Spalding Community Choir celebrates as members mark milestone
A community choir celebrated two of its members as they marked milestone birthdays together.
Spalding Community Choir, which is based at Broad Street Methodist Church, celebrated members Helga Browne and Dorothy Duckworth on Saturday as they turned 90.
The choir, which began in September 2019, is made up of about 70 members who are aged anywhere from 18.
Musical director Zeph Churchill says that celebrating together was the very essence of what the choir is all about.
“It was really lovely being able to celebrate together,” she said.
“We had a big party with lots of food, multiple cakes and we sang some of their favourite songs, ending with Something Stupid which Dorothy picked.
“Our strapline is ‘singing people together’ and that’s really what we do. We have a real community going with a kind bunch of members who all care for each other.”
A third member of the group, Joan Patterson, celebrated her birthday earlier this year before the choir had re-started in May following the Covid break which meant she was able to join another party.
Zeph says that the choir has been a big help to many people who have felt lonely as a result of the pandemic.
She said: “I know for a lot of people it is the highlight of their week. We have such a diverse age group and they really put their all into it.
“New people are always welcome to join - it doesn’t matter if they don’t think they can sing. I believe everyone can sing.
“Standing in front of the choir and listening to them really loves me, actually. It’s incredible.
“I feel very humbled to be leading them.”
The choir meets each Saturday between 2pm and 4pm at Broad Street Methodist Church with a £2 entry fee to include a drink.
There are no auditions and you don’t have to be able to read music.
Zeph is hoping to encourage more members to join the choir.
She said: “We sing anything from Ed Sheeran songs to reindeer herding songs and jazz - it’s a very broad spectrum.
“But we mostly sing songs people will have heard before.
“Anyone aged 18 or above is welcome.”