Member Profiles

What a different place Tideswell was in the late 1940’s!  No television, few bathrooms, many outside toilets, 11 pubs, 5 butcher’s shops, few cars, and quarryman Arthur Furness in demand as a writer of letters for those who lacked the skill. Most people attended Church or Chapel and had a deep love of religious choral music; they talked a rich Derbyshire vernacular and the men shared a culture and a humour which bonded them closely and is a great strength of the choir to this day.  Arthur, the father of the choir’s present chairman, Les, had a love of singing which inspired a dedicated bunch to meet and sing regularly in each other’s parlours. Their enthusiasm was infectious and the village loved to listen to them; in fact, the Tideswell men found they had become a choir.

It has been the choir’s good fortune that whenever the way forward has seemed in doubt an individual has appeared whose enthusiasm has generated the energy to move on. After some years at the helm Arthur Furness found that growing demands of life and children (including young Les, of course!) meant he could no longer lead the choir. There followed a couple of uncertain years before Raymond Hibbert, a Quarryman turned railwayman with extraordinary musical gifts and a wealth of hilarious Derbyshire stories brought together an expanded group and rekindled the spirit of the choir. Recruitment was given a real boost by village postman Roy Claye who used his post round to urge likely lads to come and have some fun in the choir. One of their early engagements was at a farmer’s Cow Club Supper. Raymond noticed that scant attention was  paid to the choir. “What shall we do, lads?” “Tell ‘em some of your stories, Ray” suggested the choir. These apparently changed the tone of the evening.  Overheard in the Gents, afterwards, “I didn’t think much to t’choir,  but comedian was bl---y great!”. Longstanding members of the choir are fully prepared to tell such stories against themselves, well knowing how far they have come in discipline and musical understanding, since those early days.  After Raymond’s death in 1981, Arthur Furness again took up the baton until Jack Windle from Dore Male Voice Choir in Sheffield took over.  Unfortunately, Jack had to resign after a short while for personal reasons.

Chris Senior was the first professional Choirmaster employed by the Choir, in 1984; he worked them extremely hard, to the point where their self confidence began to build: a group of wives was convened; uniforms were designed and made. Chris laid the foundations of discipline, musicianship and concentration that led to major national and international success. Awards followed at various music festivals including Buxton, Morecambe, Hazel Grove, Blackpool, Ferrers, Newcastle-Under-Lyme , and Selston, establishing the choir as the leading Male Voice Choir in Derbyshire. International successes were added: the Malta International Choir Festival marked a supreme achievement for the choir when it won the Male Voice section and was awarded the Silver trophy; in 2003 they sang a very successful series of concerts in Slovenia under the baton of Suzie Winter.

Just as Tideswell has changed enormously in half a century and so, obviously, have the personnel of the choir.  No longer are the men predominantly from the village; the present choir is drawn from the region, from Stockport to Sheffield and the profession most represented is no longer quarrymen but, extraordinarily enough, accountants and financial advisers! The times, they are a changing! 

Michael Coe, a highly accomplished musician who had worked with the BBC became MD early in 2004 and held the position for about a year before the arrival of the present MD, Dennis Kay in 2005.  With Dennis’ appointment the choir has acquired a new purpose and vigour, epitomised by the launch of the choir’s first CD, New Horizons.  We urge you to buy a copy or two and become a part of the Tideswell men’s exciting future!

The People Who Make It Work

In order to function effectively a choir of this standing needs a good management committee, and Tideswell Male Voice Choir is no exception.  The committee is chaired by Les Furness whose father was a founder member of the choir.  

The musical director of the choir is Dennis Kay, who has more than 25 years experience in conducting and training choirs.

The choir's accompanist is Llinos Hodgson, whose expertise in accompaniment has enthused the choir for more than 20 years.  Her contribution to the choir is priceless.

We are also most fortunate to have an experienced and very supportive president, Malcolm Fraser.  Malcolm became choir President in April 2007 and works closely with us as we plan our schedule.

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