It is now twelve months since John Clithero started editing (and writing quite a bit of)our monthly newsletter - the Calder Valley Chronicle. They make fascinating reading. It's good to look at back numbers and relive some of the many experiences that have made this a year to be remembered.

All twelve newsletters are available on the website - just go to the Newsletter tab on the right.

This month we have chosen to feature an article from the newsletter on the front page of our website so that anyone visting it will get a feeling for what it's like to be part of the Spirit of Harmony. As you will see, we've chosen Barabara Adam's "A strategic retreat to help win the battle".

The Chorus Retreat at Sneaton Castle in Whitby with Gene and Iris Cokeroft surpassed all expectations in what was achieved. It was a great experience but I wanted a viewpoint from someone not on the risers, so I asked Barbara to express her feelings about the whole event.

“What a fantastic value-for-money weekend, with you boys singing, as we girls provided a supportive audience. I have many memories of a lovely venue and good company, starting with a walk into Whitby with six ladies to look round this unique old town. We had coffee in a nice café, surrounded by antique bakelite radios, Poole pottery and other curios.

Please find below copies of the chorus newsletter the Calder Valley Chronicle, produced by John Clithero, containing information about lots of the goings on at Spirit of Harmony.

The chorus went to Scarborough to compete in the BABS 2007 National Convention. After the massive improvement we achieved in 2006 we were keen to make sure that we maintained our excellent form in 2007.

The chorus presented two songs on a World War 1 theme,with a dramatic mood change between the two songs. We opened with a medley of 'It's a long way to Tipperary' and 'Pack up your troubles'. The second song 'Keep the home fires burning' was specially arranged for us by our very own Tony Patman and was much liked by the chorus and praised by those who heard it.

We were delighted to increase our score and to stay firmly in the top group of singers, very narrowly missing out on the Bronze medal. We had worked particularly hard at improving our singing technique and this was rewarded by a particularly strong increase in the marks for that part of our performance.

The Calder Valley Circus embarked for the trip to Zaandam on the 9th November 2006 for the Dutch Barbershop Convention, it was to become the most exhilarating musical experience that I’ve encountered since joining the Chorus. The Circus family travelled by car, plane, ferry, coach and train, arriving at our hotel shortly before lunchtime the next day.

On the 15th of October a large group of Spirit of Harmony members travelled to the national barbershop quartet preliminary rounds in Coventry.

Spirit of Harmony took the audience by surprise at the 2006 National Barbershop convention in Harrogate.