Friends     History

In 1999, choir member Hazel Pratt realised that people who left the Choir, often after many years service, had no way of keeping in contact with friends they had made. Therefore she proposed setting up a social group for these people, and anyone else who had the Choir’s welfare at heart. After distributing leaflets to the audience at a concert, we had 49 expressions of interest and the first formal meeting was held on 11th January, 2000. Derek Holloway took the Chair, John Aldridge was invited to become our President and we agreed to ask the Choir for a loan of £300 to enable us to finance events.

There followed various coffee mornings, open days at members’ homes, and a very successful concert in Wigston by Musicamici.  We were able to repay our loan within three months and were in profit. However, it was always our main aim to offer a supportive role to the choir and any profit made was a bonus. There has also been a piano recital by Patricia Evans and a concert by The Bridge Singers and Persiflage, both at Oadby.

In September 2000, we held our first ‘Committee’ meeting. This was a group of people who agreed to be involved in the organisation, and has always been an informal group. We held a formal AGM in June 2001, when ‘officers’ were elected and we felt we were now on firmer ground. In 2002, Anthony Wessell agreed to be President as John Aldridge was fully committed with the Choir and his other activities. Anthony and his wife Caroline (an ex-choir member) currently continue to support as many of our events as they can.

We held a formal dinner annually from 2001 to 2003. This became a lunch in 2004. Devonshire Place has become a favourite venue. We have had a coach outing each year since 2001 to places that we hoped would offer interest to the whole family. We have visited Thursford Organ museum, Evesham (including a trip on the river), Cosford Air Museum, Weston Hall and Springfields shopping outlet in Spalding, including a visit to the Romany Museum nearby.

It was agreed to have a ‘Sales Table’ at concerts, where audience members are encouraged to buy small items that advertise the Choir. These make a small profit, but are mainly for publicity. Some social events have raised money – and mention must be made of Jane Holloway’s contribution with her Burns Night Suppers. With these monies the Friends have been able to pay for, or contribute to, the cost of a cover for the rehearsal piano, new folders for Choir members to use in concerts, and a laptop computer for the concert booking secretary as well as other items.

Concerts are sometimes held at the church of St James the Greater. There are no professional stewards there to sell programmes and act as ushers, and the Friends have taken on that role. At the Christmas concert, wine and mince pies have been organised for the audience and choir.