To Leeds with Gay Abandon

by Mikki
Alto
July 2006

I felt rather sorry for the people who had to share the train carriage with us on the 15th of July 2006. The Pinkies were on our way to Leeds and had pretty much taken over a whole carriage on the train. I fell asleep for a bit and was woken by the melodious sound of people practising their parts for Catch a Falling Star.

We finally arrived in Leeds and all piled off the train where we were met by man holding a large red feather duster over his head. We followed the feather duster on a walk around Leeds till we got to the Cactus Lounge where we found our hosts and a buffet lunch waiting for us.

The after-show party was back in the Cactus Lounge, which was nice and relaxed. I spotted two men ballroom dancing in the corner, and somehow got involved in a plot to match-make for two of the few straight people in the room, which seemed to be going well when I left with my host, Jackie, and Hester and Judy. We were staying in the most amazing old house with an unbelievable number of bedrooms, so we all got our own room for the night, although the teenager's rooms were a little scary.

by Kay
Alto
July 2006

On the hot and sunny morning of the 1st of July, the Pinkies gathered in Baker Street. Resplendent in our black polo shirts, we were ready to step out in style for the EuroPride Parade 2006.

As with all Pinkie events, there was an initial period of milling about and chatting while we waited for things to get going. This allowed plenty of time for Hsien and Liang to prepare their array of multimedia recording devices. It also gave Jonathan a chance to show off his improved conversational Swedish in a light-hearted discussion with Nathalina.

As we turned the corner into Oxford Street, we saw crowds lining both sides of the road and that Selfridges had put a special EuroPride display in the window to cheer us on. People were smiling and waving at us and the atmosphere was fantastic. Onlookers pointed cameras and mobile phones to record a snippet of our magnificent musical celebration of Pink Pride. Of course, Hsien and Liang were pointing their own cameras right back at them.

Then the mood changed a little as the music float we were all following picked up its speed on the downhill straight, but meanwhile the Pinkies were unfortunately distracted by the free mini cans of fizzy pop being distributed at the side of the road. The Pinkies were scattered all over the place and Mamma Lynne was far off ahead of us! There was some urgent and inelegant scurrying, plus a few cries of 'Come on Pinkies . . . hurry UP!', but we were all reunited by the time we passed Trafalgar Square.

With the long hot walk behind us, it was now time to relax together on the grass under a shady tree and celebrate Fran's birthday. What a lovely celebration it was too: Pinkies & Pimms - a classic combination. Happy birthday Fran and congratulations on your excellent organisational skills in producing glasses of Pimms with ice for the whole choir right in the middle of EuroPride!

Then finally the Pinkies began to drift off to their next thing. Carol, Claire G and other diehard footie supporters went off to watch the World Cup. Some of us went to listen to the speeches and visit the variety of 'issue' and campaigning stalls in Trafalgar Square. Others decided to chill out and hear some of the poptastic all-day entertainment in Leicester Square.

Many Pinkies eventually headed to Soho to enjoy the splendid Pinkness which was there in abundance. Sally was in Soho Square with a stall displaying some of her lovely Exclusively Eve goodies and there were many other booths selling all kinds of very interesting items. The Soho streets were absolutely crammed with all kinds of people wearing all kinds of things who were enjoying the sun and the fantastic Pinkness of the day. Even the people waiting in line for the portaloos were in a party mood. Huzzah for EuroPride!

What a fantastic day this was.

I can remember years when marching was free but you had to buy a ticket to enjoy any other aspect of the day. I sometimes made the choice to miss out on that year's Pride Festival or Mardi Gras Party or whatever the latest incarnation was. But at least that was my own choice not the inevitable result of my economic circumstances.

I am so proud that our great city of London was able to put on such a fantastic, free, accessible and inclusive celebration of Pink EuroPride. We're here, we're queer and we totally rock! Thank you to all the organisers, committees, volunteers and other magical fairy folk who made this fabulous day possible. I hope that all the Pink People (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Queer and/or Questioning) out there who didn't make it to this years Pride will be able to join us for next year's celebration. It's on Saturday 30th June 2007 if you need the date for your diary.

I'm proud to be Pink and I'm proud to be a Pinkie!

by Nathalina
Alto
July 2006

Last Wednesday the 28th of June 2006, we got together to perform and entertain at the launch of a new gay newspaper called the Pink News. After rushing to get to the Law Society in time we did a really good performance, singing our hearts out to, as I understand, a very influential audience. Singing Sheer Madness is always fun (I don't think I will ever get tired of singing that!), even though we sang in two rows instead of the usual four, and I ended up all confused about the moves as I wasn't standing in my usual place. Angels sounded great even without Mladen's conducting and Tragedy is always a hit with the moves and everything.

by Cormac
Bass
June 2006

The excitement was palpable arriving at the Queen Elizabeth Hall last Monday night the 26th of June 2006 for the EuroPride Sings concert. The event was organised as part of the EuroPride celebrations with the key aim of celebrating the joy of singing and song while promoting the holistic vision of the Festival organisers that singing contributes to a healthy life style and a diverse society.

