Chapter 23

They hugged, and Willow went over to her parents. The Baron gave her a hug.

“We went to that concert of yours, last night. I got the tickets through the website. Cassie and Terry were with us, and you, young Willow, are the talk of the family. We also managed to get four tickets for Friday at the Cathedral. Cassie said that there was no way she could miss hearing her wedding organist play in the Cathedral. We’ll be popping into the club before we go, to book some seats for the party, which will let us confirm our booking for the reception.”

“That will be good, Chris. Gina and I will be in there this afternoon, pulling the amps out of storage and testing things. We don’t have a set band yet, just a bunch of volunteers. We’ll be rehearsing on Wednesday afternoon, with one more rehearsal before the event. As all of the orchestra are sight-readers, we should get it sounding good.”

When the five of them were walking back to the house, her grandmother spoke up.

“What else are you intending to surprise us with? First, I see my grandchild playing in a rock group, then I find that you’re on speaking terms with a Bishop, and now I discover that you’re considered family by a Baron! And that Willow will be the organist at a society wedding!”

Wendy laughed.

“You forgot your grandchild playing in the Cathedral next weekend. We have the tickets.”

“If you’re in the city on Thursday, Gramma, we’re bringing all the school orchestra stuff there in the morning and setting it up. We’ll be doing a full rehearsal in the afternoon, with it being a sound check for the BBC.”

“What are they there for?”

“I’m told that they will be recording it for transmission later. They’ll be filming us in May, when we play a Saint-Saens concert there. We’ll be doing four numbers, finishing with the ‘Organ Symphony’.”

“You’re telling me that you’re going to be on the box?”

“That’s what I’ve been told. We’re also pencilled in for a spot in the Proms in the summer.”

“You’re telling me that a school orchestra is that good?”

“It’s not just any old school, Gramma. The drama class has performed Shakespeare in Stratford on Avon. You wait until you hear us in full flight. Although you won’t hear my clarinet playing on the weekend. I gave up my seat to concentrate on the organ.”

They went home to have lunch, and then Willow put on old jeans and a tee, with a hoodie and a mask from the COVID supplies, walking to the club. The passage to the back room was open, and she went through, to find it a different place from before. It had been cleaned and polished up. Malcolm had put some tables out and the door to the storeroom was open, showing more tables and chairs. The Baron was helping pull tables out.

“Hello, Willow. This gives us good ideas for the reception. Are you getting more help?”

“Gina’s coming along. All we plan to do is clean the stage are and pull out the amplifiers. Malcolm has microphones that we can test them with. Did you have lunch here?”

“We did, and very good it was too. Marie’s in the kitchen, helping get the unused parts back into working order. We plan to come along to the party.”

Gina joined them and the two of them went up on the stage with a broom each. They swept all the dirt to one side and got a vacuum to suck it up. Then they opened up the storeroom where the equipment was kept. There was a set of PA speakers which they placed, one each side of the stage. Four fifty-watt Marshalls were a revelation. These were put up on the stage and the girls carefully cleaned them before plugging them in. There was a separate PA amp, with modern wireless connectivity. They plugged a microphone in and tried the settings.

They found that they could send the output to the stage speakers, the room system, or both. There was an inbuilt mixer with input for six microphones, and an output mixer to set the speaker volumes. They tried a microphone in every input of the Marshalls and polished everything they could see. While they were doing this, Willow was visualising the band on stage, and moved two of the amps to one side, with the other two on the other side. Gina raised an eyebrow.

“Two guitars over there, wind in the middle with singer out front. The two of us this side with the bass. There’s room for, what, three guitars, drums, two keyboards and up to five others. That lets us choose wisely. We might be able to rotate the other players if we have more than we need, depending on what we’re playing.”

They cleaned the areas where the amps had been stored, and other places around the back of the stage. When they had finished, the switched everything off and helped pull out chairs. When that was completed, with everything cleaned, Malcolm tried all the lights, including a rotating mirror ball with spotlights that changed colours. Marie had joined them and stood looking at the set-up.

“This is wonderful. It’s like going back fifty years but with modern appliances in the kitchen. It’s perfect for the reception. How many seats have you got out, my dear?”

“It looks like two hundred in this format. There are a couple of extra tables if you give up the dancing. That should give you a target for the guest list. Willow, will you and your folks join us for a meal, here. My treat. Your grandparents looked like they had seen a ghost, this morning.”

“That’s understandable, Chris. Yesterday they found out that we were on speaking terms with the Bishop, and today they met you. I think that they thought that we lived in a tiny village, where nothing ever happens, and everyone keeps to themselves. It’s a bit like that where they live, near Cambridge.”

