The appeal is the positive response of artist Luke Martineau to the untimely death of his talented chanteuse sister, Alice, from Cystic Fibrosis shortly after signing her debut record deal.   It was launched by the Duchess of York in 2004 and the evening’s programme was graced by a preface signed by our new Monarch, perhaps an appropriate level of patronage for a church whose first Rector was the brother of the Duke of Wellington. 

The packed, galleried nave fell silent as the lights dimmed and Thomas R led the procession with his haunting solo rendition of the traditional first verse of ‘Once in Royal David's City’.  Aside from the congregational carols, the Chapel Choir treated us to a selection of highlights from its recent concert repertoire, including extracts from the Quiristers’ interpretation of Britten’s Ceremony of Carols.  All were performed with considerable panache under Howard Ionascu’s deft direction and with Ben Cunningham’s ever-secure accompaniment. 

As the principle fund-raiser for the charity, this was decidedly a carol concert rather than a carol service.  In place of lessons we enjoyed appropriately seasonal readings of Johns Betjeman and Julius-Norwich, among others, by the likes of the Today programme’s Mishal Hussein, actor Zephryn Taitte and members of the Martineau family.  Indeed, the proceedings concluded with the haunting sound of the late Alice Martineau singing a track from her debut, and very sadly final, album.

And so the Quiristers and Chapel Choir signed off for 2022.  With best wishes to you all on behalf of the entire Quirister community.

Jerry Pett (Quirister Parent)