Category: About Us

I Love to Sing! – Phil Robinson

Phil is one of the most community minded and public-spirited chaps I know. He has a broad range of interests, a lovely family and a passion for performance. This article tells you more about him and you will decide if this introduction does him justice. Let him take up the story….

Personal background, birth, family, job etc.

I was born near Stoke-on-Trent in 1946 in a farm cottage although my Dad worked as a fitter at a nearby colliery. I am the eldest of three having a younger sister and brother. After leaving school I worked as a computer operator for English Electric which became ICL. Although shift work restricted my social life, I met Win and we married in 1971. In looking for an alternative career, I studied at Crewe and Alsager College and subsequently accepted a job at Shirebrook School as a geography teacher starting in September 1977. In 1985 I obtained a Master of Education Degree following a part time course at Nottingham University. In 1978, after a year in a flat in Mansfield Woodhouse, Win and I moved to Edwinstowe where our daughter Ruth was born; Anne came along in 1981. Both girls attended All Saints School and were taught by Meryl Chambers and sang in the school choir. In 1988 gained a promotion to Eckington School, south of Sheffield, as Head of Department from where I retired in 2006. At both schools I joined in the musical productions taking solo parts in shows such as HMS Pinafore’, ‘Iolanthe’, Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver, Grease, The Wizard of Oz, My Fair Lady, and Annie. At other times I played guitar and keyboard in the band and then, in 1979, whilst at Shirebrook School, Phil joined a Ukrainian Dance Ensemble being formed by a maths teacher and former dancer. As a guitarist with this group I went to many folk-dance festivals in Europe with two highlights being a 3-week tour of Canada and North East USA in November 1986 and a visit to Ukraine in 1990. The group ceased performing in 2003.

How did you get informed about the choir?

The teacher of music at Shirebrook School, David Chamberlain, invited me to join The Mansfield Choral Society where I met Ken Rees with whom I continued to sing a range from oratorios to summer concerts and also performed in musical productions. I became chairman of the Society having the honour of presenting a Davy Lamp to locally born, international pianist, John Ogden. Later when Ken and I both became members of the Concordia choir he suggested that I join the Male Voice Choir of which he was a member telling me that Meryl Chambers, the current MD, was keen for me to do so. So, after retirement, I joined the MVC in 2007. Unfortunately, Ken died shortly afterwards.

 Why did you go? 

Concordia ceased performing in 2006 and, as a retiree I wished to continue singing, so I decided to find out about the MVC. I settled in very well as I already knew Meryl, the chairman Walter Pitchford and Brian Kemp both of whom I had sung with in the Choral Society. Sitting with Ken in the bass section, I found that I could pitch and sing the bass line and subsequently I have helped others through becoming the Section Leader.

 Why do you keep going?

I enjoy the challenge of the rehearsal process and of creating a personal contribution to the overall performance of the choir. I enjoy the experience of singing together with others and being in contact with an audience.

What was your best experience with the choir?

I find it difficult to choose one experience. I prefer the smaller, more intimate performances as they give me a greater sense of contributing to the enjoyment of the audience. For example, I prefer singing at St Philip Neri Church in Mansfield to singing at The Royal Albert Hall. Whilst the RAH is an awesome experience, St Philip Neri provides greater contact with the audience which I find more satisfying and of greater importance.

What do you think would get people to come to the choir? 

Any chap who enjoys singing with others and being part of a group which relishes the challenge of creating a sound which moves and entertains both themselves and an audience will find great worth and meaning by being a member of the choir. There is something powerful and attractive about being part of a group with a common aim and that gains satisfaction from entertaining others.

What are your interests outside of the choir?

Family and grandchildren plus a wide range of musical interests including singing with The Dukeries Singers and The GentleMen. I enjoy vocal music from Renaissance to Rolling Stones. Fund raising for The John Eastwood Hospice has been an interest for many years. I volunteer for the National Trust at The Workhouse, Southwell where I am known as the ‘singing pauper’ performing broadsheet ballads and 18^th century songs to outside organisations. I also enjoy walking, reading, and piano playing for my own enjoyment, though not all at the same time!

 

Phil has not mentioned that he successfully takes up the role of Deputy Musical Director for the choir, clearly his talents and sense of giving to others underpins his most valuable contribution. We are proud of his membership and his calm, caring approach.

Phil and baby Ruth (4 ½ months) taken on 31/12/1978.

Mario sings in our 2nd Tenor section and is the section leader. Mario is a polymath, he is very capable in  many things as you will see in his lists of interests. His family history is one that is imbued with music; his dad was a local choir conductor.

