Early on in 2006 Barrie Evans, the choir Treasurer, shook me by the hand and congratulated me. “You are now a life member,” he said, “you have been in the choir for forty years”. This took me a little by surprise for the years had gone by with such speed and in the company of such grand fellows. What is the secret that keeps us all together for so long? It is simply the joy of making music together and endeavouring to produce sounds which, on occasion, give one the “tingle factor”. On rehearsal days, there is a joyous anticipation of a couple of hours of camaraderie, of warmth, usually with some leg pulling but interspersed with some serious learning and a corporate endeavour to improve. Whilst we all pay lip service to the “age factor”; for most of us, this is irrelevant in the pleasure of achievement.

So what got me into male voice singing? Having been a chorister for most of my life, of the church choir and music group variety, when the Bank transferred me to Runcorn, all those years ago, it was the church organist, Selwyn Hill who invited me to join the Bass Section. I was somewhat in awe on being surrounded by such talented musicians who could produce a sound, I had only dreamed about. But it was not long before I was made to feel part of this great tradition and to be proud of the heritage that the name Highfield engendered. On the coming of Ralph Houslay to take up the baton in the late sixties, the choir took off again, achieving success not seen for some years and we marched from competition to competition with growing confidence.

With a background of finance, it was I not long before I was handed the Treasurer’s books with a mandate to care for the choir’s meagre finances. Some years later, on a reshuffle due to departures, I was asked to take over the chairmanship, a position I occupied for a time but I think between the two, it was something over 20 years. After that I thought it would be permanent retirement to the back row and an ability to criticise others from that lofty height. Service is important, in whatever capacity, but I little dreamt that one day I would be asked to serve as the Choir’s fourth President. Considering those who have previously held this office, I am conscious of the honour which has been given to me but I will endeavour to maintain the tradition and continue to serve the choir to the best of my ability. My aim is to see that the proud name of Highfield continues into the future with the best of male voice music being sung for the benefit of the good folk of Runcorn and all the surrounding area.