THE longest serving member of one of Tynedale’s male voice choirs is celebrating hitting a major milestone after racking up three quarters of a century as a member.

Howard Taylor joined Prudhoe Gleemen when he was 18, shortly after he was sent to work in Addison Colliery, at the east end of Ryton, as part of his national service.

The 93-year-old, who lives in Crawcrook, developed an interest in music during his time in Sixth Form at Hookergate Grammar School, and soon started singing in a SATB mixed voice choir, as well as his local village chapel. It was a member there who encouraged him to join Prudhoe Gleemen, and 75 years on he has no plans to give it up.

He said: “I have never stopped any of my interests. I live a full life with my singing and going to county cricket and being on the bowling green, summer and winter alike.”

To recognise his achievement, he was presented with a painting of Emirates Riverside Cricket Ground in Chester-le-Street, where he is a member, painted by one of his fellow choristers.

Despite going on to study geography at Durham University after finishing his national service, and becoming a teacher the subject, he always found time to attend weekly choir rehearsals. “I have almost got to pinch myself when I think of 75 years of weekly pilgrimages to Prudhoe on a Monday night,” he said.

A leading soloist, singing in baritone, he has sung with five of the six conductors who have served across the choir’s 116 years in existence, while his proudest moment was 30 years ago when his daughter Alison Williams became the accompanist.

He quoted a line from a song by Don Besig and Nancy Price, which was arranged to suit Prudhoe Gleemen by musical director Judith Thompson five years ago, to sum up his experience in the choir. “For as long as I have music, As long as there’s a song for me to sing, I can find my way, I can see a brighter day,” he read. “It really sums up everything about my choir singing,” he added.

Interest in music started when he was in sixth form at Hookergate school, when he started singing in a SATB mixed voice choir, and he also made time to sing in his local village chapel.

It was a choir member there who encouraged him to join the Prudhoe male voice choir.

But his love of music preceded that, for when he was in

93-year-old Emirates Cricket Club Chester-le-Street

I joined when I was 18, from Ryton.

18 in December 1943 - sent to the coal mines as part of his national service, as the first batch of men under the Bevin Boys.

Served in Addison Colliery at the east end of Ryton.

That’s where I spent my national service and I was able to live at home, not like many others from all over the country who were put in hostels all over the region.

“I have almost got to pinch myself when I think of 75 years of weekly pilgrimages to Prudhoe on a Monday night.”

Thinks he was the youngest member at the time, and is the longest serving now.

Interest in music started when he was in sixth form at Hookergate school, when he started singing in a SATB mixed voice choir, and he also made time to sing in his local village chapel.

It was a choir member there who encouraged him to join the Prudhoe male voice choir.

“I found the fellowship and comradery of weekly rehearsals tremendous. It was an enjoyable aspect of life and it lifted my spirits a bit after the disappointment of not getting into uniform.”

Through the choir’s 116 years existence I have sung with five of the six conductors.

My proudest moment was 30 years ago this year when my daughter Alison (Williams) became the accompanist - which she still is now.

A big change is we don’t do competitive any more, used to do choral competitions through the British Federation of Festivals.

“The things we learnt to sing in competition are still in my head all these years later, much more than the things we learn for our concerts. In some ways I miss that but there are some men who have never experienced that.”

After national service went to Durham Uni where I studied Geography , went on to teach in Newcastle, Birtley and Gateshead.

Kept him close to home and close enough to still attend rehearsals every week. Retired 34 years ago

“The secret to me still being able to enjoy it at my age is that I have never stopped any of my interests. I live a full life with my singing and going to county cricket and being on the bowling green summer and winter alike. There’s hardly a day of the week there’s not something in my diary.

Music

“It really sums up everything about my choir singing.”

Judith Thompson, the musical director found that piece of music, and arranged it to suit a male voice choir.

For as long as I have music

As long as there’s a song for me to sing

I can find my way, I can see a brighter day

by Don Besig and Nancy Price