Ipswich Central and Thomas Wolsey 550 to bring community carol singing sessions to town centre

Knowing that there’s nothing like carol singing to get people in the mood for Christmas, Ipswich Central and the Thomas Wolsey 550 project have joined forces to stage four community carol singing sessions in the town centre.

With a free sweet treat for audience members who get there early.

On Thursday, December 14 here are two separate sessions, both on Ipswich Cornhill outside the town hall.

At 2pm Stellar Acappella will perform. The group is Suffolk’s finest all-female acapella group with a big sound. They will sing a range of carols with beautiful harmonies in a way guaranteed to bring a smile to the faces of shoppers.

The Ipswich Hospital Community Choir will be performing traditional and more modern carols at 7pm.

In their 10th anniversary year, choir members are looking forward to singing in beautiful four-part harmonies. The choir is made up of hospital employees, volunteers and members of the wider community.

On Tuesday, December 19 at 2pm, a very special choir, Music in Our Bones, will be performing by the Wolsey 550/#IWill mural in the Buttermarket next to the Ancient House.

Registered charity Music in our Bones was one of the recipients of the Thomas Wolsey 550 community grants and offers singing sessions for people who might have a long-term condition like Parkinsons or dementia, be experiencing grief, or be family carers.

The group revel in the joy of singing and the enormous benefits it brings to their wellbeing and would love it if the audience joined them in singing their carols.

These three events follow the Ipswich Gilbert and Sullivan society singing carols at the Tudor Christmas event held around the Thomas Wolsey pub on Thursday, December 7.

At all of these carol sessions, the audience and singers will enjoy a free mince pie provided by Ipswich Central.

Terry Baxter, chair of Ipswich Central said: “In amongst all the glitter, bright lights and last-minute Christmas preparations, we thought it would be nice to bring some old-fashioned carol singing to Ipswich town centre.

“We have some fantastic groups offering their services and I would like to thank them for volunteering to entertain us all.

“I hope Ipswich people will enjoy listening to their beautiful singing, perhaps even joining in as well as tucking in to a free mince pie.”

Ipswich Central is also delighted to have funded the Christmas tree on the Cornhill this year and the Christmas Lights Switch-On which was organised by Ipswich Borough Council took place on Thursday, November 23.

There was an amazing turn out this year with the crowds being entertained by Radio Suffolk and the cast of this year’s Christmas Pantomime, Sleeping Beauty.;

Among further festive attractions planned for the Cornhill throughout December include visits from Santa and his cheerful elf helpers, captivating walkabout acts, a magical giant snow globe, snow machine, and more.