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Choir members

There are several choir members leaving us at the moment, one of which is Mark Williams.

Our chairman presented Mark with Honorary Membership of the Choir in recognition for his long service and all the hard work he has put into help run the choir.

 

Derek Rigby

 

It is with great regret that we have to pass on news of the death of Derek Rigby, a Life Member of Blackpool Male Voice Choir.

Derek was a very special gentleman, who following his move to Lytham, to be nearer his family, always kept in touch with us!

Derek retired from active duty with BMVC over ten years ago but maintained a passionate interest in our activities through his ongoing friendship with long-serving member Rhodes Holmes.  He even managed to join in on our 2020 Christmas Zoom get-together.

 

Derek joined Blackpool MVC from Beverley MVC and was instrumental in bringing about a hugely successful joint concert in Blackpool.

 

Music played a major part in Derek’s life and he spent countless hours on his electronic organ creating tracks which he combined to form fantastic versions of popular songs.

He often used to play before a concert started, and then again during the interval.

 

Dear Friends and Patrons,

We thought you might like to see a Zoom recording the Choir produced for you along with Driffield and Hull Male Voice Choir Members.  Conducted by the inimitable Liz, accompanied by syncopating Amy and edited by Nigel (it isn’t easy to find an adjective to describe Nigel). It is a song we sang at the Menin Gate two years ago, Sleep Sweet Evermore.

The period of inactivity is clearly continuing for longer than we expected and we shall try to use this page to keep in touch with you till we meet again (cue for a song)

Yours till then

BMVC Committee

Coronavirus

Please note that from 16th March 2020 all Choir activities are suspended until further notice. Meanwhile, have a look at our Amy playing Gershwin.

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John Burt (1939-2020)

We received the sad news that John, only  recently retired from the Choir, died in Hull Royal Infirmary on Saturday 7th March after quite a long illness.  Our thoughts are very much with Val and family at this sad time.

John was a very fine baritone, a former Choir Chairman and, latterly, an enthusiastic Patron of the Choir.  He will be very much missed by all who knew him.

The funeral was held at Haltemprice Crematorium at 3.30pm Monday 30th March.

The Choir were unable to attend due to the Coronavirus situation, but were able to watch the service online.   

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John Cooke 1935-2020

Within hours of learning of the death of Don Sylvester came the shattering news, the following day, 18th January,  of the death of John Cooke, one of the most supportive, dedicated and valuable of our members – also a former seafarer, in John’s case a career Merchant Navy Chief Engineer.

John was a leading second tenor with a very fine voice and an equally fine sense of humour.  He was a past Chairman who also spent many years looking after our library.

No one who enjoyed John’s solo performances as the broken-hearted milkman in “Pretty Polly Perkins” will ever forget him.

Our thoughts are very much with Hilary and family at this time of their great loss.

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The funeral took place at Haltemprice Crematorium at 2.30 pm Tuesday 4th February and the choir sang “American Trilogy” and “Morte Christe”.  We were very glad to be accompanied on this occasion by Pat Cave, a good friend of John’s.

Don Sylvester 1922-2020

The sad news has reached us of the death of Don, former Choir Bass and PRO, on his birthday, at the grand old age of 98.

Don served as a Royal Navy telegraphist during the Second World War and later worked, among other things, as a Police Officer in the then City of Hull Police.

He was also a talented amateur watercolour artist and produced many paintings over the years, scenes around South Cave and others.

He and his lovely late wife Eileen were great supporters of the Choir over many years and our thoughts are very much with his daughter Jane and her family at this sad time.

The funeral took place on 5th February at Haltemprice Crematorium.

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