Weekly What's On Friday 21 Aug 2026
Massed Come and Sing
Advance notice of something rather special taking place next month, because it's a distance away and if you like the sound of it you might want to get it in your diaries.
On Sunday 20 September, you are invited to spend an uplifting and very special afternoon or evening joining the Voices for Hospices Choir at its Massed Come and Sing fundraising concert 'The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace', which will take place at Thornden Hall in Eastleigh.
A 'massed come and sing' event is a large-scale musical gathering where people come together to form a giant, combined choir, to rehearse and perform a major piece of music in a single day or weekend.
I first met John Sutton MBE and his wife Jenny and learned about their 'Voices for Hospices' choir, at an Oakhaven event a couple of years ago. They are really special people who have been organising massed 'Come and Sing' concerts since 1986 and have raised many thousands of pounds for hospices. As we know from our own Oakhaven, hospices rely heavily on donations to supply the services so necessary to patients - both within hospices and in patients' own homes - as they face life limiting and end of life issues. In these challenging times, raising these funds is increasingly difficult.
The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace is an anti-war choral work composed by Welsh musician Sir Karl Jenkins. The piece reflects on the horrors of the 20th century while carrying a message of hope for a peaceful future. In the 2026 Classic FM Hall of Fame it was voted Britain’s favourite piece of classical music. You can listen to it in its entirety here, and get a sense of anticipation too from these comments: 'From time to time a composer touches your soul with a sublime, heavenly composition. Jenkins had God's touch when he composed this fantastic and "peacemaking" piece.' 'There are no words to describe this music. It is food for our soul, our senses, our peace. We are all spiritual beings experiencing a human existence.'
This beautiful event will be raising funds for eight Hampshire hospices, including Oakhaven. There is no need to prepare, you'll be taught on the day. Rehearsals will be at 2pm and 7pm, with performances at 3pm and 8pm. What a lovely way to spend a September Sunday!
(Do also see below some new events added to the Diary this week which will be fundraising for Oakhaven: Durlston Charity Dog Show; The New Forest 10 Mile Race; "Wight Lines" hip-hop themed run.)
Thinking of Buying Your Parents' Home?
Buying your parents’ home can be both a practical and emotional decision. You may want to help your parents, move up the property ladder or simply keep a cherished property within the family.
However, what appears to be a straightforward family arrangement can have significant legal, tax and financial implications. How much you pay for the property, whether your parents continue living there and how the transaction is structured can all make a difference.
If this subject is pertinent to you whether parent or 'child', do please read this month's helpful and informative article from Lymington's Scott Bailey Solicitors!
BUYING YOUR PARENTS HOME - THINGS TO CONSIDER
Durlston's First GCSE Results
First, congratulations to all those who have received their A Level, GCSE and other academic results over the past couple of weeks and will over the coming months be embracing new life challenges.
And now, following its expansion up to GCSE level, Durlston School is celebrating its first-ever public examination results. It is delighted to report exceptionally strong performance in core subjects: 91% of English, Maths & Science results achieved at grades 9-4. Optional subjects saw equally strong results, with pupils, on average, achieving over a grade higher than standardised national data predicted. Other highlights from the results include exceptional grades in French, with 100% of pupils achieving grades 8 and 9, as well as Art, Music & Physical Education candidates achieving, on average, at least 2 grades higher than predicted.
Durlston is proudly non-selective and welcomes pupils at all stages of their education. These results mark an important milestone in the school’s 123-year history and reflect its longstanding commitment to nurturing individual talent and confidence. If you think your child might benefit from additional motivation, support or challenge to achieve their full potential, you are warmly invited to book a visit to the school. See also Meet Durlston's New Headmaster, Durlston Open Week and Durlston Kindergarten Open Morning (all listed below too).
DISCOVER THE DURLSTON DIFFERENCE!
Upcoming Events
'How to Live on Earth' will be screening at the Malt Cinema this evening, tomorrow and Tuesday, with a matinee next Wednesday. (There's also a dementia friendly screening this morning at 10.30, just in case this information is not too late for some.) This is a visionary feature documentary presented by Benedict Cumberbatch, which features inspirational, cutting-edge stories and powerful cinematography from around the world to reveal how humans are learning to team up with nature to solve our biggest challenges. Heart-warming, entertaining, energising, the film presents a hopeful vision of a future within reach – one in which nature thrives, and so do we. Just what we need right now.
A reminder that today is the Art Sale in aid of Oakhaven Hospice, which is being held at the Oakhaven Hospice Furniture Shop in Ampress Park (9.30am to 4.30pm).
Some extra events for this weekend have been added below and don't forget the New Forest for Ukraine Open Day on Monday. Next week and through the Bank Holiday Weekend is also Hampshire Open Studios; for your convenience here's the link to the New Forest map and participants.
A number of new events for September and beyond have been added this week including October Half Term and Hallowe'en events at Exbury. And from next week onwards, the School Summer Holidays section below will be replaced by, you guessed it, a new Christmas Events section!
Best wishes for a great weekend, Jane
Read the rest of this week's newsletter here
And check out What's On in the Diary of Upcoming Events!
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