“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.
“I contacted the programme months ago” says Jean. 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.
“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 for Veronica, she’s worried about the TV crew trampling all over her newly laid cream carpet in one of the bedrooms. 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.
Presenter Lorne Spicer and the Director Sarah FisherAs 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”.
Jean merely owns up to having “more than 10 handbags”. Lorne looks sheepish and admits she’s got over 100!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.
Lorne has to do a piece to camera outside in the rain.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?