A COMMUNITY choir has united via Zoom to perform a Covid-inspired version of The Twelve Days of Christmas.
The Phoenix Singers, based in Gainford, has recorded a video called The Twelve Days of Christmas with the aim of bringing a little festive cheer to people. The song was recorded virtually and then mixed together by choir member Peter Dransfield.
The re-written lyrics begin: “On the first day off lockdown, the PM gave to me an
iPad with Zoom installed for free.”
Two partridges in a pear tree are swapped for two spotted face masks and five gold rings become five Morrisons vans.
“There’s also a nod to Dominic Cummings’ visit to Barnard Castle, sanitisers and the race to stock up on toilet rolls.
Singer Jane Ford-Farrand took over as musical director of the group, previously known as Scherzo, just before lockdown in March and members haven’t been able to meet since.
Ms Ford-Farrand said: “By the time September came we began to appreciate we weren’t going to be able to get back together and decided to work on a project for Christmas.
“We thought we’d perform as a traditional choir and get dressed up and do a video remotely. Then someone said , why not change the words? The result is very humours and fun.”
Morrisons staff agreed to take part in the some video clips, which take a lighter look at life in the pandemic.
“It’s been fantastic to have that collaboration,” said Ms Ford-Farrand.
The video is available to see on You Tube. Visit https://youtu.be/xkg4XbbDPrE
![A COUNTY councillor is backing a campaign to get a pedestrian crossing in Staindrop. Frustrated parish councillors in the village summoned their county council representative Cllr George Richardson to their latest meeting to discuss several issues, including the call for a safe way to cross the A688. Earlier this year their request for a crossing was turned down by the county council’s highways officers. Parish council chairman Jonothan Raper described the reasons for the refusal as “spurious” and called on Cllr Richardson to support their campaign. He added: “One of the arguments they made was there is no clear line of desire when they studied the village – well this isn’t a clear line of desire because there isn’t a crossing, people cross whenever they can. “When the lollipop person was there, one of the things I noticed was people would walk all the way down to the lollipop person to cross the road to go to the shop or to go to the school.” He added a problem of parking at the primary school is exacerbated because people are too afraid to walk their children across the road. Cllr Richardson said he had supported previous attempts for a crossing point with the first being made about 15 years ago. He added: “We went fairly well down the road with that and they looked into it. The only recommended place was where the bus stop is and to get the visibility splays, people on the other side of the road would lose their parking. “That didn’t go down well so it just died a death.” Cllr Raper said he suspected the real reason for the officers’ refusal was the cost of installing a crossing. He added that much of the cost could be recovered from savings made on not having to employ a lollipop patrol. Cllr Raper said: “A lollipop person only provides a benefit of crossing for three hours of the day. You are getting 21 extra hours of crossing time [with a pedestrian crossing].” Cllr Richardson said he would raise the issue with the county council’s cabinet member for highways, Cllr John Shuttleworth.](https://teesdalemercury.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/georgeR-120x86.jpg)
