King’s College, Saffron Walden and Laurie Lee

Our day starts with a drive to Cambridge where we attend Sung Eucharist in the glorious King’s College Chapel. It’s a beautiful day and the sun shines through the chapel’s huge stained glass windows. I’m surprised how relatively few attend the service, though the section of seats next to the choir stalls is full, creating an almost intimate atmosphere despite the grandeur. The choir, of course, is magnificent - beautiful voices echoing ancient harmonies through the chapel.  

Service over, we return to the car and drive to Saffron Walden where we follow a walking tour G’s found in one of the books in our accommodation. It’s a delightful  town, full of pastel-painted cottages and elaborately decorated buildings. 

We’re actually here for a performance in Saffron Hall - a magnificent theatre/concert hall that forms part of the campus of Saffron Walden High School. I find myself feeling very envious of a school having such a facility,  thinking back to my days of putting on concerts and musicals! 

The show in this case is ‘Red Sky at Sunrise’, presenting the words of Laurie Lee with accompanying music played beautifully by the orchestra of The Swan. There’s also a guitarist who plays music appropriate to Lee’s Spanish adventures.  Anton Lesser and Charlie Hamblett read the words of Laurie Lee to great effect - it’s a really enjoyable and unusual performance, and I’m so pleased I’d spotted this and been able to get tickets - though we don’t even manage to sit together as there are so few tickets left! 

Then it’s back to The Dovecote for the final night of our trip; home tomorrow! 

I can’t decide on any one image so  I’m posting a collage of images from our day.