Spring 2009

Enigma has certainly had an eventful year so far, but we would like to start our news article on a more serious note. In April, our baritone, Steph, was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer after a routine mammogram. Although she has received treatment and hopefully should now be ok, she wanted to go public to you all with this as she was horrified to learn from the nurses of the number of women who refuse, or ignore, their mammogram appointments.

Our message to all you ladies of LABBS, is PLEASE, PLEASE, do not ignore your routine mammograms or checkups – you can’t stick your heads in the sand and think that breast cancer only happens to other people – it could be you, and the earlier it is found the better your chances of recovery! If this message from us makes even just one person reconsider going for a mammogram, then Enigma, and especially Steph, will be very happy!

On a brighter note, we’ve been kept busy with performances, music festivals, and with coaching choruses and quartets. In particular we had fun taking part in the Woodley Festival and the Bournemouth Music Festival, alongside our wonderful chorus Signature, and were able to spread the Barbershop message along with receiving ‘outstanding’ comments from the adjudicators! We also had to mind our P’s & Q’s when we entertained the West Berkshire Magistrates Bench (including the mother of a certain political leader) at a very swanky location…… with Pimms and ‘Champers’ on the lawn to start, we had to make sure we weren’t too plastered to sing! Then there was the Enigma and Signature performance at a Corporate event for a certain chocolate company – and was there even a sniff of a chocolate? – no, there was not!!

With love
Sue, Rowena, Sue & Steph