After 40 years Shropshire's Severn Singers to hold final concert
They have been going for more than 40 years but next month the final curtain will come down on a choir that has raised more than £40,000 for charity.
Bridgnorth's Severn Singers will be performing a final concert on June 22.
To mark its last performance, the concert, which takes place at the Baptist Church in Bridgnorth, will be raising money for Save the Children and the Severn Hospice.
David Carr, of the Severn Singers, has invited people to come along, say goodbye to the choir, and help a final fundraising push for charity.
He said: "We have now decided that it is time to finish, we are all getting older and members have other commitments in their busy retirement.
"So our final concert is to be given on June 22, in the Baptist Church in Bridgnorth, it is a free concert where we simply invite the audience to make a donation to Save the Children and the Severn Hospice.
"We do hope that people will come and support us and share the pleasure which we have derived down all the years."
Mr Carr explained how the group has raised thousands for charity during its four decades.
He said: "We have performed across Britain and abroad in Bridgnorth's twin towns of Thiers and Schrobenhausen, but chiefly in towns and villages in and around Shropshire raising money for charities, and over the time we have raised well over £40,000.
"Besides raising funds for churches in Wenlock, Morville (giving an annual Christmas concert in Morville Hall at an event hosted by Chris and Sarah Douglas) Bridgnorth and Cleobury Mortimer among others, we have supported Hope house, Macmillan, Help for Heroes, Bridgnorth African Project, RNLI, various mayor's charities and the Severn Hospice, but our main charity has been in support of the local committee of Save the Children with whose help we have given a Christmas concert regularly in the Bridgnorth Endowed School, and the funds raised there have benefited thousands of under privileged children both in the UK and abroad.
"At the request of William Cash we have also given concerts in Upton Cresset Hall and the beautiful Norman Chapel there."
Mr Carr said the group began life as a barbershop quartet but was soon enlarged in to a four part choir.
He said: "Out repertoire has grown and has now extended to about 400 pieces.
"We sing in all sorts of styles – madrigals, sacred music, song from shows, the Beatles, Abba and various other pop artists, Gershwin, Handel Mozart, the much loved John Rutter, and the occasional original piece.
"Many are presented with a touch of humour both in the introductions and in the performance."