The girls left to go home for a shower and tell the family that a dinner was offered. Wendy and her mother retired to their rooms to get ready, and Willow had to wait for her shower until her grandmother had used the bathroom. Her grandfather was told that a shabby old cardigan was not going to be acceptable for dinner with a Baron. Eventually, they all strolled to the club. Ashley went and spoke to Malcolm for a few minutes, then sat with them.

“Dad. You and Malcolm seem to be having a lot of little discussions?”

“I’m talking to him about the future, my daughter. Malcolm happens to be the Mayor of the Village, or, at least, the Manager. He’s talking to me about putting my name forward to join the Club Committee and the Village Council. With what you’ve been doing, and my link to the original Leighs, he wants me on board. I’ve never been asked to be so involved, before, and would also look very good on my resume, should there be higher jobs coming up at work.”

They had a good meal, with a lot of chat. Willow was cajoled into sitting at the piano and led them in a half an hour of singing, before the Baron needed to get going and the family strolled home.

Monday, she took her list to Mister Bamborough.

“Excuse me, sir. I have a list here of typical dance numbers from the last twenty years. Would it be possible to check with your music library to see if you have the sheet music for any. If you don’t, any suggestion for others would be appreciated. The orchestra will be rehearsing Tuesday, and we’ll have our volunteers for the party on Wednesday.”

He took the list, and she went off to her first lesson. This week, it was all revision and non-academic periods, like PE, was set as private study. Tuesday. Willow played in the chapel, using the second row on the organ. Tuesday afternoon, she went along to the orchestra rehearsal, to watch until it was time to be picked up by Maisie. Mister Jamieson saw her come in.

“Willow, just the one I needed. The choir aren’t happy that you aren’t part of the orchestra, so you’ve been added to the singers for the ‘Ninth’. I have a spare songbook for you, there will be a microphone for you. It will be a big group, as the Cathedral singers will be joining us, so, with you, there’ll be twenty, sounding like a hundred and twenty. Leave your bag and go and sit with the others.”

So, Willow was greeted by the other ten girls, and sat until they came to the fourth movement. She thought that the eleven of them made ‘Song of Joy’ pop without being amplified. The thought of her adding her voice, at the performance, sent shivers up her spine.

Wednesday, they had a bunch of sheet music of songs, and an extra ten players with a range of instruments between them. The base of the band was Brent, Herb, Victor, and Roy. They had a trumpet, flute, saxophone, trombone and a violinist. They had the amplifiers and the two keyboards on stage. They didn’t stand around talking and got straight into working with the sheet music. Herb, Victor and Roy did the vocals, along with Willow, and they did well, by getting through half the pile of music with the first two hours. They were all upbeat when they finished. They would have two more sessions the week after, much needed relief from end of term exams.

Thursday, the orchestra were in two coaches, their instruments in a truck, and they were taken to the Cathedral. They were shown the space that they would set up, in front of the altar. It took an hour to put all the chairs out, with the music stands and the music. The choirs would be sitting directly below the Christ in Glory tapestry. As they worked, a group of guys with hi-vis came in and started laying out cable to a whole forest of microphones. They were bunched as they went outside to an OB truck full of recording equipment.

They stopped for lunch, with sandwiches and soft drink supplied by the school canteen, and then took their seats. They had a group of teachers; Miss Russell, Mister Bamborough, Mister Jamieson and Reg Edwards, who followed Willow up to the organ and helped her set it up. He had a two-way and they waited until they got word from the supervisor that the recording van was ready. Willow was looking down in the mirror and saw Mister Jamieson get the same message and gesture to the orchestra to be silent. A BBC man asked the public in the building to please be quiet.

Reg nodded to Willow, and she started playing. Although she had been here and played it before, this time felt different. This time it was almost for real. When the last notes of the ‘Fugue’ died, there was applause from below, as this was the first time the orchestra had heard her on this organ. Reg patted her on the back as she headed down to join the choir. The mic was clipped to her top and the sender to her waist.

A few minutes later, Mister Bamborough tapped his baton and the first strains of the ‘Ninth’ sounded. When they got to the fourth movement, the singers all stood, with their songbooks opened. When they started singing, Willow teared up, as they were all set on maximum voices and the words thundered through the Cathedral. When they finished, there was silence for a few moments before all the public, the Cathedral workers, the BBC technicians and everyone else who was there burst into applause and cheering. The choir all had hugs, with the orchestra with big smiles. They were instructed to leave their instruments and the microphones in the Chapter house, which would be secured until they arrived on Friday.

It was a very happy group that were taken back to the school, confident that they will be successful with their performance. They were given free rein to head home or stay in the school, and Gina and Willow opted to sit in the library until it was time for Wendy to pick them up, catching up on their revision.

