HOLLAND 2006 – A Chorister’s Travelogue

Seven thirty in the morning on Monday 3rd April found a gathering of parents and well-wishers assembled outside St. Alban’s Church to bid Bon Voyage to 40 choir members and friends as they set of by coach for their fourth concert tour to Holland. There was a great sense of excitement in the air, particularly among the nine of the twenty two under-18s whose first choir tour it was to be.

After a welcome coffee break at Reading Services, Dover was eventually reached at around 12.30 and the ensuing 80 minute ferry crossing to Calais gave everyone the chance to find, and stretch, their sea legs. Those able to withstand the force eight gale even went to the outside deck to wave goodbye to the famous white cliffs! Having remembered to advance our watches by one hour, we rejoined our coach and made good headway through France, Belgium and Holland, passing close to Antwerp and Rotterdam and finally arriving at the Hotel de Ossewa, Noordwijk at 8.45pm. Here we were warmly welcomed by the Proprietor (this being our third visit) and immediately served with an excellent hot meal.

On Tuesday morning most of us visited the interesting Space Expo at Noordwijk where we were able to study various rockets, a moon landing module and even a piece of moon rock. There were plenty of hands-on exhibits and, being mostly indoors, we were protected from the unseasonably low temperatures which were to prevail throughout the trip. A few adults opted for the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens – but no tulips were to be seen due to the late Spring! After a hot lunch back at the hotel and an early afternoon visit to the nearby shopping precinct to spend some Euros on souvenirs, we boarded our coach to find the beautiful church at Overveen – a new concert venue, for us, organised by Nigel Walton’s Dutch friends. After a rehearsal and a picnic tea, the climax of our tour was reached at 7.30pm when we sang the Faure Requiem, works by Elgar and Rutter and Stanford’s Te-Deum to a well filled church. Our regular Evensong organist Simon Hogan managed, with his usual expertise, to tame the organ which was in a gallery at the back of church a long way from the choir! Our music was greatly appreciated by our Dutch audience (apparently children in church choirs are almost unheard of in Holland) and, if I say so myself, I think we sang rather well!

PICTURES OF THE CHURCH

Traditionally our second full day in Holland is spent having fun in a Theme Park. This year, due to the English school holidays being out of step with the rest of Europe, the only park to have opened for the season was at Efteling, some two hours drive away. However, greatly in our favour was the fact that there were comparatively few people around with none of the usual queues for the major rides. Whilst some of our younger choristers claimed to have experienced 36 rides during our six hour visit (!) there were also spacious gardens and promenades and a steam railway encircling the park for the less energetic. As always, junior school children had adult escorts at all times, whereas senior school children were allowed to explore the park in groups of three or more. Six intrepid adult explorers opted out of the Theme Park Experience and made their own way to Amsterdam and back by bus, train and canal boat – and they were back before us! A hot meal back at the hotel and an hour’s ten-pin bowling rounded off an excellent fun day.

Thursday morning dawned fair and all too soon (well, perhaps not for the leaders!) it was time to board the coach for our journey home – but not before our traditional awards ceremony celebrating the particular contributions made by each member of the party (sorry, mine must remain a secret!!)  On the way home, our two coach drivers (who had been outstandingly helpful and friendly throughout) arranged a lunch stop at the attractive little town of Veurne, in Belgium, where we visited an interesting church. Further stops were made, by popular demand, at a Belgian chocolate factory outlet and at a wine warehouse before we arrived at Calais Port in good time for the 4.40pm sailing to Dover. A couple of comfort and refreshment stops later, we finally arrived back at St. Alban’s, tired but very happy, at 9.45pm to be met by a welcoming party of parents. 

In conclusion, I know the whole choir are most appreciative of the hard work put in by Reg and Mavis Barnwell and Nigel and Nicky Walton in organising what turned out to be the best Dutch tour yet. We are all also greatly indebted to our many supporters in the Parish who regularly turn up for all our fund-raising events. Without your help, these tours would not be financially viable and what a tremendous loss that would be, in so many ways, for our choir family! Despite frustrated shouts of ‘Never Again!’ after the 25th email to the tour company, I have a feeling we will be returning to Holland in 2008!

oger Holbrook

R