Short Story
RAISING THE ROOF Julia Skelhorn, Sherborne Scribblers
The Charbury Gazette sold out by 10.30am – not a single copy left on the shelves. If headlines were designed to sell tabloids, they certainly did that week: ‘BISHOP SASHAYS DOWN AISLE TO STATUS QUO’
R
oland Bickerstaff summoned all members of the St Chad’s Ladies’ Choir to an urgent meeting. He’d been Vicar of St Chad’s for eleven years and, in addition to the everincreasing problem of a leaking roof, the choir, like the flower arranging team, had been a rather large thorn in his side. The arrival of a new music director six months earlier had thwarted his idea of disbanding the choir. Miss Fanny Stockton, a retired music teacher, moved into the village and the choir welcomed her with open arms. A small, mouse-like creature, with wisps of frizzy, grey hair escaping from a tiny bun, Miss Stockton’s diminutive frame belied her booming voice and massive enthusiasm for anything and everything musical. ‘We’re so glad you’re here,’ Mrs Billings exclaimed at the first practice. ‘Can’t tell you how dreary it’s been with old Bill Malthouse in charge all these years. Good organist, but dreadful choirmaster.’ Throwing her capacious blue cloak over a pew, Fanny opened a large, battered, leather case and pulled out a sheaf of music and a baton. ‘Well, show me what you can do then! Are you our organist?’ she called to Mrs Quinn who had already placed her ample self in front of the organ. ‘I suggest you get into your usual groups to start with – sopranos and altos!’ With that, everyone made their way to the chancel, Fanny in tow. Depositing the sheet music on the lectern, she stood, all five feet two inches of her, in front of the choir, huge, grey eyes bright and baton at the ready. ‘Breathing exercises, ladies,’ she boomed, hand placed on ribs. ‘Then we’ll run through some scales.’ Her enthusiasm immediately lifted the members’ spirits. ‘Now, can you manage the 23rd Psalm? See what you can do.’ Mrs Billings’ nerves got the better of her and she sang off-key, receiving a hefty nudge from Susie French. Not to be deterred, Fanny calmly lowered her baton. ‘Not a bad effort, but I know you can do better. Lead on please Mrs Quinn, then we’ll try it a capella.’ As the weeks went by, for the first time in years, the choir looked forward to attending the practices and, urged on by their new leader, went from strength to strength. Meanwhile, Rev. Bickerstaff was bogged down with PCC meetings in an attempt to instigate some serious fund-raising for the roof repairs. It was finally agreed that in order to promote the various planned events, the suffragan bishop be invited to launch the efforts at a
114 | Sherborne Times | February 2021
