Wirral Symphony Orchestra - The Class of '85

The Class of '85
Wirral Symphony Orchestra
The Lighthouse Church, Heswall

Saturday 13th December, 2025

O' Joy, what it is to be home. Home, home!

A few weeks ago, as is my custom, I was scrolling through social media on my phone. As I did so, I chanced upon a notice of a forthcoming concert, to be given by the Wirral Symphony Orchestra. What?! There isn't a Wirral Symphony Orchestra, is there?

*Investigates*

Bugger me, there is! Since 1983, if you please. The advert for the concert must have been pushed to me through the algorithm, due to my heavy interactions with orchestral music of late. I succumb and buy a ticket.

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It's another mild evening and, as it happens, my sister lives just down the road from the venue. I visit there first to drop off a few Christmas cards (by order of my mother), and to see my two-year-old niece, whose speech is now at a stage where words are gluing together, and sentences starting to form. She is watching Peppa Pig and messing about with her toy train set as I arrive. I leave my car there, and take the short walk to The Lighthouse Church (formerly known as the Church of the Good Shepherd), on Telegraph Road. The front facade has in recent years been transformed into a modern, striking presence, at the heart of this main Heswall thoroughfare.

Given the proximity to Christmas, I treat myself to a half-decent Blood of Christ (Merlot), which is on sale at the front, for a reasonable three pounds per glass. 

 

What to make of the WSO? Well, they are pretty good! A 'community orchestra', there's definitely a Brassed Off vibe to the outfit, which I commend heartily. These could be the very fellows for me! The programme for tonight is mostly Handel and Bach, both of whom were born in 1685. There is also to be a soupcon of Scarlatti (also b.1685), whose canon I am not so familiar with. Never have I seen a (nearly) full orchestra in a space like this, and it's a joy to be absorbing the music on the same level as those who are performing it. 

As the first half was not Handel and Bach's greatest hits, I did not catch many hooks that I immediately recognised. But no matter, because this was an opportunity to observe the playing, setting, and organisation, all of which were seamless. We were treated to fine solos from the organist, oboist, and violinist (the electric organ itself a permanent fixture of the room, I imagine).

The second half kicked off with the Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (now we're talking), and we got Bach's Sinfonia from the Christmas Oratorio, which has a flavour as deep as my red wine. The encores were spiffing, though I can't remember what they were - in time I will retain and retrieve this sort of information as my classical knowledge grows.

I look forward to hopefully attending the WSO's next concert, celebrating all things Scottish, which is to be held at their homebase of Hope Church in Hoylake, on March 7th.