Naomi House Bauble Hunt a Chiming Success!
December 1, 2013
Igloo Music has been proud to support Naomi House and Jacks Place for several years, as one of our company charities. They are a wonderful local charity providing truly invaluable services to families suffering some of the most unthinkable circumstances; children with life shortening illnesses. Donations can be made here at our Just Giving page.
Respite, ‘end of life’ care and bereavement treatment is available for families from seven counties, and running costs approximate £5 million every year. This keeps the fundraising team exceptionally busy, and we are proud to help in any way we can. You can visit the Igloo Just Giving Page here.
The Bauble Hunt
1st December 2013 we were invited to provide music for the Bauble Hunts held at West Walk, Hundred Acres Wood, near Wickham.
The day started at a brisk 7.30am, as the presents and thrones for the grotto were being stored at Igloo HQ. A number of volunteers in scarves and boots reported to transport the presents in good time for Santa’s arrival.
Outdoor events like this provide a number of challenges. Firstly – is it going to rain? Being a Brit, that question can never be answered with any degree of certainty, and is the source of some degree of hair and sleep loss for the Igloo event managers..
After packing the Igloo-mobile and trucking down to the woods, first on the scene at 10am was Bob – guitarists in The Rising and the Igloo Rock and Blues group – bringing a gazebo to keep us all safe and dry. Located next to the grotto and present store, we were positioned to perform for the families waiting to see Santa.
Secondly – electricity. In order to be heard in the open air, we need to be amplified, lest the sound just dissipates and gets lost very quickly. However, power points are in short supply in the woods.
Nevada Music were kind enough to lend us a ‘street cube‘ for the event – a battery powered amplifier small enough to be easily transportable, yet good enough quality to power an SM58 microphone and a guitar, and play backing tracks with nice quality. Complete with a few simple effects, this piece of kit was perfect for a gig in the woods! It lasted the day well, being used from 11am-4pm without the batteries being changed.
The Igloo Performers
The Igloo crowd were all invited for a 1pm performance of our group Christmas songs that we learnt this year – ‘Angels’ by Robbie Williams, ‘Santa Clause Is Back In Town’ by Elvis Presley, and an Igloo arrangement of popular songs – our Christmas Medley. Being keenie beanies, many Iglooers reported for duty early, and we had a great time just singing and playing together, choosing songs out of our Christmas book, and busking along. We were joined by Dave from Hampshire Saxophone Services, and many of the Igloo members children on tambourine!
The Igloo team had been told by Naomi House that the event was very well attended last year, and we had been asked to play to keep the children entertained as they waited to see Santa, as the popularity of the event meant that the wait could be quite long. We had not, however, anticipated the constant stream of people that came all day long. Hundreds of families attended the event, and our group performance at 1pm entertained a queue of families stretching right down the hill out of the dell.
The Iglooers performed with gusto and sang at the top of their voices, guitar and ukulele players from all groups across the company joining in, and were rewarded with a delightful round of applause. Spirits were high and the performers all thoroughly enjoyed the sing-song.
Following this, various members of the group stayed to perform duets and solo pieces that had been performed at the 
Christmas Showcase a few days before. We heard ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ from Sara and James, ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ from Maria, who performed the whole song with her young daughter on her hip, who had come to have a go at hunting baubles. Katie and Cha sang ‘Fairytale of New York’ with ingeniously modified family friendly lyrics, around the ‘maggot’ section. James also treated us to a warming rendition of ‘The Christmas Song’ by Nat King Cole (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire..), and Sara sang ‘Oh Holy Night’ and ‘Santa Baby’.
Some Iglooers who had brought their children, nephews and nieces then ventured off into the woods as the rest of us played together a bit more, performing traditional Carols and novelty Christmas songs.
Despite the freezing cold, the group kept up their enthusiasm for the crowd that was passing slowly – at one point the wait for Santa was close to an hour due to the popularity of the event. Resolutely, the group Away In A Manger-ed and Silent Night-ed and Jingled Bells with relish, and the crowds of families stayed thick right until the very end of the event at 4pm.
Performances like this are tough due to the length and outdoor conditions – we are very proud and thankful that so many of our group came to support this charity event, even bringing their kids to provide some of the most enthusiastic tambourine banging we have ever heard!
As the event drew to a close, the last remaining Iglooers helped to pack down our gazebo, and we went to find the event organisers from Naomi House to see how it had gone overall.
“It was wonderful to have you all here” Sarah Hudson, Naomi House Fundraiser told us. “You have helped create a lovely atmosphere”. Over 800 children took part in the Bauble Hunt, accompanied by many more adults, and we eagerly await to see how the fundraising has gone. Igloo Music and Naomi House are both thrilled at the success of the event, and are now furiously warming our toes.
Thank you again to everyone who gave up your time and body heat to support this event – we are immensely proud of you all. We have since heard from Naomi House that we raised just over £6500 on the day. Wowzers.