Cathedral choir sings on after Scilly ferry delays

2 hours ago

Matt PengellyCornwall

Some of the Truro Cathedral Choir on the island of Tresco, one of the Isles of Scilly

Truro Cathedral Choir A group of boys and girls wearing choir surplices stand on a beach on the Isles of Scilly — Some of the Truro Cathedral Choir on the island of Tresco, one of the Isles of Scilly

A Cornish choir extended its tour of the Isles of Scilly after the passenger ferry that connects the islands with the British mainland suffered an engine fault.

The singers and support staff of Truro Cathedral Choir found out they were stranded for the weekend on Friday and added some extra engagements to their itinerary over the weekend.

The choir was able to return on Monday once the Scillonian III ferry resumed sailing after repairs to its engines had been completed.

James Anderson-Besant, director of music at Truro Cathedral, thanked islanders for their hospitality, adding: "It's been a much longer trip than we planned for. It's been surreal and complicated but wonderful."

The choir members found time for beach fun and kite-flying during their extended break on the Isles of Scilly

Truro Cathedral Choir A beach on the Isles of Scilly with children playing and flying kites — The choir members found time for beach fun and kite-flying during their extended break on the Isles of Scilly

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The trip to Scilly after a busy Easter period had been delayed initially when rough weather delayed the choir's arrival last week from Tuesday to Wednesday.

But the news on Friday the Scillonian III had developed an engine problem and would not sail again between St Mary's and Penzance until Monday left the group of about 20 young people aged between eight and 13, six school staff and 12 adult singers with a weekend to fill.

Anderson-Besant said: "The kindness and generosity of people on the islands has been amazing. People have really gone out of their way to help us. It's been brilliant."

One bonus of the delay was it allowed the choir to join islanders at Sunday services on St Mary's.

Anderson-Besant said: "It was absolutely amazing. We weren't planning that at all, so we didn't have any music with us for that.

"The chaplain to the isles Elizabeth Burke very kindly printed off lots of copies of things for us and we did some extra singing.

"It was just totally lovely to join the community here."

Their Sunday best: the Truro Cathedral Choir outside St Mary's Church on St Mary's

Truro Cathedral Choir A group of boys and girls wearing choir cassocks and surplices stand outside a granite church on the Isles of Scilly — Their Sunday best: the Truro Cathedral Choir outside St Mary's Church on St Mary's

Anderson-Besant said the unplanned change to the half-term holidays had not caused issues back on the mainland.

He said: "All the parents and the families we've been in touch with have actually been really excited about what we've been up to and very grateful to the team of staff who've looked after everyone so well."

Truro Cathedral Choir has an unbroken tradition dating back to the 1880s.

It currently has 12 adult professional singers, as well as 34 boy and girl choristers.

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