12th December

Bryan Goodwin

God rest you Merry Gentlemen

‘Now to the Lord Sing praises, all you within this place, and with true love and fellowship each other now embrace’

... or God rest ye merry Gentlemen, as we originally sang, brings back fond memories of my youth, and being a choirboy in the Choir at St Stephens, Chorlton on Medlock, where I was involved in so many activities from 1949 onwards.

First at Sunday School, then as I grew older joining the Church Choir, Cubs and Scouts, then as a Sunday School Teacher

God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen was a popular Carol, after the Wars and we were often asked to sing at the Male Wards of Manchester Royal Infirmary where the Choir sang during Advent after our Sunday Evensong Service

It brings back memories of going to the Christmas Pantomime, at the Hippodrome, in Ardwick, where I was born, and the Pickwickian Characters in some of the Pantomime singing it.

It was a favourite of a small rather shabby old Gentleman, a Regular at our Church, called “Mr Shaw” (we never knew his Christian name) who lived alone, who had threadbare coats, which he wore in Winter, and who liked to come with us to sing at the Hospital, even though he was not a member of the Choir. He enjoyed meeting the patients and nurses, with whom he seemed to have had a special rapport.

He came to all the Church Services, as well as Church Socials and the Church Badminton Club, where I played. His playing ability was poor, and he played in the clothes he was wearing, putting on a pair of faded white Gym Shoes, … I think he came for the Social Company, as well as the warmth in Winter and the Cups of tea and biscuits, of which he only ever politely took two.

He mainly sat and spoke softly with the adult members of the Club, who often invited him to share Sunday Dinner with them.

I never knew if he had any family, nor what his life story was, but he was quiet, and humble, and very polite.