January 2010 - Christmas concerts raise nearly £4,000 for charity

The choir were delighted to have raised nearly £4,000 for charities at thei Christmas Concerts in Broadstairs and Sandwich

December 2009 - Christmas Raffle Winners

Hornby Train Set ticket No. 0958 G.Peck, Scalextric Set Ticket No. 0501 T.Painter, Champagne Ticket No. 0594 Bill Mason, Soft Toy and Champagne Ticket No. 2307 J.Clougherty, Basket of Fruit Ticket No. 1048 R.Biddulph, Wine Box Ticket No. 1518 Mrs Gardner, 3 Bottles of Wine Ticket No. 2073 sold by P Talbot, 3 Bottles of Wine Ticket No. 0682 Pat Isley, Box of Biscuits Ticket No. 1555 J Witton, MOT Ticket No. 0449 B.Gilham

October 2009 - Presentation of Chairman’s Jewel

At a recent rehearsal of the Thanet Male Voice Choir, the chairman was presented with the choir's first Chairman’s Jewel. The presentation was made by Clare and Sue, daughters of the late Ann and Peter Lane.

Peter was a well-respected member of the choir who died 2 years ago and it was the wish of his widow Ann that in his memory she would like to donate the jewel. Unfortunately, before the jewel was ready Ann was taken ill and although she was able to see the finished article she sadly died before the presentation could be made.

The picture shows Clare and Sue presenting the Chairman Bob Hilditch with the jewel.

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Jewel Presentation

TREVOR EVANS (Snr) (1930 –2009)

We are sorry to have to announce the very sad news of the death of the President and founder of our choir, Trevor Evans. Trevor died suddenly on 3rd May after a long, bravely born illness Trevor was born in Bethesda, North Wales in 1930 and at the age of 16 he was the youngest member of the Penrhyn Male Voice Choir, Eistedfodd winners for a record three consecutive years.

His family moved to Birmingham and it was here that he met Margaret who he married in 1951. He studied voice production at the Birmingham College of Music under the famous Dutch opera singer, Madam Joy McArden, and was a member of the famous Canoldir Choir in Birmingham, being Chairman in 1965.

Trevor initially worked within the family business of Evans Casting, which produced castings for the jewellery trade. He was involved in making the original Sportsview Personality of the Year Trophy and also in the Welsh Dragon which was presented to Princess Margaret at the opening of the Empire Games in Cardiff in 1953.

In 1975 he moved to Thanet to open a hotel and restaurant in Broadstairs. Two years later he was the prime mover in the formation of the “Thanet Amateur Male Voice Choir” as we were then called.

Regrettably, ill health forced Trevor to remove his fine tenor voice from the Choir, but he continued as President and his love for Thanet Male Voice Choir was undiminished.

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Christmas Carol Concert

Thanet Male Voice Choir was delighted to be able to present cheques totalling a record £3,820 as a result of their very successful sell-out Christmas Carol Concert (January 2009) at Holy Trinity Church in Broadstairs. Their chosen charities this year were the Jennifer Trust and the Motor Neurone Disease Association

From small beginnings 10 years ago, these annual charity concerts have now raised nearly £30,000 for local good causes.

Chairman of the Thanet Male Voice Choir, Fred Piggott, thanked the concert sponsors, Terence Painter Properties, and everyone who had supported this year’s concert for their generosity.

Special thanks were also due to the children from Upton Junior School Choir who made their customary guest appearance and added that special Christmas touch to the proceedings.

The photograph shows Thanet Male Voice Choir’s Chairman, Fred Piggott together with members of the Thanet Male Voice and the Upton Junior School Choirs, presenting the cheques to the representatives of the two charities.

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Christmas Carol Concert

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Visit to Cardiff

It is always rather nerve-racking for any choir to perform in Wales –‘The Land of Song’ – but we were happy with our recent trip to the Principality when we were the guests of Cardiff Arms Park Male Choir.

Two coach loads of choristers and supporters left Broadstairs at 7.30am for the trek westwards, starting in different directions, but meeting again at Clacket Lane, that well-known watering-hole. We eventually arrived in a wet Welsh capital in time for lunch, following which we moved on to our hotel to get ready for our performance that evening at Cardiff Arms Park Rugby Club in the shadow of the mighty Millenium Stadium.

Our hosts started the concert and had the rafters ringing with a powerful performance. and soon it was our turn. Our discipline and concentration were excellent and we did not let ourselves down with a programme including both strong and soft pieces.

After the interval Cardiff began with a fun piece and then produced a robust sound once more, particularly with a rendition of “An American Trilogy.

We sang again with our treatment of “My Lord, What a Mornin’” gaining particular commendations afterwards and then the joint choirs performed “Rhythm of Life” and “Morte Criste” to crown an excellent concert.

In the Cardiff Rugby Club clubhouse afterwards we were treated to an excellent buffet and enjoyed the ‘afterglow’ where, once more, we contributed fully. Indeed, John Witton, our Welsh baritone, could be seen rushing from one choir to the other, particularly when Cardiff sang in Welsh – was that a little tear I saw as he joined them in “Calon Lan”?

We parted company with promises that Cardiff would make a return visit to Kent and we returned to our hotel after a packed day.

Sunday arrived and a trip to Cardiff Bay was the prelude to us having the privilege of performing in The Millenium Centre, the new centre for the performing arts opened by Her Majesty The Queen in 2004. Once again we sang well and attracted a large and appreciative audience.

Lunch at our hotel and a much quieter trip home saw the end of a hectic weekend. It was tiring but very enjoyable. We could leave Wales with our heads held high having sung well, and the camaraderie was in the best Male Voice Choir tradition.

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Millenium Concert, Cardiff

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Appointment of Martin Rendle

We confirm the appointment of our new musical director Martin Rendle as from May 2008. Martin first joined us at the end of January 2008 on a trial basis to ensure we could all work together. We have now performed several very successful concerts under his direction and look forward to the future with great excitement.  

Martin grew up in Sandwich and attended Sir Roger Manwood’s School. Sandwich.  He lives locally with his wife and two children.  Classically trained, Martin holds a diploma from the London College of Music. He has also toured with companies such as Glyndebourne and the London City Opera and now teaches music and singing from his studio at St Nicholas-at-Wade. 

Martin's website: www.martinrendle.co.uk

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Martin Rendle