Huron Expositor, 2009-11-18, Page 14... «.rr� i•.+....►- omea,- *-.IW......
Page 14 The Huron Expositor • November 18, 2009
News
Huron Hospice presenting reading of
'A Christmas Carol' Dec. 13 at Northside
Huron Hospice Volunteer Service
will be presenting its annual reading
of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Car-
ol Sunday, Dec. 13 in the afternoon at
2:30 at Northside United Church in
Seaforth.
For over six years, this wonder-
ful rendition has started the Christ-
mas season for many Huron County
folk. Over the past years Hospice has
presented this reading in Goderich,
Wingham and Seaforth.
After competing with many Satur-
day evening events and poor winter
weather, the board of directors of
Huron Hospice felt that the move to
a daytime performance on a Sunday
afternoon would attract more people
who were looking for some Christmas
events that didn't involve night time
travel and better driving conditions.
Attending the reading is an oppor-
tunity to take time out of the hurried-
ness of getting ready for Christmas
and be the recipient of an ageless
story read to the audience, as was the
original intent by Dickens to enter-
tain audiences throughout England
and Europe and even America in the
mid 1800's.
Dickens donated the profits of his
personal readings of A Christmas
Carol to the local poor houses, hos-
pitals and charities providing respite
and care to the poor and dying.
The CBC readings were begun in
Canada 20 years ago by Judy Mad-
dren now a retired broadcaster,
when she and her colleagues at CBC
radio read the first time at her local
church in lbronto.
She developed the event complete
with original script and production
notes and made the script available
to non-profit groups as a way of fund-
raising for groups to gain awareness
and much needed funds for their or-
ganizations and churches.
Since Maddren's retirement, CBC
no longer sponsors the readings by
providing readers from CBC radio.
In the past some of Hospice's readers
have included Jane Farrow, Marsha
Lederman, Kim Steffler and Marcia
Young and Kevin McDonald and Tom
Dean from the world of radio.
The readers for this year's perfor-
mance include the very well known
Jim Swan, who acts as Master of Cer-
emonies for the Barn Dance Show.
Swan is a Wingham native and has
worked in radio and television on
CFPL and BX 93 for many years.
Swan is thrilled to be reading for
Huron Hospice as this is the first time
he has had an opportunity to partici-
pate in a Dickens reading.
Other well known people in the
Seaforth area who will be reading
include Susan Wheatley and Thom-
as Gray. Also reading this year are
Steve Howard of Goderich, as well as
a volunteer with Huron Hospice Bill
Stevenson, from the Clinton area.
Along with the dramatic reading of
Charles Dickens' story of Ebenezer
Scrooge's journey of redemption and
hope, there is seasonal music provid-
ed by a large community choir.
Many singers ` entertained last
spring at the Music in May Concert
at the Presbyterian Church and are
now gathering and practising under
the direction of Deborah Lambert.
A newly -formed Children's Choir di-
rected by Rachel Wood will also enter-
tain the audience with their youthful
voices.
Huron Hospice is a member agency
of United Way of Perth Huron and
provides respite and palliative care at
no cost to individuals and their fami-
lies who are facing a life threatening
illness.
Hospice also offers grief and be-
reavement programs throughout the
county to adults
hil
and children. A d
cancer support
group is also fa-
cilitated by Huron
Hospice.
Over 50 vol-
unteers provide
these programs
and services to
4/5ths of the coun-
ty including God-
erich, Wingham,
Clinton, Bayfield,
Hensall, Seaforth
and surrounding
areas.
Tickets are
$10 each and $5
for children and
will be available
at Pete's Paper
Clip and through
the Hospice Office
and at the door
the afternoon of
the reading.
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