Corby Male Voice Choir reaches 40-year milestone

The choir was formed on January 19, 1976, after an advert was placed in the Northants Telegraph just three days earlier.

A meeting was attended by 18 men who held rehearsals later that month before the choir held their first concert in June at the Rockingham Road church, with 37 choristers.

The singers were invited and performed as part of a 2,500-strong choir in London’s Hyde Park as part of the VE Day celebrations in 1995, in front of the Queen and Prince Philip, and performed with Alvin Stardust in 1987.

To date, they have performed 553 concerts and raised more than £270,000 for charitable organisations.

Now, 40 years on, just two of the original founder members are still singing with the choir.

One of those is first tenor Tom Love.

He said: “We currently have a membership of 53 choristers and we meet every Thursday evening from 7.30pm to 9.45pm in the St Andrews Church Hall in Occupation Road, Corby.

“We are always delighted to welcome new members to come along and join us.

“They do not need to read music, just enjoy singing.

“The choir already has 12 concerts booked for 2016, including one in Wales.”

To find out more information or to join the choir, visit their website by clicking here.