Personal background, birth, family, job etc. Half Greek, half English, I was born in Warsop in 1953. Mum and Dad both worked for the Coal Board as it was then. Dad was Area Statistician and Mum was a Tracer in the days when that job existed. I became a teacher in 1974, working full time until 2007 when I resigned full time and was a supply teacher until 2014

How were you informed about the choir? In 2003 I received a letter from choir secretary Jean Hales, saying Meryl Chambers had requested me to ‘have a go’, as she knew me from St John’s Church in Mansfield. I turned up at the appointed hour and was soon singing from the same hymn sheet – actually it was Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves by Verdi.

Why did you go? I honestly cannot answer that. I have a feeling it was for my Dad. He had been conductor of the Welbeck Colliery MVC and Forest Singers for many years. His death in 1977 left memories of choir concerts and friendly faces, pints of Mansfield bitter and Dad’s humour when compèring/conducting.

How did you settle in? Listened a lot, said little, learnt my music. Came home with a ‘buzz’ after practice.

Why do you keep going? A few of the choir men have remained friends since I started. I learned to listen to people and found hidden depths in them, and in myself. Brought together by love for music and fellowship with ‘good’ lads.

What was your best experience with the choir?  Not for the faint hearted! Being centre stage at the Royal Albert Hall surrounded by hundreds of Welsh choir men and knowing we were at the peak of learning all the songs we were about to sing.

What do you think would get people to come to the choir?  With the world as it is that is a tough question. Possibly the vision of being a ‘star’, as seen on TV has spoilt the notion of singing as a team (I like to do the occasional solo myself!) For many the last real studying they did was at school, it can come as a shock to find you are starting as a raw recruit! Less formality would bring in greater numbers of those curious to know more, but in the end we don’t want to lose the ‘professional’ quality of our singing and appearance.

What are your interests outside of the choir?  Number 1 – family and our dogs. Then guitar playing, languages – French, Greek and possibly Japanese, though that is taking a while, alpine skiing, until recently rock climbing, tai chi, open-water swimming, learning something new (alto saxaphone), art, singing with The GentleMen.

Mario, Kate and son Owen                                                                                                                               Mario and their three family dogs

Geoff, thank you for contributing to our series of posts featuring our choristers entitled “I love to sing”. To start with could you please tell us about your background and family life.

Yes surely, I was born and grew up in Mansfield and after school went into sales where I have spent all of my career which included KP Foods and Bristol Myers (pharmaceuticals), finally working for 20 years as the sales Director for Seal Service Ltd., an East Midlands based company dealing with sealants, adhesives, building and roofing products. I retired 2 ½ years ago following a stroke from which he has made a wonderful recovery.

I have been married to Lucy for 46 years. (see 1974 photo of me on our wedding day) and we have a daughter Daniela who has two boys  Liam (10) and James (6). Lucy comes from an Italian family and our extended family connections are very important to us and having married into the mafia, I thought I’d better start learning to speak the language !!! which I can now do almost fluently (even better after a few glasses of wine).

When did you become interested in singing?

I started singing in the church choir (St. Mary’s Ladybrook), where my main influence was the choirmaster, Brian Gaunt. Brian sent me on a residential choral course in Darley Dale when I was 15, which I enjoyed and met likeminded choristers from around the country. This stayed with me until I joined Mansfield and District Male Voice Choir.

What encouraged you to join the choir?

Daniela, our daughter, was a member of Cantamus for over 7 years and we became involved supporting and helping the choir. We went with them on several tours, the most memorable being an 18-day trip to Japan in 1994. Meryl Chambers was Daniela’s music teacher at All Saints School, and she accompanied me on the piano when I was asked to sing at a couple of Masonic functions. It was then that Meryl suggested I joined Mansfield and District Male Voice Choir which I did in 2005. Meryl initially put me into the 1^st tenor section, but in 2014 I moved to the baritones which felt more comfortable for my voice range.

Could you tell us about what you enjoy about the choir and perhaps tell us your most memorable moment?

For me, many of my fellow choristers and certainly of interest to potential new choristers is the great camaraderie they would enjoy by joining. My favourite, special moments in the choir have been taking part at large venues like the Royal Albert Hall in London, especially in 2018, being just a few months after suffering a stroke.

What are your other musical interests?

Outside of choral music I enjoy 60’s/70’s music, melodic rock, blues and some classical. My all-time favourite band is Queen, who I saw live on five occasions and on other occasions since Freddie Mercury died.

Geoff with James and Daniella