History of CAOS
Manchester Universities' Choir and Orchestra Society (CAOS) is a social music society established in September 1988. It exists to provide musicians with a space to come together and perform fantastic music to a reasonable standard for the benefit of themselves and the community at large. Unlike some musical societies, CAOS does not work in an environment that is overly demanding or driven, but in one where musicians of all abilities can come together simply because they enjoy playing together. It is from this social nature that CAOS enjoys its high standards. The social aspect of the Society is reinforced through events where members come together outside of the practice room or concert hall.
CAOS has performed in many venues across Manchester, some of these include The Cathedral, St. Ann's Church and Holy Innocents.
For Rehearsal Venues, CAOS has rehearsed in the Limes Bulding, Hulme dining room hall.
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2024/25
We solemely said goodbye to our logo of more then 2 decades, bringing a refresh to CAOS without losing all the tradition and lore of CAOS.
Head to Gallery
Check out our Gallery for pictues and audio from across the ages!.
If there's any history you can fill us in with so we can update this page - please let us know!
Past Concerts
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Spring 2019 - CAOS AT THE MOVIES 3
- John Williams: The Throne Room from Star Wars
- Klaus Badelt: Curse of the Black Pearl
- Alan Silvestri: Back to the Future
- Alan Menken: Beauty and the Beast
- Ennio Morricone: Once Upon a Time in the West (with choir)
- Howard Shore: Lord of the Rings Extended Suite (with choir)
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December 2018
- Brahms: Tragic Overture
- Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust (selections)
- Grieg: Peer Gynt (selections)
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Spring 2018 - 30TH ANNIVERSARY
- Mahler: Symphony no. 1
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December 2017
- Bernstein: Candide overture
- Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto no. 2 (soloist: Kitty Byrne)
- Khatchaturian: Masquerade suite
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Spring 2017
- Beethoven: Egmont overture
- Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet
- Brahms: Hungarian Dances
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December 2016
- Schubert: Rosamunde overture
- Copland: Rodeo
- Borodin: Polovtsian Dances
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Spring 2016 - CAOS AT THE MOVIES 2
- John Williams: Jurassic Park
- John Williams: Superman
- Bernstein: On the Waterfront
- John Barry: suite from the James Bond films
- Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto no. 2 (soloist: Matt Lam)
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December 2015
- Verdi: La Forza del Destino overture
- Sibelius: En Saga
- Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (selections)
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Spring 2015
- Vaughan Williams: A London Symphony
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December 2014
- Beethoven: Die Weihe des Hauses
- Butterworth: A Shropshire Lad
- Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kijé
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Spring 2014
- Dvořák: Slavonic Dances
- Schubert: Symphony no. 8 "Unfinished"
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December 2013
- Verdi: Sicilian Vespers overture
- Holst: The Perfect Fool
- Saint-Saëns: Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah
- Verdi: Chorus of Hebrew Slaves from Nabucco (with choir)
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Spring 2013
- Brahms: Symphony no. 2
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December 2012
- E T A Hoffmann: Undine overture
- Saint-Saëns: Danse Macabre
- Dukas: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
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Spring 2012 - CAOS AT THE MOVIES 1
- Elmer Bernstein: The Magnificent Seven
