The fabulous harpist Osian Ellis may not have been a good sailor, but he certainly saved the day during a very scary aeroplane landing. The Finchley Children’s Music Group was returning with Osian from Rome, where we had been performing in a celebration of Benjamin Britten. The plane was suddenly diverted and had to land at Brighton and Hove, where it shot off the runway. It was terrifying. Osian distracted us by suggesting we all try to sing his harp solo from the Ceremony of Carols. It was a beautiful piece of music and, although at that moment we didn’t sing it as well as he played it, Osian’s quick and generous actions calmed us all.
