The Post Office Communications Team are fundraising hard for the Choir with No Name because we are their Charity of the Year 2014 (just like in 2013 – thanks so much, guys!). Here, Alan Taylor from the team gives us a blow-by-blow account of their recent fundraising gig at trendy Concrete in Shoreditch, London – at which a certain South London choir also performed…
A night to remember.
A few months back, Mark Davies, Post Office Communications Director and I had an excitable ‘wouldn’t-it-be- great-to-form-a-Post Office band’ moment . We had both played in bands in our (much) younger days and so a crazy notion was born. And what better way to do it for a good cause by arranging a fundraising event for the Choir With No Name, the amazing charity we’re all proud to support in the Communications team.
So an idea took on a life and we recruited other band members from around Head Office in Kevin Gilliland and Drew McBride. They’re musicians of a fine pedigree and proved to be the engine room of the band. With a nod to our Head Office address, the ‘Old Street Rockers’ were born.
The main event though was of course the Choir with No Name. That first phone call to the lovely Jen went.. so, we’ve had an idea. A joint gig with the South London choir with a bunch of guys who’ve never played together, two of whom haven’t played a gig in over 20 years. At Concrete, a down-with-the-kids Shoreditch night club. Are you up for it? I needn’t have worried. The answer was an unequivocal yes, sounds brilliant.
The Old Street Rockers set about rehearsing in a local studio launching into a bunch of old punk and rock classics. Then came our Spinal Tap moment as disaster struck. News came through that Mark, our lead singer and band leader, had fallen off a horse on holiday. “I’ll be fine for the gig”, he said. “Just a scratch.” A trip to A & E and two broken ribs later…
Meanwhile, the team here – especially Cat, Sophie, Leigh and Eugenia – were busy organising the venue and selling tickets. Paul Swanton (aka DJ Swani) volunteered his services to spin the floorfillers. Little did he know he’d be called on to exercise his vocal talents too.
The night itself came around alarmingly quickly. Sam and the South London Choir with No Name were already into their soundcheck as we arrived, running through their warm ups and set.
Now reduced to a 3 piece ( Kevin stepped into the lead vocalist role), the Old Street Rockers finished our soundcheck. We all said, “well we’re ready as we’ll ever be” . The Concrete doors opened to friends, family, colleagues. Plus several CWNN Groupies (Fan Club members)!
After the introductions the South London Choir got off to a rousing start. And the temperature rose even more once the stage lights switch had been located.
Post Office people don’t often get to sing together (We don’t have a company song!). So to see colleagues belting out harmonies to She Loves You and Lean On Me was a treat to behold. Many Post Office people were seeing the Choir with No Name for the first time. It’s a fair reflection to say they were blown away by the sheer quality and energy of the choir members and volunteers. And of course the amazing man in charge, Sam Chaplin.
As for the Old Street Rockers, well, we were blown away by the reaction. It was great to see everyone dancing along to Woolly Bully (my personal favourite). A few bum notes here and there but I think we just about got away with it. All in front of an incredibly friendly and supportive audience.
The Communications Team at Post Office is delighted to commit to supporting Choir With No Name for another year. It’s been real privilege. We’re proud to have raised over £1,000 on the night to help support this wonderful charity.
A massive thank you to everyone who took part, our friends at AB for sponsoring the equipment and to all who contributed or bought a ticket.
Roll on the next event…
All Together Now... 