- Miklós Rózsa: Parade of the Chariots from Ben Hur
- Hans Zimmer: Gladiator
- Korngold: The Sea Hawk
- John Williams: Flying Theme from ET
- Maurice Jarre: Lawrence of Arabia
- John Williams: Raiders' March
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December 2011
- Dvořák: In Nature's Realm
- Vaughan Williams: On Wenlock Edge (soloist: Shahnavaz Mehta)
- Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet (selections)
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Spring 2011
- Arnold: Cornish Dances
- Sibelius: Karelia Suite
- Howard Shore: suite from The Fellowship of the Ring
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December 2010
- Holst: The Planets
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Spring 2010
- Walton: Spitfire Prelude and Fugue
- Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue (soloist: Jack Tierney)
- Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance March no. 1
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December 2009
- Tchaikovsky: Cappriccio Italien
- Shostakovich: Piano Concerto no. 2 (soloist: Will Cheung)
- Mussorgsky: Coronation Scene from Boris Godunov (with choir)
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Spring 2009
- Arnold: Peterloo overture
- Jack Tierney: new composition (world premiere)
- Wagner: Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde (soloist: Shahnavaz Mehta)
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December 2008
- Glinka: Ruslan and Ludmilla overture
- Elgar: Enigma Variations
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Spring 2008
- Rossini: The Italian Girl in Algiers overture
- Vaughan Williams: Folksong Suite
- Bizet: L'Arlésienne (selections)
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December 2007
- Beethoven: Leonora Overture no. 2
- Will Ward: new composition (world premiere)
- Verdi: Finale Act 2 from Aïda (with choir and brass band)
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Spring 2007
- Tchaikovsky: Symphony no. 5
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December 2006
- Mozart: The Magic Flute overture
- Arnold: English Dances suite no. 2
- Sibelius: Finlandia (with choir)
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Spring 2006
- James Merritt: new composition (world premiere)
- Rob Heathcote: new composition (world premiere)
- Dvořák: Symphony no. 9 "New World"
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December 2005
- Verdi: Nabucco overture
- Tchaikovsky: Slavonic March
- Bizet: Carmen suite no. 1
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Spring 2005
- Borodin: Prince Igor overture
- Schubert: Entr'acte from Rosamunde
- Johann Strauss: Emperor Waltz
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December 2004
- Rossini: The Thieving Magpie overture
- Mussorgsky: Night on the Bare Mountain
- Sibelius: Karelia Suite
CAOS Committee History
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2023/24
- President, UoM Chair: Noah Gribbon (he/him)
- Vice-President, MMU Chair: Lissy Carncross (they/them)
- General Secretary & Orchestra Librarian: Sam Furr (he/him)
- Vice/MMU Secretary: Liv McGrath (she/her)
- Treasurer/MMU Treasurer: Andrew Chang (he/him)
- Vice Treasurer/UoM Treasurer: Amelia Bolton (she/her)
- Concert Manager: Alastair Warner (he/him)
- Publicity Secretary: Niall Trowsdale Stannard (he/him)
- Choir Librarian: Kate Marshall (she/her)
- Social Secretaries: Ethan Maggs (he/him) & Olive Hall (she/her)
- Residential Manager: Josh Porter (he/him)
- Inclusions Officer: Lana Lewis (they/them)
- Webmaster: Michael Lowe (he/him)
- New Members Representative: Sonia Prakesh (she/her)
- Choir Conductor: Joe Tanner
- Orchestra Conductor: Peter Bloxidge/Francesca Peilober-Richardson
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2022/23
- President, MMU Chair: Tori Dandy (She/Her)
- Vice-President, UoM Chair: Noah Gribbon (he/him)
- General Secretary: Sam Furr (he/him)
- Vice/MMU Secretary: Liv McGrath (she/her)
- Treasurer/MMU Treasurer: Andrew Chang (he/him)
- Vice Treasurer/UoM Treasurer: Amelia Bolton (she/her)