It was with a great sense of pride in being able to sing in the QEH that we joined 4 other UK choirs, LGMC, Diversity (London), City of Brighton Gay Mens Chorus, Rainbow Chorus (Brighton) and the highly entertaining Mannenkoorts (Netherlands). A warm up consisting of Somewhere Over The Rainbow without vowels (try "oe ee oe e aio"!) and an energiser combining a "high five" with the "Haka", set us up to get on stage with hearts and minds alert!

A warm and welcoming audience were treated in the first half to a varied selection from LMGC, Diversity, Mannenkoorts including numbers composed by Faure, Sinead O'Connor, Madonna, and the tongue-in-cheek Keep it Gay by Rogers and Hammerstein.

The finale joint song All Girl Band was a fun and fitting close to a wonderful evening which reminded us all that singing and song creates an opportunity for us to re-affirm our individual identities while sharing in the common joy of celebrating our lives... A special and memorable evening for us all... I am just dreading the phonecall home to tell my family I have realised my lifetime ambition and joined an All Girl Band!

by Hester
Soprano
June 2006

The pressure was on for a Pinkies-only performance on a hot, sticky June evening: no other choirs to take the strain, more than twenty songs to perform and movements to remember too! It was my first Duke's Hall event - would the grandeur of chandeliers and gilt-framed portraits be all too much? And would it be fair to a discerning audience to wear my concert dress with such scarily untanned legs?

by Melanie
Soprano
June 2006

The Pink Singers were off to Copenhagen and I was filled with keen anticipation and excitement, as it was to be my first concert with the Pink Singers, and my first real holiday and trip abroad in two years. The Carmen Curlers had invited us as their "special guests" for their concert on 28th May 2006, and having been welcomed by Franzisca who Marie who had organised the concert and were also my hosts for the weekend, I felt very sure that they too were deeply committed to the intention of having fun, and that every one should have a great time.

So the night before the concert, with Marie and Franziska, I was torn between the need to be re-energised by good conversation in good company, and revise a few lines from the odd song... mmm... the latter was promptly shelved!

And on with the show! The Carmen Curlers opened the show with three songs to a warm applause and then, slickly attired, complete with pink accessories, the Pink Singers filed on stage. Wow it was great. My first concert and just enough nerves to keep me focused, but the rest was sheer enjoyment. We opened with Sheer Madness, then went on to perform Tragedy and The Best Of Bond, complete with choreography. It was great: arms, legs and body movements all seemed to flow at the right time, to the right place... and no one fell off the stage! Our voices moved together with precision and good pitch through the rest of repetoire, to complete a nine piece performance to a standing ovation.

The Carmen Curlers and Pink Singers ended the show by singing You'll Never walk Alone, to very enthusiastic applause and contented faces. Yes we had been enjoyed and appreciated. The show was over and I was elated and joyous but surprisingly calm throughout. It's amazing how a few tai chi moves can settle n the nerves.

Well done to everyone who made the day such a success, especially to Michael for saving the Carmen Curlers with his piano playing, when their pianist went off sick at the last minute. My only regret was not seeing Mladen's smiling face as he conducted, but I did manage to catch the odd arm movement, which was reassuring.

The hall was cleared, the DJ set up in his corner and after the backstage jubilations and congratulations, thirsty mouths were quickly making their way to the bar, and everyone in the hall was invited to party and dance to their hearts content. Which we did with ease and expertise till gone 2 a.m. I have not dance so hard in a long while. Tragedy, was a crowed puller, as an ever enlarging circle did all the choreographed moves. Great fun!

Copenhagen was just about perfect and highly enjoyable. It was a very friendly and social occasion and I would happily do it all again tomorrow.

by James L
Tenor
June 2006

This season's utterly splendid alto section social was organised by the ever-lovely Kay, and at lunch time on Saturday 13th May eight intrepid teams delved headlong into her Big Pink Hunt. Our starting point was the steps of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church (right next to Trafalgar Square). Kay and Annie were on hand to collect entry fees, dish out sugary/enumberry goody bags that were to sustain us on our quest, and distribute the maps and "not cryptic" (!) clues that would guide us through the West End to our final destination. We were then sent on our way at timed intervals with true military precision, with some teams actually heading off in the right direction! As always Liang and Hsien were at the ready to take photos a-plenty.

