Voices in Harmony, Cradley Heath, West Midlands

Allow me to introduce this mixed voice (SATB) choir to you, gentle reader. Based in the heart of the Black Country, one of the friendliest and welcoming places on earth, we have been singing for the best part of twenty years. I won’t go into the history, as you can find it on our website – http://www.vihchoir.org – but suffice it to say we are a keen group of c.70 men and women who enjoy singing together to a reasonably high standard. Our repertoire ranges from light classics through musicals to popular songs. Just a few examples would be:

• Vivaldi’s Gloria
• Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man
• Stainer’s Crucifixion
• Handel’s Messiah
• Songs from Phantom of the Opera
• Fields of Gold
• Bridge over Troubled Water
• Songs from Les Miserables
• Hey, Jude
• He ain’t Heavy, He’s my Brother

Not all the members are music readers, yet we have a good number of very able soloists from each section of the choir. Very occasionally we might sing a capella, but mostly with piano accompaniment, often supplemented by bass guitar and keyboard. VIH performs between 6 and 8 concerts a year, often in support of local charities. 

It has been proven so many times that singing is exceptionally good for one’s health. Just type “why singing is good for your health” into your search engine, and you will be amazed at the number of authoritative articles on the subject.

Keen that children should also become involved, we have a junior choir “Pure Harmony” for 8 to 16 year olds, which consistently wows their audiences, and has even received a commendable letter from Buckingham Palace.

If you are within travelling distance of the Black Country, are interested in becoming part of a choir, you can sing in tune, and enjoy all kinds of music, or, indeed, you have, or know of, children who would enjoy singing together, go to our website at http://www.vihchoir.org for more details and how to contact us. You will also find us on YouTube.

Too old for life-saving drugs

Reports tosay suggest that patients who have had a ‘fair innings’ could be denied life-saving drugs under proposed health reforms. The Department of Health proposals are condemned by doctors, some MPs as ‘barking mad.’
If the plan does go ahead, there is only one phrase to describe it – State Sponsored Euthanasia.
Source: Daily Mail & Daily Express

Employees and cars – including their own

The combined terms of the Corporate Manslaughter Act and the Health & Safety at Work etc Act mean that a vehicle used by an employee in the course of their work (even if it is their own car) is part of that employee’s workplace.
This means that in the event of an accident or incident, the employer could be held partly to blame.

Employers should check with their insurers and legal advisors to make sure sufficient cover is in place.

Three score years and ten

The Government says that everyone will have to work until they are 70 in order to qualify for a pension. The NHS says that those of 70 are too old to qualify for treatment.
It’s a good way of keeping both the pensions budget and the health budget under control, and avoids the need to discuss the controversial subject of euthanasia any further.

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