History

A Brief History

The choir’s origins were inauspicious. In the Autumn of 1898 six men gathered in the front parlour of a small house in Eustace Street, Warrington, to practise glee singing. They could never have imagined that their simple initiative would grow into one of Great Britain’s most altruistic choirs.


Sam Hassall		Thomas Brough

By the turn of the twentieth century, Warrington was home to two rival male choirs, the Warrington Apollo Male Voice Choir formed in October 1898 by Thomas Brough and Warrington Male Voice Choir formed in November 1900 by Samuel Hassall. The choirs were fiercely competitive, yet eventually amalgamated in December 1911 under the neutral title, Warrington Male Choral Union. This name remained for seventy years until 1981, when the decision was taken to name the choir Warrington Male Voice Choir.

(Click on Early Photos to see the choirs as they were).

In 1919 Alfred Higson OBE became conductor, and led the choir for the next forty years, raising it to a level of excellence which became acknowledged nationally. Regular live BBC radio broadcasts were made from the town’s Parr Hall during the 1930s and ‘40s as the choir’s reputation spread. Unfortunately, a reversal in the choir’s fortunes occurred during the 1960s and ‘70s, when both quality and membership declined. The recovery began in the early 1980s, and, over the next decade, membership tripled, concert requests increased, and overseas tours and recordings became a regular feature of choir activities. This success was boosted in 1992 by a generous eight-year sponsorship agreement with British Nuclear Fuels plc, and by the choir winning the National Male Voice Choir Championship in 1994. More recently, the choir took premier honours at two international choral festivals held in Sligo 2002 and Bangor 2004.

Fellowship, goodwill, and charity fundraising have always been traditional features. In March 1993, in response to the terrorist bombing of Warrington town centre, the choir adopted a special role in promoting peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. Choir events in the island of Ireland came to symbolise hope and harmony, transcending barriers and bringing comfort. This humanitarian initiative led to Terry Waite CBE becoming Patron in January 1996, and his involvement has since prompted regular concerts by the choir in both British and Irish prisons, assisting rehabilitation programmes.

Today's choristers are proud of the choir's achievements and of its international reputation. They are proud of the joy their music brings to so many people.