Nearly 100 people escaped scorching heat on July 12 to spend a day singing in the cool of St Andrew’s Church in Farnham.

The Waverley Sing allowed the Waverley Singers to share the joy of choral singing more widely in their local community.

Visits from Farnham & Bordon MP Greg Stafford, Farnham mayor Cllr George Murray and the mayoress Jacoba Murray were much appreciated.

The choir was also grateful to Farnham Town Council for its financial support.

Under the direction of the choir’s conductor, Richard Pearce, and with piano playing by its regular accompanist, Jakob Rothoff, the singers got to grips with well-known songs from Porgy and Bess, West Side Story and Grease, as well as favourite opera choruses by Donizetti, Handel, Puccini and Purcell. The day concluded with a mini-performance and a large round of applause.

Brian, a singer visiting from London, said: “It's a lovely choir, it's very welcoming and friendly. The conductor is amazing - he's very inclusive, he’s encouraging, he's clear. But he makes sure you try to do it correctly, so it is quite a challenge as well. The cakes are magnificent - so many cakes! All in all, an absolutely wonderful and welcoming environment.”

Marina, who sings with the Gospel Collective in Farnham, said: “I came today because I'm in a different choir, I’m in a gospel choir. When I saw they were doing musicals, I thought ‘I like musicals!’. I came just to see how other choirs are singing. It's been a good day.”

Sylvia Turner, one of Waverley Singers’ co-chairs and an organiser of the event, said: “I think we had a great day. Our guests enjoyed themselves, Richard was great, Jakob was great, we had a lovely venue, we had beautiful weather, and it's been a really successful day.”

Waverley Singers’ next concert is an Opera Gala at Farnham Maltings on October 26.