The clues led the teams to locations such as Covent Garden, Charing Cross Road and Old Compton Street, and had people looking for the likes of a very old musician's organ, one of the largest erections in London and finally one of a pair of knockers (Simon Groom would have been proud!). All the teams did particularly well on a clue with a nautical theme - the one about salty seamen. We all eventually ended up in Soho Square, where each team was welcomed with a hearty cheer and yet more goody bags after a job well done.

Special mention should also go to 'The Winning Team' who took the longest time to complete the hunt - but perhaps this was because their youngest team member was travelling in his baby buggy.

Many thanks go to those people who kindly donated prizes for the hunt, and of course to Kay for organising a truly frolicsome afternoon of glorious pinkitude. Much fun was had by all. We all love you sweetie!

The Results There were 8 teams and eleven prizes so the first three teams got to pick twice! 1st Zinc Yellow 2 bottles of champagne AND a rather handsome rubber chicken 2nd Susannah's Not Here Yet Juicer AND a black lycra blindfold 3rd The Goodies A goody bag of eatables & luxuries AND motorbike posters and stickers 4th Dr & the Medics Optical accessories kit 5th The Winning Team Bag of sensual goodies 6th Gaudi's Girls Quarter-size pink guitar 7th Emelda & Sue Secret message kit & a rubber duck 8th Newton's Nightmare A dental healthcare kit

by Ed
Bass
May 2006

Prior to this Pinkies event, I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. The only previous race night I'd attended was a pig racing night in a country pub. The pigs were clockwork. Each was wound up and placed at the starting line of a long table. Still that was some years ago, in rural Dorset - well they have to make their own entertainment in those parts.

By contrast, the Pinkies' Night at the Races at Bar Aquda on the 22nd of March 2006 was a far more hi-tech affair. To ensure fair play, DVDs of horse races were picked at random and each horse's number was linked to a horse in the programme. These were sponsored by choir members. Needless to say, some of the names verged on the outrageous and included KY Cantor, On The Job, Hairy Hole and Mr Sphincter's Next Door Neighbour, plus some even more peculiar ones which were probably only of significance to those who sponsored the horses - best leave it at that!

I was a bit disappointed that commentary for the event focussed on the numbers not the names, although I guess it would have been a bit much to imagine some sort of old Frankie Howerd routine, bursting with innuendoes:

"And they're off. It's Liberal MP chasing Rent Boy. This one's a racing certainty who always goes well on the flat. The unfancied Basil's Bromide is third and they're followed by The Raving Queen, Moist Cake and Quite A Handful with Be Upstanding bringing up the rear. The going today at Goodwood is hard..."

Carol won two prizes, still it must be said that she did shout the loudest in support of her horses, throwing herself into the spirit of the event. The last race - the Amsterdam Handicap - featured horses sponsored on the night from the proceeds of an auction. Miranda's partner won the top prize, two nights bed and breakfast in Amsterdam, generously donated by Bar Aquda.

A big thank you to the soprano section for organising this event!

Finally, I record with regret that the horse I sponsored, On The Job, fell at the first and failed to go the distance. Let's hope that isn't portent of things to come.

by Line
Alto
May 2006

On the cold, dark evening of March the 21st a number of Pinkies descended upon Richmond to watch a play for the bass sectional social event. The play was at the Richmond Theatre facing Richmond Green. The red velvet seats and covered walls were a comforting reminder of the pleasure of theatre going and ice-cream intermissions.

The cast was small but very capable, especially the human in need of inspiration had huge presence on stage in my humble opinion. And the finale was as camp as anything.

We even spotted a celebrity on the way out who said he enjoyed the show very much!

Thank you for organising the event basses!

by Claire G
Soprano
February 2006

Friday the 24th February 2006 was an important land mark in the history of the sleepy, picturesque Berkshire village of Streatley... it was the day the Pinkies landed!

The Streatley Youth Hostel was the destination for this year's choir weekend away. As a relatively new Pinkie, this was my first weekend away with the choir and I was both excited and apprehensive about it. I arrived at the Youth Hostel on the Friday evening, just before 9pm, and, as luck would have it, I was just in time for dinner! Some people had got there earlier in the afternoon to get a head start on the drinking (and to do the shopping and cooking of course), so I had a bit of catching up to do when I arrived. I wasted no time in cracking open the wine...

After a lovely meal we all retired to the lounge for a glass of port and a nice civilized game of bridge, before an early night. That's what I was told we did, any way; I was too drunk to remember! No, wait, it's starting to come back to me now... That's right, we did what Pinkies do best! We stuck on some karaoke CDs, along with a generous helping of Stock Aiken and Waterman Gold and had a good old sing-song and knees-up until the wee hours. I seem to remember too that a few of us decided that 1 o'clock on a Saturday morning after a good few bevvies was the ideal time to practise some Yoga postures. For example the crab and the head stand were popular ones (and I blamed my stiff neck in the morning on the thin pillows?!).

