User:Steve Allsup/Cotswold Male Voice Choir



The Cotswold Male Voice Choir was formed at 5.30pm on the 11th May 1949 at S. Smith and Sons (England) Ltd. (subsequently Smiths Industries Aviation Division, now GE Aviation) in Bishop's Cleeve (Gloucestershire, England). A meeting was held in the works canteen. 18 men attended. The Smiths name was adopted by the Choir but in 1976 it was decided to rename the Choir as the Cotswold Male Voice Choir to reflect the fact that choir members now included many non Smiths workers. The Choir averages 25 performances a year with venues varying from Village Halls and Churches, to Symphony Halls and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, to Cathedrals and Abbeys. Most concerts raise money for good causes. These have recently included Marie Curie Cancer Care, RNLI, Help for Heroes, Combat Stress, the Leukaemia and Intensive Chemotherapy Fund, Leonard Cheshire Disability, Samaritans, the Prince's Trust and the Jananese Tsunami Relief Fund. The 50 members of the Choir are drawn from a 30 mile radius of their rehearsal base in Dean Close School, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Ages range from mid 30s to their oldest member aged 92. This member and one other were founder members in 1949 and are still singing. The Choir's repertoire is very broad including operatic and classical music, male voice favourites, popular music and big show numbers. Further information can be found at www.cotswoldmvc.org.