“OK Rolling”…And with those words Surrey
Harmony’s latest funding raising venture began.
We’ve tried everything to raise money to fund visits
to International Convention, coaching, new risers,
even our famous tango men.
But
deciding we would have a new costume for the U.K.
Convention in May 2007 left us all with fund-raising
fatigue. All that is, except Jean Dack. Jean is a
real mean money making machine. She already runs our
successful 400 club, but this time she’s surpassed
herself by getting Surrey Harmony on the telly!
It’s Valentines Day. Jean’s up at the crack of
dawn to make her way to the home of fellow Surrey
Harmony member Veronica Beckitt. Veronica’s house is
an Aladdin’s Cave of treasures waiting to
scrutinised by the team from the BBC 1 programme
“Car Booty”. Hopefully there are some real gems that
will raise some much needed cash towards our new
costume.
Veronica with the
18th century
Chinese plates
“I contacted the programme
months ago” says Jean. “I thought
the idea of a women’s barbershop
chorus trying to raise money would
appeal to them and it did”.
Jean then set about persuading
members of the Chorus to part with
items that might raise some money.
“We got lots of interesting stuff
like a Lulu Guinness handbag, a
Victorian mirror with drawers and
two 18th century Chinese plates.
As usual Chorus members have come up trumps, and
that’s after they have already raised the cupboards
to keep Judith Hunt with an endless supply of stuff
to sell on E-bay”
Veronica’s also made a donation to the
cause - an old Doctor’s bag given some years
ago to her husband David, a retired GP. Car
Booty presenter Mark Franks thinks the
medical instruments inside could interest a
specialist buyer.
As for Veronica,
she’s worried about the TV crew
trampling all over her newly laid
cream carpet in one of the bedrooms.
In the kitchen
Veronica and Danny,
one of the crew are making endless
cups of tea. “I’ve just spotted a
cobweb” says Veronica looking
worried. “I hope the cameraman
manages not to focus on it”.
There’s also much hilarity between Mark and his
fellow presenter Lorne Spicer over a Lulu Guinness
handbag donated by Bari Carolyn Cotton. Jean merely
owns up to having “more than 10 handbags”. Lorne
looks sheepish and admits she’s got over 100! But
they hope the designer bag might fetch up to £40
from someone looking to add the finishing touch a
glamorous outfit.
It’s been a long day of filming. Lorne has to do
a piece to camera outside in the rain. Mark admits
he’d loves to sing, but no choir would ever have him
as he’s got a terrible voice.
But the job’s not over
yet. Now they actually have to persuade members of
the public, and some hardened car boot sale
aficionados to part with their cash at a car boot
sale in Dorking.
Will they be successful in raising
enough to buy a few sequins or will we have to go
only stage wearing only one new shoe?
But
deciding we would have a new costume for the U.K.
Convention in May 2007 left us all with fund-raising
fatigue. All that is, except Jean Dack. Jean is a
real mean money making machine. She already runs our
successful 400 club, but this time she’s surpassed
herself by getting Surrey Harmony on the telly!
As usual Chorus members have come up trumps, and
that’s after they have already raised the cupboards
to keep Judith Hunt with an endless supply of stuff
to sell on 
As for Veronica,
she’s worried about the TV crew
trampling all over her newly laid
cream carpet in one of the bedrooms.
There’s also much hilarity between Mark and his
fellow presenter Lorne Spicer over a Lulu Guinness
handbag donated by Bari Carolyn Cotton. Jean merely
owns up to having “more than 10 handbags”. Lorne
looks sheepish and admits she’s got over 100! But
they hope the designer bag might fetch up to £40
from someone looking to add the finishing touch a
glamorous outfit. 
It’s been a long day of filming. Lorne has to do
a piece to camera outside in the rain. Mark admits
he’d loves to sing, but no choir would ever have him
as he’s got a terrible voice. 
