Stockport’s oldest chorister has spoken out about the benefits that singing has on health and relationships as he celebrates his 55th year.
Eddie Allot, 85, a former painter and decorator from Stockport, has been a member of the Stockport Male Voice Choir more than five decades.
His love for music began his journey to the choir’s doors and he began singing in church choirs across Stockport. He joined the choir, which is celebrating its 70th year, in 1970 when it was formerly known as ‘The Glee Club’.
Eddie said: “I just love music. I listen to it all the time, even when going for a drive with my wife.
“When I joined, there were probably between 40 and 50 men in the choir. And then gradually it went less and less.
“I just love the music but I also enjoy the company of men. It’s so friendly and so good it’s why I keep coming back. It feels like a family.
“It’s so good for your health. Anybody that, you know, feeling depressed, it just lifts you so much because you are singing and taking deep breaths, and the oxygen gets to your brain, which makes you feel so much better.”
Today, the choir has 18 choristers, who meet every Tuesday at St Joseph’s church hall in Stockport at 7:30p.m.
Eddie has been friends with Fred Evans, and Ian Hammet, who he met in the choir, for 35 years (bottom left).
Stuart Goodwin, the secretary at Stockport Male Voice Choir, said: “The choir gives you a sense of camaraderie. And it brings other benefits too with breathing and just a sense of wellbeing”.
However, despite this obvious benefit, Stuart expressed concern for the choir’s longevity.
He said: “We need to grow the choir. We need to get some younger people in otherwise it will just die.
“Several other choirs in the area have died. We are trying to keep things alive in this area, we are one of the few that are now still going.”
In a bid to encourage more members of the choir, they have devised a six-week course called ‘Find your voice’.
Musical director Jen Liem-Hewitt, who joined the choir last year as conductor, said: “The idea of the course is to just drop in as much as you want and try things out”.
“We are teaching people to read music like it is poetry and not just notes on a page. As long as you’ve got an enjoyment of music that’s all you need to join”.
The course will start on Tuesday 21st of January (7:30-9:30 pm) until Tuesday 25th of February, at St Joseph’s Church Hall in Stockport.
No experience is necessary.
Stockport Male Voice Choir are set to be having a concert at Romiley Methodist church in June.
Anyone wanting to join the choir is advised to contact Stuart Goodwin via email or telephone.
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