Members of The Athenaeum Singers gathered for a farewell lunch for their retiring director of music Timothy Coleman, who will soon be moving to Scotland and getting married in July.
The previous evening Tim had conducted his final concert with the Singers in The Minster, Warminster, at which a retiring collection for the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Fund raised more than £500. The singers and orchestra sported yellow and blue ribbons in support of the Ukraine and their contributions raised half to this amount.
Choir member Sue Peachey read an amusing tribute in verse; secretary Jenny King, a reflection on the role of a conductor; and chairman Jo Casey thanked Tim for all his contribution to the choir over the last two-and-a-quarter years.
Tim’s willingness to embrace the medium of Zoom and keep singers learning and singing in the isolation of their own homes was instrumental in keeping the choir together and socially connected. This enabled a smooth return to rehearsals and performance, albeit with some depletion in numbers which we are keen to redress.
Most of all, Tim has endeared himself to the choir who have come to appreciate not only his outstanding musical skills and abilities, but also his humour, adaptability, good nature and friendship.
The farewell was sad but we will embrace his future with great interest and affection.

by Alison Arthur