Bowls England’s most-capped international, John Rednall, has displayed his talent on bowling greens all over the world for a number of decades – but there is much more to John than his sporting achievements.
John studied at Colchester Institute School of Music and spent, “the happiest 24 years of his career” in post as Music Co-ordinator at Needham Market Middle School, creating numerous songs and soundtracks for school concerts and Christmas productions during that period.
Annual productions at the school became an expectation: a tradition and artistic highlight of the year, performed in the nearby Community Centre as they outgrew the school hall. Hugely popular, enjoyed by the pupils, staff and parents who contributed so much time and effort, they gave the children valuable acting and singing experience and education in the performing arts. There was usually a pit orchestra comprising pupils and accompanying choir, the result being a whole-school extravaganza, with ticket money from the large audiences used to fund the purchase of new instruments and equipment for the music department.
“At the start of lockdown, I started to revamp and record a lot of the songs I composed for school drama and music productions over the 24 years I taught music at the wonderful Needham Market Middle School, and have put them all together to produce an instrumental CD” John said.
“Every penny will go to the Norfolk and Norwich Special Baby Care Unit where my wonderful little grandson, Harry, was born and resuscitated three times earlier this year. Harry and Katherine are both fine now, but I would love to donate to the charity to say a personal thank you,” he added.
Tracks on the CD include original songs from Needham Market Middle School stage productions, such as ‘The Three Spirits and Ebenezer’; ‘Outside My Window’; a musical setting of ‘Elmer In The Snow’, the book by David McKee who gave personal permission to perform; ‘Parable of the Sower’; ‘The First Snowflake of Wintertime’; ‘The Story of Polar Bear’; ‘Raven’s Creation’, inspired by a creation story from the first nations people of Canada; inspirations from ‘Hound of the Baskervilles’; ‘The Green Children of Woolpit’ (script by Jill Knell) and songs from the school’s adaptation, ‘Scenes from Toad Hall’.
The CDs are priced at £8 each (+ £2 postage and packaging if required) and are available direct from John by emailing johnrednall@yahoo.co.uk