Christmas in Banburyshire - Brackley Community Radio invites the town to its virtual Carol Service and it wants your songs

Brackley's radio station has solved the problem of carol concerts being cancelled this year due to coronavirus. It is holding its own community event on the air and everyone is invited to sing along.
By Roseanne Edwards
Published 26th Oct 2020, 16:39 BST
Updated 27th Oct 2020, 11:06 BST

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Brackley Community Radio is hoping for a big postbag of recorded songs and carols for its December 20 virtual carol service. Picture by GettyBrackley Community Radio is hoping for a big postbag of recorded songs and carols for its December 20 virtual carol service. Picture by Getty
Brackley Community Radio is hoping for a big postbag of recorded songs and carols for its December 20 virtual carol service. Picture by Getty

Station production director Bernie Tiller is asking those in the Brackley area to record a song and send it in whether they are individuals or families, schools, clubs and workplaces, local bands or independent singers.

"In these strange times we are going through, many events have been cancelled and turned into virtual events and Brackley Community Radio has been there to support them all the way," said Mr Tiller.

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"This year, the Brackley Carol Service that usually takes part on the piazza has been cancelled so we will be hosting a virtual carol service for everyone to join in with.

Dave Watts, producer and presenter at Brackley Community Radio, left, and production director Bernie TillerDave Watts, producer and presenter at Brackley Community Radio, left, and production director Bernie Tiller
Dave Watts, producer and presenter at Brackley Community Radio, left, and production director Bernie Tiller

"We want people to record their Christmas carols or favourite festive songs to send to us in any format to be included in the show. Listeners can also send in requests for their favourite Christmas songs," he said.

Mr Tiller said the show, at 4pm on December 20, will be pre-recorded with links from station presenters and guests. Town Mayor Cllr Chris Cartmel will be recording his Christmas message to the town and introducing a song.

"We're asking people to record one or two songs on any format. MP3s would be best but we can convert anything from mobile phone videos and recordings to MP4s. Any tracks that are left over from this show will be compiled into another programme for Christmas Day," said Mr Tiller.

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Local schools have been invited to submit songs or carols. The radio station has been donated 25 clear protective visors which can be provided to larger choirs or groups of singers to enable them to record safely. These will be sanitised before being passed to another group.

Mr Tiller would like those contributing to contact him before sending in their recordings to find out whether their chosen song has already been earmarked, in a bid to prevent too many tunes or carols being repeated.

To contact him email [email protected] or call 07831 461201. Listeners can tune in here on the day or on their smart speaker.

The programme - Brackley Carol Service 2020 - will be broadcast on Sunday, December 20 at 4pm.

You can follow the station on Facebook here.

Related topics:Brackley