TOP CHESTER CHOIR SINGS THE PRAISES OF LONG SERVING MEMBERS

Long serving members of one of Chester's top choirs have been honoured with special awards celebrating their contribution to music making spanning 60 years.

Special badges and awards of Honorary Life Memberships have been conferred on 10 long serving members of Chester Male Voice Choir with 5 of the awards being made at special presentations held outside members' homes in order to comply with the Covid-19 restrictions in place at the time.

The presentations were made by the Chairman of the choir John Walsh accompanied by Committee members Ron Webster and Blair Wilson. Recipients included Norman Harvey for 37 years' service, Mike Hendy, 44 years, Roy Gallimore 48 years, Geoff Hewson, also with 48 years' service and Mike Heathcote, 50 years. Unfortunately, due to travel and other restrictions, presentations have yet to be made to some members including Lance Howie, 30 years' service, Gerry Smith 36 years, and Howard Millington and Derek Hewson 40 years' service. The presentation of a posthumous award in memory of the late Bob Cunningham in recognition of his 60 years' service with the choir was also made to his wife, Sheila.

Speaking about the special presentations, John Walsh said "2021 will be the 80th anniversary of the choir's formation. Not surprisingly, we have members who have given long service and we felt it appropriate to give them the recognition they richly deserve with the award of the status of Honorary Life Membership. Special ceramic badges were designed for recipients to proudly wear on their uniform and certificates signed by our President Her Grace The Duchess of Westminster were printed and framed. The qualification level chosen was 30 years and every subsequent 10 years. We found we had no less than 10 members who qualified with, amazingly, one at 50 years and one at 60 years! It is testament to the pleasure gained from membership that choir members stay so very long. Most of those recognised have been Committee Members, Chairmen Secretaries and Treasurers during their tenure. Under normal circumstances we would have held a special awards evening for all members and families but that wasn't possible due to Covid. So, with colleagues Ron Webster and Blair Wilson who developed the scheme, we donned our uniform suits and took to the road to make presentations on our award winners' doorsteps! Blair's son Thomas made a video of the whole process which we shared online with all our members."

Amongst those to receive his award at one of the special doorstep ceremonies was Mike Heathcote of Saughall. Mike 82, a former Chairman of the choir has been a member for an impressive 50 years and was instrumental in organising some of the groups many concert tours throughout the UK and oversees, including one to South Dakota USA in 1980. 

Speaking about receiving the special honour, Mike, a retired Police officer said "I was surprised and delighted by the award of Honorary Life Membership. The fellowship of the Choir has played such an important part in my life and that of my family. There have been so many highlights over the last 50 years, not least singing in the great cathedrals of Europe including, amongst others St. Vitus in Prague, Notre Dame in Paris and Cologne Cathedral. It’s also been a privilege to share the Chester concert stage with several world-famous stars such as Sir Bryn Terfel, and Sir Willard White, and to have participated in several massed Male Voice Choir concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. Most of all, I value very much the many friendships that myself and my family have made as a result of my being a member of the choir, that is something really special.”

Although unable to currently perform in public due to coronavirus restrictions, members of the choir have been keeping active during the pandemic, rehearsing via Zoom and recording a special arrangement of "You'll Never Walk Alone" in tribute to the NHS and front-line workers. Full details of Chester Male Voice Choir and how to get involved can be found at www.chestermalevoice.com

Pictured - Chester Male Voice Choir at a Chester Town Hall performance last year, with the late Bob Cunningham on the front row fifth from the right.                                                                                                                                                                                                                              (Photo credit: Will Hay Photography)