Rydal 2024 final letter
Here are the final details for the Rydal Genin Orchestra 2024…
Conductors
Leo has been suffering from spinal stenosis for the last year and has been under the care of Walton Neurosurgical. Two weeks ago, he took prospective applicants to Oxford and the numbness and tingling in his middle and legs got worse. Last week in Cambridge it became critical. He was told to go to local A&E but returned home with the pupils. On Saturday he was taken by ambulance from Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral to Walton in Liverpool and had a 4-hour operation to decompress his lumbar and thoracic vertebrae. He has regained sensation and is recovering well at home
However, it was a long operation and although Leo would love to be conducting, he’s decided that it would be too risky for him to take on what is a big job over the week. We’ve worked hard and quickly to find new conductors; Nick Byrne will wave the stick up to and including Monday morning. From then until the end of the week our conductor will be John Lyon who comes highly recommended by the Leeds crew (Ben, Jayne, Claire, etc.)
Health and Safety
For issues relating to fire safety, the stairlift from the ground to the first floor has been removed. The Hall has plans to improve disabled access to the bedrooms, but in the short-term, people will have to climb the stairs themselves. I’m not sure this will affect anyone in the orchestra, but please let me know by return if this will cause an issue for you
Timings
Please see the attached PDF for the full schedule. We are meeting in time for dinner at 6:15pm on Saturday 27th July, until after breakfast on Saturday 3rd August 2024. Residents in the Hall can check in any time from 4:00pm on Saturday afternoon
Dinner will be served at 6.15pm each evening. A tradition is that gin will be taken from 5:30pm on the old croquet lawn (or in the Library if the weather is inclement). If you wish to participate, please bring as exotic a gin as you can source and a shot glass
The first rehearsal will be in the Bishop Bulley Barn at 7.30pm on Saturday 27th July; a full schedule for the week is attached
Music to be played
Because of Leo’s late withdrawal, I cannot give you any information about what will be played at the moment. John and Nick, in conjunction with the Committee, are working on this as I write. I’m sure we’ll have some of the usual suspects, but we’ll try to throw in some new challenges too. If I can update you before the start of our week together, I will
Checklist
Please make sure you bring your instrument, a music stand, and a stand light if you require it. The weather in the Lake District is changeable(!), so you will probably need plenty of warm clothing. We will keep the Barn as well-ventilated as we can during rehearsal
I will also remind you that the path from the Hall to the Barn is uneven and slippery when wet, so please bring appropriate footwear
Non-residents
For non-residents of the Hall, you can join us for evening meals if you wish, but this needs to be arranged in advance. Let me know if you are interested in this. If you have not already paid, rehearsals for non-residents are priced at £10 each; please arrange to pay me in cash, or by transfer to the bank account
If you have any issues during the week, please find me, or call me on 07860 968 911
I look forward to seeing you on the 27th July
Best wishes
Nick
—
Nick Pears
