A dreary and damp day for the start of our music tour: the theme is the choral music of the 16th century composer Thomas Tallis sung by an early music vocal group called the Tallis Scholars in locations where he worked. So we began with a short concert in a church just up the street from where we were staying where Tallis was an organist in the 1530s. It’s much-changed since then as it was rebuilt after the Great Fire of London in 1666.

After lunch we were on buses to Waltham Abbey Church in Kent for another concert – while the church is very different from Tallis’ time (Henry VIII destroyed the abbey complex around it), the interior was still lovely and suited to Tallis’ music. Pews were a bit hard though!

Then it was on to Canterbury – didn’t get to see much of the countryside as the sun is setting at 4:30pm and by the time we got here it was dark and wet. Dinner was at the hotel. The group size is 105 – mostly english ladies of a certain age but some Australians and Americans too. John was in hot demand last night at the dinner as there aren’t that many men!

Today we are off to Dover Priory Church and tonight we have a concert in Canterbury Cathedral – but unfortunately looks like the day will be wet and very windy so not good for a walk around the town. Here’s a few shots from Waltham Abbey yesterday.