At 10:25am on Thursday 8th September the strains of Jerusalem echoed across the airways. St Bride's choir had been asked to sing live on Sky News to launch England's bid to regain The Ashes.
A hastily organised male contingent of the choir made the early morning trip to Sky headquarters in Isleworth. Placed in the Green Room they rehearsed lustily to warm-up, whilst the beleaguered U.S. Ambassador and his entourage tried to prepare for an interview. Ushered to the stage, they stood valiantly in front of a giant video screen and awaited the cue from the commentator at The Oval. Two verses passed without incident; the "straight-dotted, dotted-straight" game plan led them safely over the rhythmic hurdles. The commentator claimed the singers led the entire nation, united in its support of the England test team.
England have not regained The Ashes on home territory since 1985 and with the voice of the nation behind them, led by the choir of St Bride's, who can doubt their victory. Perhaps St Bride could muster one of her famous great lakes of ale for Monday evening - let us say a quiet prayer, too, that it be for quaffing in celebration and not for drowning of sorrows.
At 10:25am on Thursday 8th September the strains of Jerusalem echoed across the airways. St Bride's choir had been asked to sing live on Sky News to launch England's bid to regain The Ashes. 
A hastily organised male contingent of the choir made the early morning trip to Sky headquarters in Isleworth. Placed in the Green Room they rehearsed lustily to warm-up, whilst the beleaguered U.S. Ambassador and his entourage tried to prepare for an interview. Ushered to the stage, they stood valiantly in front of a giant video screen and awaited the cue from the commentator at The Oval. Two verses passed without incident; the "straight-dotted, dotted-straight" game plan led them safely over the rhythmic hurdles. The commentator claimed the singers led the entire nation, united in its support of the England test team. 
England have not regained The Ashes on home territory since 1985 and with the voice of the nation behind them, led by the choir of St Bride's, who can doubt their victory. Perhaps St Bride could muster one of her famous great lakes of ale for Monday evening - let us say a quiet prayer, too, that it be for quaffing in celebration and not for drowning of sorrows.