My wife and I attended a performance of Handel's Messiah at St Nicholas's Church, Kenilworth on Tuesday. What at an exalted experience! I had heard only snatches of the piece before and can well understand why the composer lost all sense of time and space during its composition. And no wonder the King spontaneously got to his feet during the famous chorus!
We both enjoyed the evening and the wonderful setting and there was an extra bonus at the end. I thought I spied an old friend and colleague in the bass section of the choir. But surely not? It's been nearly 50 years and he lives in Yorkshire. That cannot be the chap who fell off his bike in exhaustion after we had almost completed a round trip from Leeds to Scarborough in 1963. But a quick referral to the programme confirmed that the man was indeed Barrie Leadbeater, one time employee of the Leeds and Holbeck Building Society and distinguished Yorkshire cricketer and coach.
After the applause, I made myself known and we relived every turn of the pedals up Garrowby Hill. Miraculously, Barrie know lives in Kenilworth so we will meet for a pint... and I'll ask him if he still owns a bike?
No comments:
Post a Comment