OCTOBER, the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, is also traditionally festival time. This year in Steeple Ashton it will be celebrated at Oktoberfest with wine, and a veritable feast of choral music.

Local musician and impresario Graham Dalby, from Hilperton, a veteran of some 30 years as singer and conductor, is bringing all his experience to create a glorious evening of English choral music down the ages from Henry VIII through Queens Mary, Elizabeth and Victoria, to Edward VII, George V and VI and our present monarch, Elizabeth II.

Plain chant, a capella, madrigals and even gospel music, will all feature

Graham Dalby said:“ This is more than just another concert, but a theatrical performance to remember with processions of singers dressed in cloaks, if not daggers, and trumpet fanfares in the magical, candle-lit setting of Steeple Ashton’s 15th century church and its wonderful acoustics.”

The evening, on Friday, October 13, will be the inaugural concert of the Choir of the Western Wynde, Dalby’s latest group of 20 singers brought together through the power of Facebook who have been only singing together since this Easter. They include singers Dalby met whilst studying music at Trinity College, London, ex-Wells Cathedral choral scholars and a smattering of singers from choirs in Trowbridge and Westbury.

Soloists Eleanor and Ed Coton, Beth Thomas and Graham Case will be joined by acclaimed organist from Bath, Steven Hollas.

The entertainment will begin with a glass of wine at 7pm, with the musical performance following at 7.30pm. It will start in candlelight with a lone tenor voice and end in a great crescendo of sound from Parry’s famous anthems and shouts of Vivat Regina with the audience joining in.

Tickets cost £15 and are available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/date/384234, or from Steeple Ashton village shop on 01380 871211.