A garden mowing session on a warm summer’s day was interrupted by the ping of an email on my phone. Delighted for any interruption, I opened the message from Carole, the secretary for the Gillingham Singers: she was sharing a request from The Exchange in Sturminster Newton for a choir to support a professional duo that was coming to perform in October.
Would we like to put ourselves forward?
I slipped the phone back into my pocket, grateful to have some thoughts to keep me company as I finished mowing the lawn.
A bit later I contacted the rest of the committee to gauge thoughts. The choir hadn’t done anything like this before, and it would need a different approach to rehearsals to get it right.
Everyone thought it was too good an opportunity to miss, so I was tasked with making contact and expressing our desire to be considered.
A little while later my phone pinged again: “Please could I supply my number, one of the performers wanted to chat.”

What a sound
Within a few hours I found myself talking with Jem, one half of Tenors Unlimited, a duo that have toured the world, supported Sting and recently performed at the Royal Albert Hall.
No pressure then.
In fact there really wasn’t! Jem was a delight to chat to and he offered the Gillingham Singers the gig.
Over the following days we were given access to all the musical scores and rehearsal material we needed, and by the start of September we were set to go. The only pressure was time … just six weeks to get our part in the show ready.
Usually, when rehearsing a concert piece, the path you follow is clearly laid out. But with the role the choir needed to play in this particular concert, things were a bit more complex, and timings needed to be exact. The whole choir got on board, even members who were not able to make the concert joined in, and a great deal of work went into getting things right.
On the day of the concert the choir finally gathered for their sound check and a rehearsal with Jem and Paul. Under atmospheric lighting the choir burst into life during a run-through of You Raise Me Up.
Oh my word, what a sound!
The microphones helped the choir provide just the right amount of backing, and with confidence high, we continued with Barcelona, Nessun Dorma and ELO’s Mr Blue Sky. The choir also presented their own contribution, The Lamb by Sir John Tavener, who spent the last part of his life living and composing in Child Okeford.
The choir were buzzing after the rehearsal … but nothing prepared us for the wonderful concert itself, nor the positive reception to our part in proceedings later on.
It was an experience the The Gillingham Singers will remember for a very long time, and we are very grateful to Tenors Unlimited for the opportunity to perform with them. Also a big ‘thank you’ to Georgina and all the wonderful staff at The Exchange for looking after us so well.
The choir are now in full swing preparing for our concert on 14th December, 6:30pm at St Simon and St Jude’s church, Milton on Stour.
Richard Nye, musical director
gillinghamsingers.org

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At times I’ve had a difficult relationship with Dawes. The Californian alternative / Americana brothers started imperiously with a six-year run of albums which dished up a string of instant classics. Tracks such as When My Time Comes (North Hills, 2009), So Well (Nothing Is Wrong, 2011), Most People (Stories Don’t End, 2013) and Things Happen (All Your Favourite Bands, 2015) cemented the duo’s position as rightful heirs to Jason Isbell’s Americana throne.
But in a push to develop their sound, Dawes lost their way. The raw production and simple arrangements – which had provided necessary balance to the sometimes saccharine and always ‘pop’ nature of their compositions – were replaced with misplaced synth lines and gated snares. After a cursory listen to 2018’s Passwords, I gave up.
But I’m happy to report that with Oh Brother (their ninth Studio LP), Dawes have well and truly won me back. From first glance of the album sleeve, which features a portrait of brothers Taylor (guitar/vocals) and Griffin Goldsmith (drums/vocals), the signs are there that this is a welcome return to their Laurel Canyon-inspired roots.

Every single song here begins with a simple guitar and drums intro. Opening track Mister Los Angeles is a perky but pointed diatribe against LA. excesses. House Parties is a love letter to its subject. Celebrating local bands, spilled drinks and singalongs, it skips along nicely, propelled by a slide guitar part reminiscent of the Eagles lighter moments. But the highlight of the album is The Game, reinforcing how special Dawes can be when they keep it simple, and featuring an instantly memorable chorus (“the losers only think about the winners, the winners only think about the game”). Dawes are back, and oh brother, how I’ve missed them.

Matthew Ambrose presents Under The Radar on Tuesday evening at 7pm on Abbey104. Broadcasting on 104.7FM and online at abbey104.com.

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Meet Garrett Dorset, the local family business that realised there was a need for a personal, hassle-free approach to car selling

Today there are so many places to sell your car: from Facebook Marketplace or Autotrader to an array of giant online car companies. Navigating those platforms, however, is time-consuming and sometimes extremely stressful, resulting in an inbox flooded with messages, not to mention time-wasters and aggressive hagglers.
A Poole-based, family-run business is proving that the human touch – combined with more than 30 years of experience in the motor industry – is the best road to success when selling a car, van campervan or motorhome.

Garrett Dorset in Poole will of course help anyone sell a car: but they have built an outstanding reputation helping those in the most sensitive situations. Perhaps those of us who may have lost a loved one and need to dispose of their vehicle, or those who can no longer drive through illness.
Founder Andy Garrett explains: ‘The idea grew organically after a friend asked me to value a car for someone recently bereaved. The widower was so grateful for the personal and hassle-free service we provided, and we realised there were probably many other people in a similarly sensitive situation who we could help.’
The bespoke service takes all the stress out of selling a vehicle. Andy, or a female member of his team if preferred, will visit you at your home or workplace. Over a chat, a complete appraisal of your vehicle will be carried out followed by a free, no-obligation valuation.
Andy explains: ‘At this point you might choose to go ahead with the sale, which we can conclude there and then.
‘Alternatively, you might like to spend some time considering our offer. Either way, there’s absolutely no obligation or pressure to sell.
‘If you choose to sell your vehicle to us, we promise a fair and accurate valuation, a quick and easy sale, fast immediate payment … and above all a friendly and efficient service.’

Handling the paperwork
The service includes all handling of DVLA paperwork as well as any administration needed to settle outstanding car finance on the vehicle. ‘In times of bereavement or ill-health, taking the burden of all this paperwork away is a huge relief,’ explains Andy Garrett. ‘It can all be done by us from the comfort and security of your own home. And there are no fees or administration costs when you sell to us, unlike some of our competitors. We will pay the full valuation for your car with no deductions. The money is instantly transferred at the time of sale, too, so there’s no added anxiety of waiting for the funds to go through.’

Find out more at garrettdorset.co.uk

Read the reviews at garrettdorset.co.uk/what-our-clients-say