Later in the afternoon quite a few people settled down to watch the rugby (which we will not mention any more that strictly necessary!) and others just had a bit of time for chilling out. Quite a few of us helped Lynne with her mammoth task of preparing the evening meal for us all. I don't know how she did it, but she provided us with a delicious roast dinner with all the trimmings, plus dessert, catering for every possible taste and specification!

After dinner it was time to kick off the party again. The evening took on a slightly different format this time. We played some hilarious games all together, including one called "Psychologist", which I wasn't quite sure about at first but turned out to be immensely entertaining and a great way to get to know people better. Everyone was involved, which was fantastic and it seemed like everyone was enjoying themselves. There were more of us there on the Saturday night because a few people had travelled down on the Saturday morning. It was also really good to see two of the newest members of the choir there, taking an active part in the group. That must have taken a lot of guts to come away for the weekend with a group of people they didn't know. I hope we all made them feel welcome.

I certainly felt welcome and included in the group and over all I had a great weekend. It was a pleasure to be in everyone's company and I felt that every single person provided their own unique contribution to the weekend as a whole that went towards making it the happy and memorable experience that it was. I would definitely recommend it to new Pinkies for next year.

by Philip G
Bass
February 2006

Wednesday 22 February saw the Pinkies' second contribution to LGBT history month this year. Unusually, we were given the opportunity to sing in a library, which felt naughty but good. Wood Green library in Haringey was the venue, and we were made to feel very welcome. We didn't exactly jump out from behind the shelves, surprising readers with Cole Porter and Kirsty McColl, Instead, we were in an upstairs room, which provided an intimate atmosphere. Around twelve of us sang, to an appreciative audience of about twenty.

In fact, we went down so well (ahem) that we've been booked by Haringey for LGBT history month next year! The evening ended with drinks and snacks and a peruse of a really good selection of gay-themed books and DVDs held by the library. Many thanks to all who made this a success, to Michael for rehearsing, conducting and accompanying us, and of course to Haringey for inviting us.

Pink Singers Go Line Dancing!

by Marina Buchanan
Soprano
January 2006

Having attended the tenor section's fundraiser on Tuesday evening at the Black Cap, what can I say other than it was a truly sensational evening! The words line dancing are not ones that I would automatically jump up out of my chair for, but thought to myself you can't knock it until you've tried it so I went along. I'm sure those of you who also turned up to support the event will agree with me when I say that you could barely keep any of us pinned to our seats and once that music started everyone's toes, including our "Daddy" Mladen!, were a-tapping. Everyone truly got into the spirit of it all with thumbs looped over belts and cries of "yee ha!" Bill's sister, Carole and her friend June were fabulous and brought out our inner cowgirl or cowboy (keep it clean!).

A big thank you to Simon and the tenor section for organising such an alternative evening!

by Johnathon Finlay
Tenor
January 2006

They say that small is beautiful. This certainly holds true for the Pinkies' second outing to support LGBT history month in Southwark in February 2006. Although a multitude of other commitments stopped a large number of Pinkies attending (and probably because it was a Friday night), the five die-hard singers, including only one boy - me, how did you guess?- had a whale of a time. With my dreams of being in Steps briefly ressurrected, albeit with four girls instead of the usual three, we rehearsed an impromptu version of Tragedy, replete with choreography. Needless to say, we decided to bin the prospective number. No matter how gay Steps actually were, it was deemed somewhat inappropriate to sing Tragedy as an uplifting LGBT history belter.

So on we went with trepidation, a most portable keyboard, and a distinct lack of basses.

The good thing about being the only boy, and having a voice akin to the Titanic's final horn blast, was that there was no mistaking who was singing! A festival of solos! Our rendition of Sheer Madness was sheerly fabulous, and They Don't Know obviously became They Don't Know Just How Very Fierce We Are.

Applause, nods from the tasty totty, and the music falling off the stand during a crucial modulation were moments of note. And then we went down the pub and gossipped til closing.

Aah, how very... Pinkies!

Roll on next year!

by Paul Gooch
Bass
January 2006

The Duke's Hall in The Royal Academy of Music is a twice-yearly venue for The Pink Singers and after months of rehearsal we have reached performance night. Saturday 21st January 2006.

It's always unnerving singing a new set here having rehearsed in much smaller rooms where the sound is contained. Your voice seems to disappear into the void of the auditorium. But after a few sound checks you adjust.

Our guest choir, Birmingham's Rainbow Voices began the show with eight songs in a cappella style conducted by former Pink Singer, Al Booth. They included the Something Inside So Strong and a Richard Rodgers medley. Next the London Gay Men's Chorus took the stage by storm in vivid red T-shirts and with a powerful sound. Their set included a beautiful song entitled Over the Skies of Yisreal and they finished with a full disco version of YMCA with audience participation.

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