"an English Speaking Board international approved school"

Annuual Report 2008

Once again it has been a busy year for Wings of Eagles Performing Arts and for its parent organisation C.E.D.A.R, especially because of the event C.E.D.A.R. and Churches Together in Carlisle presented, called “The Road to Bethlehem”.  Wendy was both administrator and director for over 150 people gathered from Cumbria’s Churches Together but more of that later. 

Our term started in September at Low Moor Church in Wigton, Cumbria with the Wigton branch of Wings of Eagles followed by the Carlisle branch on Wednesdays (Seniors) and Fridays (Juniors).  Unfortunately our new Langholm branch had to be put on hold as we only got a few members and what with the rents and other expenses we could not afford to continue at a loss.

We were invited by the Carlisle City Council to perform a concert in November 2007 and this was a good opportunity to express our Christian faith to a mixed secular audience which was received very well. 

Principal Wendy Le Huray achieved another feather in her cap when she studied and took her Shakespeare Verse and Prose Gold Medal for the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.  She got 94 marks out of 100 with a Distinction.

Wings of Eagles presented another concert at Christmas at Low Moor Church, Wigton in aid of Muscular Dystrophy and the Tumaini Fund raising a not very large amount of £100.00.  Nevertheless Sue Wilson, Director of the Tumaini Fund, said that £50 would feed one of her orphan children for a year so every little helps.

December saw a very busy time organising under our C.E.D.A.R. banner and preparing the Road to Bethlehem.  We were allowed to set up 6 tents in Carlisle Cathedral grounds staffed by potters, bread-makers, Carpenters, weavers, purse makers, scrolls and literature writers, also a fruit stall and a fair trade stall.  The main tent was the Stable complete with two real donkeys, three sheep and four chickens and of course a real baby Jesus who changed every hour courtesy of passers by with babies.  Every hour also a group of about 20 people all dressed in costume paraded through the city centre with a young Mary sitting on the donkey, led by Joseph with the cast calling out to the general public that there was a big event at the Cathedral grounds.

They also made several stops to sing carols and one member of the party went ahead to a local hotel to greet us and say sorry but there was no room at the inn and to try the inn along by the cathedral.  Wings of Eagles pupils were very much involved with the older boys playing Roman Soldiers and taking a census.  Other pupils were involved in Israeli dancing, singing carols around the stable and generally looking like the populace of 2000 years ago.

In January 2008 Wendy travelled down to Ware in Hertfordshire where she was invited to perform her monologues in a Rev’d Mary Dow’s church.  She also had the opportunity of attending the memorial service of the evangelist Rob Frost who was a friend.

In March Wendy was invited to address a group of West Cumberland head teachers and other people employed by Social Services about Wings of Eagles and the work we do.  Our hope is that this talk will result in being asked to take Wings of Eagles into the schools..

Wendy also hosted the first of the 2008 meetings for this years Road to Bethlehem.  We were informed at this meeting that the Road to Bethlehem was given space in several national newspapers and a Catholic magazine which had world wide circulation.  We already knew that the event had been on local television and several times on Radio Carlisle.  It has been decided that we will be involving school choirs from all over Cumbria and Dumfriesshire.

Still in March, the Wings of Eagles pupils entered the Carlisle Music and Drama Festival with very successful results.

In May we have 35 of the Wings of Eagles pupils busy preparing for the English Speaking Board examinations with each entrant having to present a project of their own choice, read from a book and recite a poem or monologue followed by being part of a discussion group.  Five senior pupils are taking their Bronze, Silver and Gold medals for the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.   

June 28th sees Wings of Eagles taking part in the Churches Together Carnival through the streets in Wigton.  They will be performing one or two songs and dances in a field at the end of the day.

We are also preparing two summer shows in July which will be in aid of our chosen charity The Tumaini Fund. 

On the 5th July Wendy has been asked to perform in an open air concert at Grange over Sands and this again will be under our C.E.D.A.R. hat.

Wend also intends to take an English Speaking Board Diploma (as if she hasn’t enough to do!) and that coupled with the ministry training she will be taking is the perfect recipe for someone to run a Christian Arts Centre, which has always been our ambition.  

That’s all for now, do keep in touch with this web site as additional news will be added throughout the year.  Please feel free to contact us at any time.

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