed as part of the cello section of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

Huntington Church

7 pm, Saturday 21st June, 2014

Orlando2.JPG