- Concert Manager: Alastair Warner (he/him)
- Orchestra Librarian:
- Publicity Secretary: Niall Trowsdale Stannard (he/him)
- Choir Librarian: Kate Marshall (she/her)
- Social Secretaries: Ethan Maggs (he/him) & Olive Hall (she/her)
- Residential Manager: Josh Porter (he/him)
- Inclusions Officer: Lana Lewis (they/them)
- Webmaster: Michael Lowe (he/him)
- New Members Representative: Sonia Prakesh (she/her)
- Choir Conductor: Joe Tanner
- Orchestra Conductor: Peter Bloxidge/Francesca Peilober-Richardson
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2021/22
- President, UoM Chair: Ryan Harrison (he/him)
- Vice-President, MMU Chair: Anthony Lee
- Treasurer (UoM): Lucy Wickers
- Treasurer (MMU): Joe Taylor
- Concert Manager: Alistair Dodds-Olaskoaga
- Social Secretary: Leonie Brummit
- Inclusions Officer: Christopher Blum
- Orchestra Conductors: Francesca Peilober-Richardson, Peter Bloxidge
- Choir Conductor: Joseph Tanner
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2020/21
- President, UoM Chair: Tom Underwood
- Orchestra Conductors: Francesca Peilober-Richardson, Peter Bloxidge
- Choir Conductors: Sabrina Ghadaouia, Sing Liem
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2019/20
- President, UoM Chair: Leonie Brummitt
- Choir Librarian: Christopher Blum
- Orchestra Conductors: Francesca Peilober-Richardson, Peter Bloxidge
- Choir Conductors: Sabrina Ghadaouia, Sing Liem
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2018/19
- President, UoM Chair: Megan Kirkman
- Vice-President, MMU Chair: Emily Caldwell
- General Secretary: Leonie Brummitt
- Treasurer (MMU): Nicolas Gilbert
- Vice-Treasurer (UoM): Charlotte Nissen
- Social Secretaries: Helen Fielding, Ryan Harrison
- Concert Manager: Thomas Underwood
- Webmaster: Peter Bloxidge
- Publicity Secretary: Helen Fielding
- Inclusions Officer: Thomas Underwood
- New Members' Representative: Ryan Harrison
- Choir Librarian: Jennifer Hewitt
- Orchestra Librarian: Jennifer Hewitt
- General Members: Lauren Bagnall, Kitty Byrne
- Orchestra Conductors: Daniel James, Peter Bloxidge
- Choir Conductors: Sabrina Ghadaouia, Sing Liem
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2017/18
- Chair: Ruth Price
- Secretary: Joshua Fogg
- Treasurer: Kitty Byrne
- Social Secretaries: Amy Tyrrell, Megan Kirkman
- Concert Manager: Leonie Brummitt
- Webmaster: Matthew Silcocks
- Publicity Secretary: Matthew Burton
- MMU Representative: Emily Caldwell
- Inclusions Officer: Hannah Razlin
- Choir Librarian: Jennifer Hewitt
- Orchestra Librarian: Daniel Neal
- General Members: Lucy Buckingham, Eleanor Bradshaw, Lydia Fulloway
- Orchestra Conductor: Daniel James
- Choir Conductor: Ken Greaves
- Accompanist: Maria Palapanidou
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2016/17
- Chair: Daniel Neal
- Secretary: Ruth Price
- Treasurer: Joshua Fogg
- Social Secretaries: Pippa Kirby, Kirsty Barton
- Concert Manager: Matthew Burton
- Webmaster: Alex Crow
- Publicity Secretary: Catherine Fuller
- MMU Representative: Emily Drake
- Choir Librarian: Sing Liem
- Orchestra Librarian: Jennifer Hewitt
- General Members: Lucy Buckingham, Kate Blackhurst, Ellen Harper
- Orchestra Conductor: Daniel James
- Choir Conductor: Ken Greaves
- Accompanist: Matthew Lam
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2015/16
- Chair: Alex Crow
- Secretary: Catherine Fuller
- Treasurer: Daniel Neal
- Social Secretaries: Emma Sparrow, Kate Blackhurst
- Concert Manager: Catherine Fuller
- Webmaster: Cristiano Ruschel Dias
- Publicity Secretary: Alicia Walker, Jingzhe Jia
- Choir Librarian: Ruth Price
- Orchestra Librarian: Hannah Menzies
- General Members: Lucy Buckingham, Mark Nottingham, Omar Raja
- Orchestra Conductor: Daniel James
- Choir Conductor: Luke Mather
- Accompanist: Matthew Lam
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2014/15
- Co-Chairs: Gemma Buffham, Emily Ross
- Orchestra Conductor: Daniel James
- Choir Conductor: Sarah Chan
- Committee Members: Alex Crow, Mark Nottingham, Gavin Connolly, Anna Homes, Joe Harrison, Catherine Fuller, Graham Heaven, Sing Liem
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2019?
