WRVS choir on song in their seventies (From Lancashire Telegraph)

WRVS choir on song in their seventies

11:06am Thursday 8th May 2008 in

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TURN the clock back 40 years and choral music was as much a part of the fabric of Rossendale as its industry.

Indeed, music, which had been the unchanging legacy passed through generations of Valley people, still had a strong voice in 1968.

Rossendale Male Voice Choir had hit many high notes, and another choir which hoped to earn a similar reputation was Bacup WRVS Over 60s Choir.

With an average age of around 70, and the oldest 78, members had then just earned the choir its first-class win at Blackpool Festival.

The choir had been set up at the start of the 1960s at an old people's festival at Manchester Free Trade Hall and, afterwards, the decision was taken to carry on.

Its original name was the Darby and Joan Choir and had been sponsored by the Community Council of Lancashire.

Pianist was Annie Stocks, of Stacksteads, and leader and conductor was Doreen Benson, a member of the community council and WRVS, who had been with the choir since its first note.

The 25 members met to practise every week and were self-supporting, even buying their own music and paying 6d a week towards travel expenses.

The choir appeared at local festivals and shows.

They also sang for groups, such as the Old Folks Club in Burnley.

l In our two pictures, above, the four male members of the choir, practising with Doreen on the piano, are, from left, A Coppin, H Barcroft, H Pilling and F Fielding.

In our second are four of the oldest choir members that year, from left, Miss A Pickup, Mrs K Navin, Mrs E Tomlinson and Mrs E Livesey.