Saddleworth

MR R.J.R. Tanner [Appointed 1964]

Roger was President of the choir from 1962 to 1964. He was appointed a Vice-President in 1964, when Bill Broadbent became President. In 1966 he invited the choir and supporters to a coffee evening at his home to raise funds for the choir. 500 invitations were sent out and the evening was highly successful. Roger played harpsichord six times during the 1970’s for the choir’s annual “Messiah” performance. He has been a great help to the choir over the years, and is also very actively involved with the Saddleworth Arts Festival.

Miss C. Grindrod [Appointed 1997]
Christine became the choir's Accompanist in May 1986, and continued until 1993 when serious
ill-health intervened. Temporary accompanists then filled the gap until she was well enough to return. She then continued until 1997 when she stepped down and was appointed as a Vice-President.

Mr Aled Jones [Appointed 2005]
The well known entertainer and presenter accepted SMVC’s invitation to become a Vice-President at the choirs Jubilee Gala Concert at Huddersfield Town Hall in June 2005, at which he was the special guest soloist. A certificate to mark the occasion was presented to him by Malcolm Hill, our President.

Mrs S. Hoare [Appointed 2010]
Sylvia accepted the invitation to become the choir’s official accompanist in 1997, and continued until her retirement in June 2010, when she was appointed a choir Vice-President . She also accompanied the choir before 1997, by deputising when needed on numerous occasions, the first time being as far back as 1955 following the inception of the present choir under the Saddleworth MVC banner. Her accompaniment for the annual Messiah rehearsals has also been particularly valued. Although officially “retired”, Sylvia still assists with rehearsals when needed, and is held in great affection by the choir.

Mr Donald Clarke [Appointed 2011]
Donald was appointed as a Vice-President to mark his 30th year of working with the Messiah orchestra.
The presentation was made at the 49th “Messiah” performance. Not only has he been the orchestra leader since 1982, but since 1987 he has also managed the orchestra and selected the players.

Past Vice Presidents
Mr J. Stather
John was a policeman from Denshaw . He was Treasurer of Delph MVC, and became Secretary in 1955 when the name was changed to SMVC. He stepped down in 1960 and was elected President. He became Chairman in 1962 when Mr R Tanner was appointed President. He retired as Chairman and became the choirs first Vice-President, in 1964. John continued as a member of the Bass section until 1979. He attended the choirs 25th Anniversary Concert in 1980 as an audience member (when the guests were Black Dyke Band and Keith Swallow) and he passed away in 1985.

Mr W. Broadbent
Bill lived in Grotton and was elected a Vice-President in 1984 on retiring as President, which he had been since 1965. Bill and his wife Adeline were very much involved with the choir, including hospitality for the Messiah soloists, coffee mornings etc, and the ‘Beef and Muffin suppers’, a one-time regular feature of the choir social calendar. He died in 1986.

Mr A. K. Hinchcliffe
Alan was SMVC through and through. In 1903 his grandfather Bright Hinchcliffe founded Excelsior MVC, based in Delph, and which was the earliest forerunner of the present choir,
His father Sydney Hinchcliffe was Chairman of Delph MVC, which succeeded the ‘Excelsior’ choir and was SMVC’s immediate predecessor. Alan joined the choir in May 1957. He sang in the Bass section and held many official positions including Secretary, Treasurer, and Chairman. The Messiah staging was stored in his barn at The Old Vicarage in Uppermill for many years, and a drop of something to keep the stage erectors warm during that work was always very welcome. Alan moved to the Bournemouth area on retiring from his business. Choir records regrettably don't show exactly when he was appointed a Vice-President , and he died in December 2001.

Mr E. Smith
Eric was appointed a Vice-President in 1989 for his work as interpreter on the choir’s first overseas trip, to Rodenbach, Germany, in 1988. A former Head of Saddleworth School and a fluent German speaker, he introduced the choir’s concert programmes from notes prepared by the then MD Walter Brisk, and was official interpreter throughout the tour. He also met the Rodenbach choirs representatives before the trip, to ensure that all aspects of the tour were fully pre-planned. He passed away in the 2000's.