To be a successful soloist at the Guild's Christmas concert, apparently it isn't enough to be supremely talented - you also need to be able to compete with dozens of hooting, tooting farm vehicles trundling past the church at the most sensitive moments...

For the second year in a row our concert at Walsworth Road Baptist Church clashed with the festive tractor parade, and our wonderful professionals came through the ordeal with (Christmas) bells on. Royal harpist Alis Huws, tenor Alexander Hume and Colin Spinks at the organ were more than equal to the challenge, and our conductor Harry Bradford controlled proceedings in his usual unflappable style from a podium which he declared to be even higher than last time. With a number of other rival attractions in town on the same evening, the audience was modest but spirited, joining in energetically with the congregational carols and offering wholehearted applause. Our grateful thanks go to everyone involved.