Pye Hill male Voice Choir Jacksdale

Pye Hill & District Male Voice Choir

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The Original Choir

Extract from the history of the choir ~ written approx 1947:-

In the year 1903 there was a mixed Choral Society at Pye Hill, that little hamlet forming part of the Jacksdale Ward of Selston Parish in the county of Nottinghamshire (only just in Nottinghamshire for the River Erewash which is the border line, divides Pye Hill from Codnor Park and Ironville) and from discussions between men members of the Choral Society there emerged the idea of forming a Male Voice Choir. The first meeting was held in the Vestry at the Providence Chapel at Pye Hill on the 9th November, 1903. One of the sponsors of the Choir in those days was Dr. J.H.W. Laverick, now of Sheffield. The first official President was B. Mclaren Esq., who held office for 21 years. Upon Mr Mclaren's retirement when he left the district in 1926, Titus Searson, Esq.' was invited to be President, and he accepted and remained in office until his death in 1942, after which Mrs Searson was elected president.

Practices for a time were held at the homes of members, and later, as the numbers grew, they were held at Pye Hill, Jacksdale and Westwood Working Men's club, known as the Jacksdale Institute, which has ever afterwards been recognised as the Headquarters of the Choir.

Two outstanding records are those of the conductor, Mr Joseph Bonsall, and the Chairman, Mr William Edwards, both of whom have held their offices continuously from 1903 to the present date - 43 years. The office of Secretary has been held in turn by Messrs. P. Hill, J.T. Bonsall, J. Saint, C. Wilson, M.C. Whitehouse, P. Bonsall, W. Boneham, J.Vernon, H.B. Haddon, and A.E. Mee. There have been a number of Treasurers, and it is noteworthy that Mr B. Bonsall has been Treasurer since 1927 until the present date. The title of the Choir has remained the same since its inception, with one notable departure - on July 24th, 1920, at the Coalville Music Festival, the Choir was entered in the name of Jacksdale and District Male Voice Choir.

"There comes a voice that awakes my soul. It is the voice of the years that are past. They roll before me with all their deeds." ~ OSSIAN

Pye Hill & District Male Voice Choir ~ 1911

Above: - Pye Hill & District Male Voice Choir ~ 1928

1934 ~ From an original postcard ~ on the reverse it reads:-

"19th August 1934 Midland Regional ~ BBC at 5.40pm"

BACK ROW L ~R - W Wager, Sid Lancashire, A Storer, R Bonsall, T Fearn, A Bonsall, S Castledine, J Green, J Parnham, E Gent, A Howe, R Ashmore, H Haddon, A Mee, Reg Cooke.

CENTRE ROW - A Case, A Eggleshaw, J Naylor, W Dovey, H Best, F Frith, P Bonsall, J Roberts, Bonsall, H Lancaster, W Wilson, F Tate, F Hunt, J Ward, S Carrington, J Black, - ? - , J Weightman

FRONT ROW - T Straw, A Peach, S Hemstock, P Castledine, B Bonsall, J Bonsall (Choir Master), W Edwards, J Vernon, J Foulds, T Ross (Pianist), Phillips.

Above : 1946

1983 - Jacksdale School Hall
BACK ROW - L - R - Ron Pemberton, Graham Daykin, - ? - , Chris McFadden, Ernest Grice, Colin Barron, - ? - , Derek Elliot, Albert Green, - ? - , - ? - .

MIDDLE ROW - Ralph Langton, Frank Revill, William Elliots, - ? - ,Stan Harpham, A Kirk, Arthur Frogett, - ? - ,- ? - ,- ? - ,

FRONT ROW - ? - , Frank Howard, - ? - , Ray Fryer (Conductor), Kathryn Haslan (Pianist), - ? - , Eric Cook.

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	The Original Choir Extract from the history of the choir ~ written approx 1947:- In the year 1903 there was a mixed Choral Society at Pye Hill, that little hamlet forming part of the Jacksdale Ward of Selston Parish in the county of Nottinghamshire (only just in Nottinghamshire for the River Erewash which is the border line, divides Pye Hill from Codnor Park and Ironville) and from discussions between men members of the Choral Society there emerged the idea of forming a Male Voice Choir. The first meeting was held in the Vestry at the Providence Chapel at Pye Hill on the 9th November, 1903. One of the sponsors of the Choir in those days was Dr. J.H.W. Laverick, now of Sheffield. The first official President was B. Mclaren Esq., who held office for 21 years. Upon Mr Mclaren's retirement when he left the district in 1926, Titus Searson, Esq.' was invited to be President, and he accepted and remained in office until his death in 1942, after which Mrs Searson was elected president. Practices for a time were held at the homes of members, and later, as the numbers grew, they were held at Pye Hill, Jacksdale and Westwood Working Men's club, known as the Jacksdale Institute, which has ever afterwards been recognised as the Headquarters of the Choir. Two outstanding records are those of the conductor, Mr Joseph Bonsall, and the Chairman, Mr William Edwards, both of whom have held their offices continuously from 1903 to the present date - 43 years. The office of Secretary has been held in turn by Messrs. P. Hill, J.T. Bonsall, J. Saint, C. Wilson, M.C. Whitehouse, P. Bonsall, W. Boneham, J.Vernon, H.B. Haddon, and A.E. Mee. There have been a number of Treasurers, and it is noteworthy that Mr B. Bonsall has been Treasurer since 1927 until the present date. The title of the Choir has remained the same since its inception, with one notable departure - on July 24th, 1920, at the Coalville Music Festival, the Choir was entered in the name of Jacksdale and District Male Voice Choir. "There comes a voice that awakes my soul. It is the voice of the years that are past. They roll before me with all their deeds." ~ OSSIAN

	*Pye Hill & District Male Voice Choir ~ 1911*


	Above: - Pye Hill & District Male Voice Choir ~ 1928
		1934 ~ From an original postcard ~ on the reverse it reads:- "19th August 1934 Midland Regional ~ BBC at 5.40pm" BACK ROW L ~R - W Wager, Sid Lancashire, A Storer, R Bonsall, T Fearn, A Bonsall, S Castledine, J Green, J Parnham, E Gent, A Howe, R Ashmore, H Haddon, A Mee, Reg Cooke. CENTRE ROW - A Case, A Eggleshaw, J Naylor, W Dovey, H Best, F Frith, P Bonsall, J Roberts, Bonsall, H Lancaster, W Wilson, F Tate, F Hunt, J Ward, S Carrington, J Black, - ? - , J Weightman FRONT ROW - T Straw, A Peach, S Hemstock, P Castledine, B Bonsall, J Bonsall (Choir Master), W Edwards, J Vernon, J Foulds, T Ross (Pianist), Phillips.
	Above : 1946


	1983 - Jacksdale School Hall BACK ROW - L - R - Ron Pemberton, Graham Daykin, - ? - , Chris McFadden, Ernest Grice, Colin Barron, - ? - , Derek Elliot, Albert Green, - ? - , - ? - . MIDDLE ROW - Ralph Langton, Frank Revill, William Elliots, - ? - ,Stan Harpham, A Kirk, Arthur Frogett, - ? - ,- ? - ,- ? - , FRONT ROW - ? - , Frank Howard, - ? - , Ray Fryer (Conductor), Kathryn Haslan (Pianist), - ? - , Eric Cook.