Welcome to the website of Sweyne Singers.
We are a small, versatile choir in Rayleigh, Essex, which sings a wide range of music. Having performed for over 50 years as Sweyne Choral Society, we changed our name in September 2017 to Sweyne Singers, to reflect a change in our repertoire and style. We gain great pleasure from singing together and aim to give enjoyment through visits to perform in small community settings.
We are currently undergoing a change in leadership following the untimely death of our much loved Musical Director Colin Edwards in a horrendous traffic accident in October 2023. We are very fortunate in that our equally able and committed accompanist Janet Walker has for the present taken up the baton and is currently leading our rehearsals in preparation for further visits to care homes and other such groups in the coming months. Our more distant future is of necessity still in the early planning stages.
We always welcome new members who love to sing and also like to play a valuable role in the community.
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COLIN EDWARDS - A Tribute
Colin Edwards served this choir as Musical Director for nearly fifteen years. Were it not for his dedicated support, Sweyne Singers would some years ago have ceased to exist. We were exceptionally fortunate to have his leadership: his consummate musicianship, his generosity, and his talent for making it all such fun.
On 25th October 2023, Colin's life was abruptly taken from him, in a traffic accident which is the stuff of nightmares. We and all his many friends remain stunned at the enormity of this loss, not only to us, but to the musical and spiritual life of the entire community in which he moved and worked.
Colin always gave fully of his numerous talents, and of all that he had. Musical Director to three choirs, devoted church organist, a senior local Samaritan, friend and mentor to many.
Enormously erudite, a trait he carried lightly; a man of firm principle, almost painfully self-effacing; caring and funny - those terrible jokes! Colin Edwards will be grievously missed. We all are so much richer for having known him.
JAN RICHARDS
Chairman Sweyne Singers
