'Inspirations' was a very well-chosen title for a really original 'arts

evening' at St Sampson's on 27th April. The chief organising spirit

behind it was a well-known member of our congregation, Jane Newberry,

who drew together a foursome of people with varied talents and great

enthusiasm for their respective forms of creative art.

Anthea Lay is a much-prized member of our congregation and local

communities who became nationally known a few years ago through her

involvement in BBC TV's 'Big Painting Challenge' - and many of us

locally have lived very happily for a long time with her lyrical

landscapes, riverscapes, seascapes and skyscapes, executed in

oil-paints. Anthea gave four truly illuminating short talks (illustrated

by several examples of her work) about her development as a creative

person.

Jane, the literary member of the team, who has published several books

of poetry for children, likewise gave us four contributions, combining

readings of well-known favourites (such as 'The Lion & Albert',

Masefield's 'Sea Fever' and Shakespeare's 'The Tempest') with pieces of

her own composition. She focussed on the great variety of poetic

writing, including magic and dream worlds, children's fantasy - also

reflections of people, places, holidays, and the 'bigger picture',

involving history, emotion, and the infinite possibilities of life.

The other two members of our quartet were a distinguished

organist/pianist David Davies (who currently plays at Buckfast Abbey and

Exeter Cathedral) and his wife Rebecca, a physician at Exeter Hospital

with a varied musical training who sings soprano with the St Peter's

Singers of Exeter Cathedral. David and Rebecca gave us together a

brilliantly lyrical performance ('like wine and halva') of Eric

Whitacre's 'This Marriage', as a reflection with deep gratitude on the

great joy they have found in their own marriage relationship. David also

gave us a dazzling piano performance of Debussy's 'La Danse de Puck'

(which he takes be 'a fusion of the Bard and the world of French

Impressionism'. David also brought the programme to a magnificent close

'on the shoulders of giants', migrating to the organ stool for a dynamic

performance of Buxtehude's Toccata in F, which he linked to the feelings

connected with the deep emotion evoked by the destruction of war and the

reconstruction which follows - in his phrase, 'Inspiration - Coventry

and Dresden'.

The evening was enriched by wine and refreshments, and inspired really

enthusiastic appreciation.

Our grateful thanks to the inspirer, the contributors, and everyone who

helped with the hospitality.

Nigel Cooper