Following Alan’s leadership, when he was commissioned Bandmaster in 1971, Ron Willis became Songster Leader. At this particular time our hall was undergoing rebuilding, and for about a year we worshipped in the Jeffrey Hall in Monk Street, but practices were held in various other places but mainly in the Southwick Salvation Army hall at Redhouse. We laboured under difficulties but we continued to maintain our usual high standard, and fellowship was excellent as we made preparations for moving back into our newly rebuilt hall. Ron’s choice of music for the Songsters to sing at the opening service of thanksgiving was ‘A Song of Praise’ beginning with the words…..
      

…..a very apt choice for such a special occasion.

As we returned to worship in our own building we participated in many memorable events. One particularly outstanding event was the presentation of Handel’s Messiah, quite an undertaking for a Corps Songster brigade. We had had these performances previously during Alan Laing’s leadership, but always had guest pianists. On this occasion there were no guest pianists available so with great reluctance I agreed to take on the task. I well remember starting to play the ‘Overture’ and thinking however am I going to get through to the end, and I was never happier to play the ‘Amen Chorus’. I can tell you, I said a few prayers that night. The price of the programme for that presentation was 20p! Really good value!

When Ron and the family moved to London in 1977, Raymond Hutchinson, who had been the deputy Songster Leader, took on the responsibility of Songster Leader. A memorable event during Ray’s leadership was the presentation of the Christmas Cantata “Night of Miracles” when the Millfleld Songsters joined our own brigade for a very enjoyable and successful evening with an appreciative congregation.

Brian Hutchinson, Raymond’s brother, was our next Songster Leader. Brian was a very energetic conductor and he enjoyed teaching us some of the ‘Classics’. One such piece of music, which Brian taught us, which I would call a real Army classic was Eric Ball’s ‘Magnificat’, scriptural words from St. Luke’s gospel set to wonderful music. It wasn’t an easy piece to learn and it also had a very demanding accompaniment, but together we conquered it and used it in many of our festivals - another piece of music was the beautiful setting of ‘The Lord’s Prayer’, which was used to great effect during prayer times. Throughout Brian’s leadership there were many highlights, weekend visits to Corps around the country, and lots of good fellowship.

Our current leader is Monkwearmouth’s first female Songster Leader - Janine Wharton, who had been Young Peoples Singing Company Leader for quite a number of years. I was again called into action as Songster pianist and very quickly we were into rehearsals for a planned weekend visit to Leighton Buzzard, which proved to be an excellent starting point for Janine’s leadership. Quickly following was our visit to the Barbican at York where the Northern Congress was held led by General John Gowans. They were wonderful meetings, and Monkwearmouth Songsters were privileged to be the solo brigade for the afternoon session. That certainly was a day to remember.

Janine has brought a fresh approach to our kind of music. The Army is now publishing compositions written by very modern composers, but Janine is always keen to try them, and has proved to be very capable of teaching them to the Songsters, however some of the accompaniments are very complicated so I was very relieved when the opportunity came for me to retire, yet again as Phil Hounsell took over as Songster pianist.

I now enjoy listening to the Songsters, because as well as special events, weekend visits to other Corps, not forgetting taking part in the Royal Albert Hall festivals etc., they’ve played a very important part in my own life and in that of our Corps, and they still bring “a message” in song to all our Sunday Meetings.

It was said earlier that the first singing group was known as “The Singing, Speaking and Praying Brigade” and on our Songster commission we find these words: -

Each practice night begins and ends with prayer and the Word of God is read. Each Sunday evening before our meeting, the Songsters meet together in their room in prayer, so I feel sure that the above title still applies to the Sunderland Monkwearmouth Songster Brigade today.

Some words which always challenge me are to be found in the song “His Provision”, words written by John Gowans…..

May that be the desire and prayer of every Songster, and my prayer is that the ministry of the Sunderland Monkwearmouth Songster Brigade will continue for many years to come.

JOYCE METCALF.

(Joyce, now in her early eighties, as well as being Songster pianist, was also Corps pianist for many, many years and has retired from these positions several times! She still drives her car and attends both morning and evening meetings on a Sunday – she plays the piano for the Home League and still deputises on the piano for the Corps and Songsters when required. Through this page on our website we pay tribute to Joyce’s high level of dedication and commitment in the Lord’s service – not forgetting, of course, her God-given musical talents. “Thank You, Joyce”.).

Peter Laing, the son of former Songster Leader Alan Laing, followed on from Brian. He inherited much of his father’s style and is also an excellent Bass singer. Like his father, he also enjoyed and used much choral music and especially the choruses from Handel’s Messiah, which were a feature in most of our programmes. During Peter’s leadership the Songsters took part in two programmes of the TV series “Marching as to War” presenting the story and music of The Salvation Army – the series presented by entertainer, Roy Castle.

It was during Peter’s time as Songster Leader that I thought it was time to retire as Songster pianist and give someone else the privilege which I had enjoyed for so many years, but my retirement was short lived and I was called back into action quite quickly.

Another very special event was the Songsters invitation to go to Sweden. This was their first overseas campaign and although I wasn’t an active songster at that time and therefore did not experience this time for myself; all the reports were that they had a wonderful time, a time of enjoyment, a time of fellowship and a time of great blessing.