- Chair: Ruth Price
- Secretary: Joshua Fogg
- Treasurer: Kitty Byrne
- Social Secretaries: Amy Tyrrell, Meg Kirkman
- Concert Manager: Leonie Brummitt
- Webmaster: Matt Silcocks
- Publicity Secretary: Matt Burton
- MMU Representative: Emily Caldwell
- Choir Librarian: Jen Hewitt
- Orchestra Librarian: Dan A. Neal
- General Members: Lucy Buckingham, Eleanor Bradshaw, Lydia Fulloway
- Orchestra Conductor: Dan James
- Choir Conductor: Ken Greaves
- Accompanist: Matt Lam
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2007/8
- Chairperson: Zenobia Mehta
- Chairperson: Will Ward
- Secretary: Jenny Boyle
- Treasurer: Justine Hall
- Publicity Secretary: Emma Cartwright
- Social Secretary: Sarah Keith
- Librarian (choir): Will Hopkin
- Librarian (orchestra): Will Hopkin
- Concert Manager: Gareth Luby
- Manchester Metropolitan Uni rep.: Emma Cartwright
- General Member: Rachel Barr
- General Member: Natasha Coveney
- General Member: Rachel Start
- Choir Conductor: Sarah Chan
- Orchestra Conductor: Daniel James
- Webmaster: Hannah Moore
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2002
- Chairperson: Matt Harrison
- Vice-Chairperson: Alison Pickering
- Secretary: Catherine Hyde
- Treasurer: Sylvia Foulkes
- Publicity Secretary: Suzy Farrow
- Social Secretary: Jess Park
- Choir Manager: Gareth Jones
- Orchestra Manager: Steve Rapley
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2001
- Chairperson: Liz Thomas
- Secretary: Tom Chinnery
- Treasurer: Alison Pickering
- Publicity Secretary: Anne Simpson
- Librarian: Cassie Worman
- Social Secretary: Ruth Budd
- Social Secretary: Debbie Simmons
- Concert Manager: Charlotte
- UMIST Rep: Matt Harrison
- Choir Rep: Jig Patel
- Photographer: Charlie Ding
- General Member: Matt Clark
CAOS Awards
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2007
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For the most handsome choir member
Malcolm Gray
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For the prettiest choir member
Will Hopkin (for The Third Year Running!)
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For the most handsome orchestra member
Daniel James
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For the prettiest orchestra member
Ceri Middleton
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For owning of the cheesiest iPod this side of the Cheddar Gorge
Timothy Rankin
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For providing of the best tea, biscuits and mince pies
Laura Talbot
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For being the best Frodo in CAOS
Phil Thompson
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For having the new website ready in 2, no, 4, no, 8 weeks, no after Easter...
Antony Stevenson
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For avoiding doing any of his own or other people's work
Timothy Rankin
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The Boat Race Gold Award
For winning the Boat Race again, as expected!
The Brass Section
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The Boat Race Silver Award
For coming second to the brass, nothing to be ashamed of!
The Rest Of The Orchestra
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The Boat Race Cheats Award
For cheating on the Boat Race--boo!
The Choir
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For downing the fastest pint Ceri has ever seen
Will Hopkin
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The Oustanding Achievement Award
For being outstanding
Ceri Middleton
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For keeping up the bassoon part when the rest of the orchestra got hopelessly lost
Jenny Pemberton
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2005
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The Fast Learner Award
For switching from violin to double bass overnight
Hannah Moore
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The Most Refreshing Members Award
For serving refreshments at both concerts
Sarah Craig And Alision Pickering
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The Sunk Boat Award
For passing out after the boat race
Zenobia Metha
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The Drunken Sailor Award
For throwing drinks at people, and herself
Mandy Hill
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The Hot-male Award
For having a rude email address
Nick Castell
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The Digital Watch Award
For giving timings to the nearest second
Daniel James
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The 'Not Losing The Will To Live' Award
For putting up with Will
Lulu Jiang
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The Broken Toe Award
For breaking her toe in the rush to get to Harry's Bar after rehearsal
Becky Harper
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The Boy Band Award
For having boyband hair
Simon Paget
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The Soggy Biscuit Award
For persistantly coming late (to rehearsals)
Philip Jacob
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The Lost Alcoholics Award
For being in the wrong bar
The Basses
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The Practically Married Award
For doing everything together - and so well
Andy Kitching And Ping Liem
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For the most attractive male choir member
Edd Clarke And Ping Liem
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For the most attractive female choir member
Will Hopkin
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For the most attractive male orchestra member
Andy Kitching
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For the most attractive female orchestra member
Alison Pickering
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2004
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The Award For Most Attractive Male Orchestra Member
Andrew Kitching
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The Award For Most Attractive Female Orchestra Member
Matt Harrison
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The Award For Most Attractive Male Choir Member
Oliver Tarney
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The Award For Most Attractive Female Choir Member
Rachel Rigby
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The Biggest Flirt
Nick Castell
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The Biggest Alcholic
Susan Harris
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The Mr. Forgetful Award
For missing most committee meetings
Gareth Baxtor
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The `commitment Beyond Common Sense' Award
For complete perfectionism over running the society
Alison Pickering
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The Award For
most enthusiastic flute playing
Phil Jacob
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The Phil Daniels Award
For disappearing
Si Edwards
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The Scary Welsh Teddy Bear
For sending scary e-mails and being Welsh
Gareth Jones
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The Movie Trailer Voice Over
John Baty
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2002
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The Peter Buck Award
For Rockstar behaviour and smashing his Viola
Adam Carter
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The Little Boy Blue Award
For having a name like a Tory MP
Duncan Smith
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The Space Hopper Award
For Being the CAOS bouncer
Suzy Farrow
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The Toyah Wilcox
For frequently changing her hair colour
Alison Pickering
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The Steve Redgrave Award
For not retiring when he should have done!
