Ozaru Books sponsors local concert

CANTERBURY, U.K. - Dec. 1, 2015 - PRLog -- Father Jim Rosenthal, the popular priest at St Nicholas-at-Wade and founder of the international Saint Nicholas Society, is moving to new pastures near Wimbledon. To mark his last Saint Nicholas’s Day in Thanet, and the end of Nicolasfest – the week of village celebrations that he instituted, centred on the picturesque church – local publisher Ozaru Books is sponsoring a concert where several groups will combine to raise money for two charities associated with the saint: the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and The Children’s Society.

Following the nautical theme, Deal Hoodeners will be singing their trademark sea shanties. St Nicholas-at-Wade is famous for its ancient Hoodening custom, with Deal being the only other group of Hoodeners to have directly inherited the tradition. Whereas St Nicholas Hoodeners perform a humorous play based on a ploughing team, the Deal version has always been sung, and reflects their town’s maritime heritage.

The Canterbury Handbell Ringers / Bedford Handbell Ensemble have performed in Australia, Japan and the UK, including an acclaimed recent appearance at the Broadstairs Music Recital Society. They have also published numerous works for handbell teams, and will be ringing tunes specially selected for their links with St Nicholas. As a sideline, it is interesting to note that handbell ringers used to accompany the St Nicholas Hoodeners on their rounds.

Thanet Thespians is an ad-hoc group of players who perform regularly at the Sarah Thorne Memorial Theatre and other local venues, including the popular series of “Love Life & Laughter” variety shows in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. Their witty sketches and moving poems brought the house down on a previous occasion at St Nicholas-at-Wade church; this time they will be focusing on the theme of childhood.

Continuing this theme, some young members of Ramsgate Operatic Society will reprise one part of their recent production of Fiddler on the Roof – winner of the Obelisk ‘Best Show of 2015’ award – which has particular relevance to Saint Nicholas.

Refreshments will be available. Tickets are £8 in advance (from St Nicholas post office or reserved by phone), or £10 on the door; admission is free to all children (aged up to 18).

See http://stnicholasatwade.org.uk/news.html