BASED IN RUNCORN, now part of the BOROUGH OF HALTON, Highfield Male Voice Choir was formed in 1911. The name comes from the local HIGHFIELD TANNING COMPANY (no longer in existence) and our choir emblem shows three figures carrying ‘bends’ of leather – each ‘bend’ consisting of half an animal hide after tanning.

The Choir’s origins can be traced back to the formation by Tannery workers of a male voice ‘quartette’ in 1902. In time this became a double quartette, and eventually a triple quartette was formed to compete in the prestigious annual Eisteddfod in Widnes (on the opposite bank of the River Mersey), on Thursday 23rd February 1911. The conductor was Sam Hassall and the test piece was the Harry Evans arrangement of All Through The Night, sung unaccompanied. They were awarded first prize by the Adjudicator, who was the famous Welsh hymn composer, Caradog Roberts. He could be very scathing in his comments, but had nothing but praise for the performance of the Highfield men.

Immediately following the success of this first public performance, it was decided to add to the original group of twelve to form a male voice choir based on the Tannery with Sam Hassall as Conductor and local church organist Frank Gamon (then 18 years old) as Accompanist. The choir operated under the auspices of the Highfield Tannery Social and Recreational Club, but membership was thrown open to all men from the area around Runcorn and Widnes.

The Choir went from success to success, winning the first eight competitions it entered. Highfield was feared and respected in the competitions field across North West England and North Wales. James Weedall took over as Conductor in 1914, and continued in office for nearly 40 years.

A local soap works was converted to become the Camden Tannery. It was taken over by the Highfield Tanning Company in 1914, and the Choir’s name was duly extended to become ‘The Highfield and Camden Male Voice Choir’. Equipping the soldiers of World War 1 must have increased the tanneries’ output (and therefore working hours) considerably, but Choir members gave of their own time to travel around the region to give evening concerts to entertain the troops, returning to start work at 6am the following day.

The choir continued to grow, reputedly reaching a membership of 100 during the 1920’s, to provide a rewarding outlet for many an aspiring young chorister, and won so many competitions that its name was changed for a time to The Highfield and Camden Prize Choir. However, by 1927 competitions were declining in popularity, so that the Choir decided upon a change of direction and inaugurated the series of annual Celebrity Concerts which has continued to the present day.

Numbers declined at the start of the 1930’s, but had recovered enough for the Choir to make its first radio broadcast in 1937. The outbreak of World War 2 caused an initial cessation of activities, but, although reduced in numbers, the men of Highfield & Camden travelled the region to entertain the troops just as their forbears had done, and managed to resume the series of Celebrity Concerts in 1944.

Membership fluctuated during the 1950’s and 60’s, but the Choir lived on. Even though the last tannery had closed by then, the Choir decided to keep the name of ‘Highfield’. There was a resurgence of interest in the 1970’s and 80’s, during which membership rose from its lowest recorded number of 34 in 1969 to reach a peak of 72 in time for the Choir’s 80th anniversary in 1991. With membership now standing at about fifty, Highfield is, we feel, a male voice choir of quality, comparable with the best of choirs throughout the Region.

The Choir has a growing reputation for its concert performances throughout the country and in recent years has toured many times overseas in France, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Spain and Malta. Within the U.K. the choir performs up to fifteen concerts per year.

During its long history Highfield has performed in many great Concert Halls throughout the British Isles, including the Royal Albert Hall in London, Manchester's Bridgewater Hall, Glasgow's City Hall and Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall. The Choir also took part in the massed choirs’ concert at the Manchester Evening News Arena in celebration of the Millennium – a memorable experience! In summary, each year the Choir sings to audiences which must total many thousands.

The Choir will perform in any suitable venue, large or small in support of charities and other worthwhile causes. The Choir performs at civic and corporate functions and is also regularly called upon to sing at weddings. Contact us for further details.

THE EARLIEST minute book found in the archives of the Highfield and Camden Male Voice Choir (leather bound of course!) starts with the AGM of 10th December 1929 with Mr Mayers in the chair and recorded in copperplate handwriting. It was noted that membership in 1929 was eighty, an increase from sixty seven of December the previous year. One entry states “A presentation of a case of pipes was made to our Secretary, Mr Leathwood, in recognition of his years of faithful service. Mr Leathwood in expressing his thanks spoke of the choir's early days 27 years ago.” This was because John (‘Jack’) Leathwood was a founder member of the original ‘quartette’ in 1902, as well as becoming the Choir’s Secretary on its formation in 1911. He continued in this post until the early 1940’s – the first of many to give long and dedicated service to the Choir.

We presently see ourselves as a Concert Choir trained to competitive levels and we have occasionally ventured successfully into the world of male voice choral competition. The last competition in which the choir participated was in the early nineties when they won the Calvert Cup at the Southport Music Festival and were runners up in the same competition the following year. There have also been many other successes throughout the years in choral competition throughout England and Wales.