Matt Edwards
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The Mc Donalds Award
For being everyone's favourite export form the USA
Nadia Prociw
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The Pornography Award
For always having the Horn
Matt Clark
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The Hockey Award
For having played the most tonsil hockey
Anne Sipmson
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The Lennox Lewis Award
For being the CAOS heavyweight and attending all socials (but sadly wasn't there to collect his award!)
Phil Segall
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The Jamie Oliver Award
For being the face of Sainsburys
Tom Chinnery
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The Award For Moonlighting
For secretly being a local labour councillor
Jon Byrne
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The President Mugabe Award
For 'fixing' the elections
Matt Harrsion
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The Planning For The Future Award
For having the forethought to have their daughter's 21st birthday on the night of our annual dinner!
Mr And Mrs Simpson (parents To Anne!)
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The Pritt Stick Award
For Holding the society together this year
Elizabeth Thomas
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2001
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The Ferrari Daytona Award
For being so old yet revered by us all
Matt Edwards
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The Boddingtons Award
For being a beer monster
Cassie Worman
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The Hugh Grant Award
For having the floppiest hair
Martin
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The David Beckham Award
For having the haircut of the year
Steve Rapley
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The Boxing Award
For having the best punch
Ed, Ed, Ed, Andy, & Dave (Ed Appears 3 Times Because He Did Most Of The Work)
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The Petty Criminal Award
For for being involved in the most MUGSSings
Alison Pickering
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The Pimp Of The Society
For sitting quietly at the back and controlling all the money...
Duncan Smith
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The Leggy Blond Award
For for being the biggest bimbo secretary
Nigel Butler
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The Society Mascot
Anne Simpson's Duck
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The Rupert Giles
For being such a successful librarian
Liz Thomas (the Librarian Of Course!)
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2000
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The Slovak Award
For parting with the cheques so peacefully
Su Wen Goh (the Treasurer)
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The Mrs Rabbit Award
For sorting out all the books
Nigel Butler (the Librarian)
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The Ferrari Daytona Award
For being so old yet revered by us all
Charlotte Crew
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The Benito Carbone Award
For sodding off and leaving his team in the lurch
Daniel Woolley
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The RSPCA Award
For looking after and escaped mink
Elizabeth Bowles
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The Entrepreneur Award
For having his own department store
John Lewis
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The Chilli Con Carne Award
For being the meatiest Mexican
Horatio Cantu
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The Small Turnip Award
For being a tasty Swede
Adrian Marklund
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The Godfather Award
For being in charge of all the fiddles
John Byrne
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The Silicon Award
For being such a superconductor
Gary Cheung (our Conductor)
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The Jeremy Clarkson Award
For talkig about nothing but cars
Matthew Edwards
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The Homer Simpson Award
For drooling over a member of the Simpson family
Matthew Edwards
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The Michael Jordan Award
For being far too tall for her own good
Anne Simpson
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The Little Miss Naughty Award
For being the naughtiest member of the society
Alison Pickering
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1999
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The On The Busses Award
For services to conducting
Carl Williams (the Conductor)
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The Scarlet Pimpernel Award
For never being seen
The Oboe Section
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The Billy Goats Fluff Award
For having the subtlest beard
Nigel Butler
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The Highland Games Award
For having the instrument most like a caber
The Bassoon Player
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The Manchester United Award
For playing gigs so often
Louis Birenough
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The Grannys Cardigan Award
For services to knitting
Chris The Cello Player
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The Mr Kipling Award
For mince pie making
Charlotte Crew
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The Robin Hood Award
For being so inspirational with a boe
John, The Leader Of Orchestra
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The Janitor Award
For putting out the most chairs at the Christmas concert
Matt Edwards
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The Doncaster Rovers Award
For being the most willing to play Schiedt
Matt Clark
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