Works to be rehearsed are The Sea Symphony and Serenade to Music by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

The concert will be at Christ Church, St Leonards, at 7.30pm on Saturday, November 29, and will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the RNLI in Hastings and mark the 50th anniversary of the composer's death.

Tickets will cost £10 each and £1 from each ticket sold will be given to the RNLI, as will £1,000 which it is hoped will be raised from members and their families and friends.

The Sea Symphony is a very special work, from its exhilarating opening choruses through to the final few bars depicting a ship quietly disappearing over the horizon, it certainly takes you on a journey across the sea in all its moods.

We need a large orchestra for this work (yet more fundraising!) and Christ Church in London Road, St Leonards, is a magnificent venue for this concert.

Vaughan Williams' Serenade to Music is a beautiful work too and both items will make a pleasant change to the sacred music we usually sing.

The annual letter from chairman, Jean Thomson, contained the promise from director of music, John Langridge, that we can 'scale the heights' of Verdi's Requiem when our membership reaches 100.

We are so nearly there, which is quite astonishing in itself for a 'small town choir', so if there is anyone who would like to know more about us, with a view to joining, do call 01424 424339 or 444421.

Rehearsals are lively, relaxed and recent new members have commented on how friendly we all are.

Next spring, thanks to a substantial donation, we shall perform again, at the De La Warr Pavilion, an Italian Evening of popular operatic choruses and Rossini's fabulous Stabat Mater, full of the choruses Pavarotti made popular.

Once again there is so much wonderful music to sing and enjoy with Battle Choral in its 106th year.

On Saturday, September 27, in the Memorial Hall from 10am-noon there will be a coffee morning with free refreshments and you are invited to come and meet the choir, learn about its history and exciting plans for the future.

You will also be able to join the patron's scheme, which for a minimum donation of only £15 gives you a free ticket for each of our spring and autumn concerts, or to join the mailing list for advanced details of future concerts.

We will be playing recorded extracts from some of our more recent concerts including the gala performance of Elgar's Dream of Gerontius at the De La Warr Pavilion last year. There will also be a tombola and table sale.

Admission is free and if you have never heard the choir this is your opportunity to come and meet us, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee etc and to listen to examples of our concerts.

Tickets for our November concert will also be on sale. We do hope you can join us. Further information on 01424 870862.