(click picture to enlarge)

How it all began

It is difficult to pinpoint an exact date when Pleasant Sunday Afternoon activities began at Eltham Park, but hearsay suggests that 1919 marked the start of meetings as part of a national brotherhood and sisterhood movement founded by John Blackman back in 1875. All sorts of pursuits began as part of this initiative, but at Eltham Park they decided to form an orchestra. Concerts have continued for over a century now through the dedication and loyalty of those involved, and as a result, we believe we are now the only PSA Orchestra to be still operating.

Membership and subscriptions

There is no set subscriptions fee, however we do ask for an annual donation as part of the Church's annual Gift Day.

Do I have to audition?

No, we do not hold auditions for those interested in joining us, but on-going membership would follow a successful one-month trial period.

Rehearsals

Rehearsals are held on Tuesdays, at Eltham Park Methodist Church, Westmount Road, Eltham SE9 1XX. We play from 7.45-9.30, but include a 15 minute break when tea and biscuits are provided free of charge. We don’t follow a structure of terms as other orchestras may, we just keep going! However, there are no rehearsals during August or over the Christmas and New Year period.

Concerts Concerts are held on the last Sunday of the month in the church (except August and December) and begin at 3pm. Each one follows a similar formula and features a guest soloist or ensemble, examples of which can found by clicking here. In July, the guest soloist spot is taken by members of the orchestra with a chance to perform solo or in small groups. Click here for pictures of these. In addition to these, we give an annual concert to the Kent County Society as part of their social events calendar at Chislehurst Methodist Church in May, and another on Remembrance Sunday at New Eltham Methodist Church. We also provide festive instrumental music and accompaniment at the Carol Service at Eltham Park. Admission is free to our Eltham Park and New Eltham concerts with a collection taken during programme and refreshments served afterwards. The logo image at the top of this page is an extract from: 'Come, on wings of joy', by Andre Edouard Marty, 1931. The full image is available as a poster from London Tranport Museum Special Events Click image for photos from the event

Our next concert Sunday 29th September 2024 Click above to enlarge the programme

© 2022- Eltham Park Pleasant Sunday Afternoon Orchestra