A CHOIR which has brought pleasure to the lives of amateur singers for 40 years is asking former members to join it to celebrate a landmark anniversary.
The Leaside Singers group was formed in 1972 as the New Methodist Singers, its name reflecting the group’s base at York Road Methodist Church, in Church Gresley.
After taking on its current name in 1979 — derived from the nearby Maurice Lea Memorial Park — the choir has continued to flourish, and celebrates its 40th anniversary on Saturday, October 6.
To mark the event, the choir is holding a concert and celebration on this date, and is trying to get in touch with ex-members to invite them to share in the occasion.
Chorister Bernadette Chadwick joined the Leaside Singers in 2007 after a chance encounter with a former conductor in Swadlincote Library after moving to the town from Tamworth.
She said: “Anyone who has been a member of the choir over the last 40 years, we’d really like them to come along.
“Lots of people who left the choir have moved out of the area, so we’ve had to cast the net quite wide, while others decided they were too old for it or their lives had just become too busy.
“We’re holding a concert first and then afterwards we will be having a social which will give us a chance to catch up with everyone.”
Former members the choir is looking to get in touch with include June Baxter, wife of former Burton Mail editor-inchief and managing director Ken Baxter, a member in the 1970s and 80s.
The concert, to be held at Hill Street Baptist Church, in Swadlincote, will see the choir be joined by a ‘well-known local organist’ and Tamworth-based female barbershop chorus called Barberama.
Any former members who would like to get in touch are asked to call Ms Chadwick on 07786 314765 or berny.chadwick@talktalk.net
