Traditionally the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, autumn is also the time when the hops have been harvested, and celebrations and thanks are given for a bountiful year.

Each year, dignitaries from Shepherd Neame and representatives of the brewing industry gather at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Selling, for the annual Hop Blessing, instigated by the Faversham-based Shepherd Neame, Britain’s oldest brewery.

On Friday 1 October, singers from the University of Kent were invited to perform both during the blessing service, and afterwards at a traditional Hop-Pickers’ Lunch. The group sang Tourdion, originally an old French melody, translated as When I Drink Good English Ale, which celebrates the virtues (and the drawbacks!) of the grain and the grape.

After a hearty lunch of traditional hop-picker’s fayre, the group joined with everyone present in singing a selection of popular ballads, and also performed for the gathering an old English round, He That Will An Ale-House Keep and Anders Edenroth’s entertaining Words, rich in close-harmonies and a real a cappella calling-card.

With thanks to Tom Falcon, Production and Distribution Director for Shepherd Neame, for inviting us to perform, and to Alison Shelley for the photographs, for helping to organise the singers and making them feel so welcome.