It was a beautiful evening; not a cloud in the sky and just enough heat from the setting sun to keep everyone comfortable as they sat in the graveyard of St Laurence’s church to hear Suite Jazz perform.Paul Borelli, Kate Edgar and Dave Mace are all well known locally, but this time they were accompanied by the young soprano Rosie, and her rendition of a piece from Les Misérables will live in memory for a very long time. The concert was organized by the church to raise much needed funds. A medieval structure costs a lot to maintain so there is never enough money to do everything that needs to be done. The graveyard concert raised £1334, most from an admission charge, but also from the sale of some spectacular puddings. This was Downton at its very best. Sharing a musical evening by local performers in a wonderful setting; and all in aid of a rather special local building. Whatever your religious beliefs, including if you have none at all, I am sure that most people in the village would hate to ever see St Laurence’s decline in any way. It is the centre of all the big village events and architecturally by far the most important building in the village. Over the centuries it has stood as the symbol of Downton while much else has come and gone.John Elliott
