MEMBERS OF TOP CHESTER CHOIR RE-DEDICATE COMMEMORATIVE TREE AS PART OF ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

Members of one of Chester's top male voice choirs have re-dedicated an oak tree in Chester's Grosvenor Park as part of special events to celebrate the choir's 80th Anniversary.

The tree, planted 30 years ago to mark The Cestrian Male Voice Choir's 50th Anniversary had all but been forgotten about until John Walsh, Chairman of the choir which is now known as Chester Male Voice Choir, was told about it by long-serving member Lance Howie.  To John's amazement, Lance presented him with a photograph of the tree planting ceremony in Chester's Grosvenor Park which was held way back in 1991. Luckily for the choir, Lance remembered the oak tree's location in the park and so members set out to find it and make plans to provide a new commemorative plaque as part of its current 80th anniversary celebrations.

Current members of the choir Geoffrey Hewson, Peter Walsh, Aled Jones, Joe Shields, Andrew Horne Blair Wilson and John Walsh were joined at the unveiling of the new commemorative plaque by the Choir's former accompanist Dennis Jones and Second Tenor Norman Harvey who were both present at the original tree planting ceremony 30 years ago.

Speaking about re-dedicating the tree for the Choir's 80th Anniversary, John Walsh said "Despite having been a member of the choir since 2010 and being Secretary and Chairman over 5 of those years, I was not aware that we had a 50th anniversary commemorative oak tree planted in Grosvenor Park until earlier this year when I was given a photo of the planting ceremony by long serving member Lance Howie. Lance was there but took the photo so he’s not on it! He told me where the tree was located and we went to find it. We hadn’t imagined how big it would be 30 years later! – it’s now a beautiful mature tree over 10 metres tall."

The original planting ceremony was led by the founder and leader of the then Cestrian Male Voice Choir for 50 years, Fred Warren. John added "It was thought that a plaque identifying the tree had indeed been fitted after the planting but it has long since disappeared. It seemed a great opportunity, in our 80th anniversary year, to replace it. Cheshire West and Chester Council were contacted and were very helpful in advising what form it needed to take and agreeing that it could be done. I’m very pleased that we were able to complete the exercise with a commemorative photograph for the archives before Autumn took the leaves off. We are delighted with the outcome and hope that the plaque will serve as a point of interest for park visitors for years to come."

The choir is now looking forward to filling its diary with concerts and events post lockdown including a special 80th Anniversary concert at Chester Cathedral on 16th July 2022 with special guests, the famous and world renowned Foden’s Band.

Full details of the choir, upcoming concerts, events and how to get involved can be found at:

www.chestermalevoice.com

Pictured - (L-R) Current members of the Chester Male Voice Choir Geoffrey Hewson, Peter Walsh, Aled Jones, Joe Shields, Andrew Horne, Blair Wilson and Norman Harvey, together with Honorary Member and previous accompanist Dennis Jones at the re-dedication ceremony.