THOUGHTS ON BEING PRESENTED WITH
"CHOIR PERSON OF THE YEAR" - 1995

I was totally unprepared for the shock of the above presentation, and was therefore speechless.
I am not one for making impromptu speeches and rather than make a hash of It, I declined the calls for "speech".
Had I been a raconteur I might have said something along these lines.

As I read and re-read the list of illustrious names engraved on the cup, and thought a little about each of those names, what wonderful memories flooded back!
Memories of the great times we have shared, and the places we have sung. Linking such names as Don Holmes "Captain Birds Eye" and his loving wife Maureen who is once again with us here tonight, and Don's bravery in Guernsey;
Ron Fitzpatrick, and our visit to his homeland, Ashington, Northumberland;
John Williams, who is entirely responsible for my having joined the choir in 1993, when the choir sang at Plinston Hall, Letchworth.
All of these incidents bring other names and places to mind.
Eiffion Jones and the obvious terror he experienced when soloing ''Myfanwy'' in that beautiful church in Chard, Somerset, Peter Raven, who could always pitch the note perfectly and who took me under his wing when I joined the choir, and from whom I learned so much.
Norman Williams and his lovely wife Rosey, who made enormous efforts to make new members and their wives feel part of the family.
John Bradley, our very own Joseph Locke.

I think of how we sang our hearts out for Ken Hone when he look “his choir" back to his hometown of Morriston, South Wales.
I think of the two white haired twins "Snitch and Snatch", Tommy Roberts and Mick McGuire who always took centre stage in the front row of the choir, and who knew every word and every note, how I looked up to them!
I think of such characters as "Tommy Topnote" and his ear-piercing rendition of Katarie. Don Locke, who always had a string of jokes.
I also  remember with affection Jim Lovatt and his after concert solo – The Crystal Chandelier.
I recall our visits to the Royal Albert Hall, and the feeling of pride at being part of it.
I think of Harry Secombe, and the 18 hours of practice we put in to accompany him in “One voice Singing in the Darkness” for the Highway programme on TV.
All this for 30 seconds of viewing time!
I smile at the problems we encountered with the accommodation at Tintern Abbey when Stuart organized that Brenda and I spent the night in a four poster bed in the bridal suite!!!
I think of the competitions we have entered (and nearly won! and nearly lost!)

I could go on endlessly about all the members and their wives who have meant so much to me over the last twelve years.
It is unfair to miss out anyone, really, as we all wqork together to develop and keep alive that feeling of camaraderie which I have only known in my years in the Royal Air Force, but which is so sadly missing in in our lives today.

My only regret is that I did not join the choir 20 years earlier, and be able to share more magic moments with all the characters who made up not only our choir, but the many other choirs with which we have shared massed choir concerts.
I must confess to more than one tear as I write this, but they are of happiness and pride.

I have never won a cup for anything before, but I’m jolly glad I did, if for no other reason than that it caused me to think long and hard about the fascinating characters and events that have made such an impact on my life, and which I will always remember with pride.

It strikes me as funny that I can recall the many good times.
There must have been sad times and problem times,
but the choir always means “good times” to me.
From Guernsey to Blackpool,
from Fishguard to Peterborough,
from Ilfracombe to Newcastle,
and now for 1996, the Isle of Wight venture.

Thanks to all of you for sharing so many happy times with Brenda and me.

Ben.

15 December 1995.