When they arrived home, her grandmother gave her a big hug, followed by her grandfather.

“We took your advice and were in the Cathedral, getting there after lunch. We sat in the pews and heard you play the organ. It sent tremors up and down my spine. And then I could have been in the Royal Albert Hall. That singing at the end is so iconic, it made me cry.”

“Don’t worry. Gramma, I was the same and I had been in that choir. I think the guy from the Beeb was happy, I saw him talking to someone on his phone and waving his arms around.”

On Friday, Willow was wearing her blue dress when she went to school. All of the orchestra had their long skirts or blue shirts and black trousers. The choir members all had the same dresses as Willow. They had the lunch and then gathered in the theatre for a last-minute pep talk, then were back in the coaches and heading for the Cathedral. When they got there, they saw a second OB truck with another bundle of leads snaking inside.

They were checked in, with the building now closed to the public. When they entered, they saw the lines of seats with programs on, several cameras set up, and technicians scurrying around. The Dean met them and spoke to the teachers. The whole group were ushered into the Chapter House and Miss Russell got some quiet so she could speak.

“There’s been a change in the broadcast. Your rehearsal, yesterday, was so good that tonight will be filmed for showing during Christmas Eve. Tomorrow evening all the extra stuff will be gone, so we want you all to be on your best behaviour today. No making faces or whispering that could be picked up by the microphones. We want you to be smiling and looking happy to be here. There will be cameras taking in views of the Cathedral and Willow, you have a fixed camera over the keyboard. If you look up, it will capture your face. When we go back out, with the instruments, we will play the first movement so that the cameras and sound can be set. Then we take a break until show time.”

They got themselves organised, all the singers, including Willow, went behind a screen to clip the sender to their panties and the microphone to their dresses. She joined the other singers in a pew as the orchestra sorted itself out. The man from the Beeb made sure his crew was ready and nodded to Mister Bamborough, now wearing tails. They orchestra played the first movement and the man from the Beeb spoke to Miss Russell. She came over to the singers.

“They want us to give them a sound check of the organ and the choir, any ideas?”

“We can do what we did the other Saturday, Miss. I’ll play the snippet from the ‘Organ Symphony’, and the girls can sing the three verses. Do you all remember it?”

There was a chorus of yesses, so Willow went up to the organ, and powered it up. She saw the girls lined up, and one called out the old test – ‘two, two, two. She was given a wave, and started the final part of the organ symphony, concentrating on the music with her new-found skills. When she got to the bit when the singing started, she sung it herself, looking up at the camera above her. When they ended the piece, there was some cheering from the orchestra, being the first time that they had heard it played in the venue. When she went back down, Miss Russell came over to her.

“The man from the Beeb said that the picture of you singing along with the choir was so magical, they want you to do the same in May. He’ll play it back if you want to see it.”

“I didn’t know my mic was on.”

“All the singers are going through the same mix, so you were included. I really didn’t know that you were singing until he just told me, you blended in with the others perfectly.”

They went out to the OB trucks and were invited into the one with the video feed. They were shown what the camera above her had seen, and she had to admit that it was different from any organist she had seen before.

The man from the Beeb told them that this would be a clip used in the advertising of the live feed in May, with the song from Babe being a strong trigger for viewer interest.

As they went back inside, Willow commented.

“Will that make me the face of the school for a few days?”

“You bet it will. I can’t think of a better ambassador of that concert. I expect you to feature on the posters, as well.”

They all relaxed and there was a light meal that the school canteen had packed for them, with sandwiches and salad and a small drink. Before the public admission started, they were all taken into the Chapter House, where the Bishop came in with a natty suit on and blessed the orchestra with prayer for a good concert.

They talked among themselves until a radio call came through that the main doors were closing. They were lined up, with Willow last. The Chapter House door was opened, and the orchestra walked out, in line, to take their seats. There was applause which swelled as Willow went up the stairs to the organ. She made herself comfortable until Mister Bamborough gave her a nod after the audience had settled.

She grinned as she played the first strong notes of the ‘Toccata’. When the last notes of the ‘Fugue’ faded, there was strong applause and she stood, faced the audience and bowed, before going back down to join the choir, with them all smiling.

She sat as the orchestra began the first movement. Relaxed and happy that the first hurdle was over, she listened to the music swirl around her until they stood for the fourth movement. She had the feeling that someone had turned the volume up when they started singing, but then realised that there was almost twice as many singers as there was yesterday. The piece came to an end, and they all waited until the audience started clapping, with many standing in ovation. The entire orchestra we signalled to stand, and they all bowed, with the conductor pointing to individuals, with Willow getting cheers as she was pointed out. Eventually, they left to walk back into the Chapter House. The applause continued and Mister Bamborough asked Willow if she had an encore.

