TRIBUTES have been paid to the 'father of the choir.'

Edward Howard Taylor was an active member of Prudhoe Gleemen Male Voice Choir for 79 years, joining as its youngest member aged 18 and becoming the group's most senior member at 97 before his death in early March.

Male voice choirs often refer to their choristers as 'brothers', but Howard became well respected as the 'father of the choir.'

He was well known to audiences for his baritone solos of local songs, of which Cullercoats Bay was a favourite.

Having entered and won baritone classes at Ryton & District Music Festival in the 1950s, Howard sat on the festival committee for 64 years and served as secretary for 40 years. He was also made a vice president.

He was also much involved in the festival movement nationally and within the Northern region. He was honoured in 2018 by being awarded a Fellowship of the British and International Federation of Festivals. 

Howard taught Geography at Heaton Boys’ Grammar School, Lord Lawson School in Birtley and was deputy head at Breckenbeds Junior High School in Low Fell.

He played for Ryton Cricket Club, was a supporter of Durham CC and was a member of Prudhoe Bowling Club.

Howard met his first wife Doris, a member of the alto line, when he augmented the choir at Barmoor Congregational Church for their performance of Messiah. 

A few years after Doris' death in 1999, Howard married his second wife Muriel who died in 2010. 

Howard’s daughter Alison is the accompanist at Prudhoe Gleemen and husband Graeme is a member of the bass line. Howard’s son Brian met his wife-to-be Janet when they were working at the Barclays Bank in Prudhoe. 

Howard was grandfather to Fiona, Christopher and Andrew and great-grandfather to Joe and Zac. Fiona sings in Beati, who have been guests at the Prudhoe Gleemen’s annual concerts.

There will be few, if indeed any, men in the North East who have given longer service to the promotion of music than Howard. He will be sadly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him, for his extensive repertoire of local songs and his dry sense of humour.