He then led her out and they both bowed. He pointed to the organ, and she went back up, with the audience settling as she sat at the keyboard. She played the ‘Allegro’ from ‘Seven Improvisations’ and there was applause when she finished. She went back down, the two of them bowed, and went into the Chapter House to wait until the building was cleared.

Her parents were waiting in the car when the coach got back to the school, in a full car park. Willow and Gina got in and they went home. Maisie would do the honours on Saturday, as Wendy and Ashley would be back at the Cathedral, with her grandparents, on Saturday evening.

On Saturday, Willow took it easy until Maisie arrived, with Gina, to take her to the school. She had been careful with her dress and make-up, and her grandmother commented on what a beautiful girl she was. She hugged her family and then went out to the car. Maisie dropped them off at the school and then went into the city to do a little shopping before the performance.

Before they left, the Head took Willow aside and asked her that, if she did another encore, to get the entire audience on their feet with God Save the King. The orchestra would go back to their places to receive a standing ovation of their own.

The performance was a repeat of the Friday one, but without all the microphones and cameras. There were the calls for more. Willow was sent back to the organ and did the ‘Seven Allegro’. As she played, the orchestra were quietly led back to their places. When Willow started the National Anthem, the entire place were on their feet and in good voice. When she finished, she waved towards the orchestra, who bowed to their own standing ovation.

When she was dropped off at home, the family were waiting for her. The grandparents beside themselves with joy and loving. When she went to bed, she cuddled Tiger, and told him that he should have been there.

Sunday was lovely, with a quiet time at the church, the Bach helping her to calm the flutters of the big performance. The Russells had been at the concert, and she was hugged and complimented on her playing. The following week was all exams, except for the rehearsal of the dance band. They were now good enough to wing it, should they be asked for anything special. On Friday, they were all allowed to leave after lunch, and Maisie was there to pick them up.

On Saturday, Ashley and her grandfather helped to take the keyboard and stand to the club, then they went to help get Gina’s. The rest of the band arrived during the afternoon, and they had a short rehearsal. After six, the room filled, and the drink flowed. The band were given a meal in the front section, and then went through to start playing. The fact that the audience were ready to have fun was an impetus to the performance, as was the fact that there was a table full of teachers, the Head, and their spouses.

The evening was a roaring success, with the dance band doing everything that had been desired, even managing some extra songs that were requested. Towards the end of the night, it developed into a sing-along, with Willow and Gina leading the way and the rest using every inch of their imagination to follow. At the end of the night, they did ‘Now is the Hour’ and wound up the show. Willow and Gina made a point to give the band members a hug, followed by the Head coming on the stage to add her hugs. There had been a whip-around as the night went on, and Malcolm announced that they had raised over two thousand pounds towards the church roof restorations, with a percentage of the takings to be added to that.

For Willow, it was almost the culmination of the first term. One that had been like no other in her life. On Sunday morning, she helped Gina collect her keyboard, and they hugged. Willow wished her a good holiday as they were heading to the airport that afternoon. Willow had a gift for Gina in her bag, and Gina gave her one in return. When Willow opened hers, she found that they had both chosen the same pendant, with entwined hands on it.

The later service, on Sunday, was a very calming affair, and that was followed, after lunch, with the carols. Willow sang as she played, hearing her mother and grandmother singing. It was a lovely time, which then moved them into Christmas and all the joy and gift giving that it brings.

The following Tuesday, the dance band, without Gina, played again, in the school theatre, to a bunch of teachers and students, and several hundred invited members of various aged people homes. There were tables with nibbles, and plenty of chairs for those needing a rest.

Christmas Eve, the family watched the performance on the television. For Willow, it was strange to see herself and her friends on the screen.

…………………………………………………

In Bristol, Harvey Horton saw the performance and was happy that Billie-Jean had gone on to better things, unlike his son, who was now in a juvenile detention home. He raised his glass to the girl who he now knew was actually called Willow Jean Rose, as shown by the credits that were scrolling on his screen. He went to join his new love, unlikely ever to know the drastic changes that his assumption had made.

…………………………………………………..

Christmas day, it was just Willow and her grandmother who walked to the church, arm in arm with their breath steaming. Willow played to a church full of joyful villagers, singing the carols as she played them. Afterwards, there was a lot of hugging, kissing and love being spread around. Willow was happy that she was fully accepted by the villagers, but more so by her grandmother’s joy at being with her.

Christmas night, Willow was in her bed, in a new nightie and cuddling her bed friends. She wished the two of them a happy Christmas, and dozed off to sleep, wondering what the new year and new term would bring. It couldn’t be any busier than the last one, now, could it?

Marianne Gregory © 2025
End of Book One