Mansfield & District Male Voice Choir

Decorum, Dignity and Discipline

Category: News

  • Weekend Trip to Bournemouth and Basingstoke

    Forty-one folks clambered onto the coach on the morning of Friday 28th April 2023 for a weekend of music and fun.

    Our trip to the south coast, based in Bournemouth, arose from previous connections with folks in the area. Our former Chairman, Walter Pitchford, has a son living in the Bournemouth area and through his contacts our Concert Manager, Lynden Lowe, forged a discussion with Dorset Police Male Voice Choir. The second concert in our trip was entitled “The Reprise” following our joint concert with Basingstoke Hospital Male Voice Choir in 2019. Another former Chairman, Gordon Blanc, used to live in the area and sang under the baton of Dai Ogborn the conductor of the Basingstoke Hospital choir. It is truly amazing how the fraternity of male choirs yields such connections and we were treated royally by both choirs and were pleased to sing to sell out audiences for both occasions.

    We stayed at The Collingwood Hotel in Bournemouth (to be recommended) where the hospitality was wonderful. A leisurely day on Saturday allowed folks to bask in the lovely weather, enjoy the facilities in the area and for some take an open top bus ride around the Bournemouth and Poole district.

    After our evening meal a short journey inland to Wimborne and the Allendale Centre where we were met by Dr. Jane Oakland, Musical Director and the gentlemen of the choir. The programme was varied and interesting with contrasting repertoire including “The Anvil Chorus”, “Va Pensioro” and “Luck Be A Lady” from the Dorset choir whilst the highlights from Mansfield included “Kwmbayah”, “Guardian Angel” and “World in Union”. The tried and trusted joint pieces “Cwm Rhonda” “An American Trilogy” “Llanfair and “Gwahoddiad” were a pleasure to hear and perform ably shared by both conductors. A lovely afterglow held in the centre was heightened by further joint singing and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the true “Afterglow” feeling than can only be developed after a successful concert with like-minded choristers.

    On Sunday we made our way north calling in at Sherbourne St John, north of Basingstoke to a charming village hall and St. Andrews church where we reunited with our friends the Basingstoke Hospital Male Voice Choir. The “mother” of the choir Jenny Thurgut had very kindly arranged a pre-concert lunch and a post-concert afternoon tea. As I said before we were royally treated by both choirs and Jenny had worked so hard with her friend Jean (Happy Birthday Jean) to make us feel so welcome. The concert was a delight. Mansfield had the honour of performing all of the first half delivering amongst others “Let All Men Sing”, “This Is the Moment”, “The Wonder of You” and “We Rise Again”. Basing stoke were keen to hear some more modern repertoire and these were the songs chosen by Ian Grice our MD to demonstrate variety and differing dynamics.


    Basingstoke Hospital Male Voice Choir led by Dai Ogborn provided such rich contrast with “What Would I Do Without My Music”, “Sanctus“ by Gounod, and “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” by Eric Idle. Joint songs were very powerful and keenly performed by both choirs including “Llanfair, and “My Lord What a Morning”. The aforementioned tea concluded a wonderful afternoon and we once again headed north arriving back in Mansfield in the late evening.

    Comments about the weekend have all been positive and thanks have been expressed to Ian Grice, Margaret Ball and Lynden Lowe for their musical and organisation skills without which the weekend just would not have occurred. We are so lucky to be a choir with such enthusiasm and vigour and it really shows in our performances and in the pleasure we derive from just doing what we do best!

    Photographs are courtesy of Eileen Lawrence, Choir Secretary.

    Post concert report from Basingstoke Hospital MVC
    We are amazed and delighted to announce that the total amount raised by both choirs at the concert on Sunday was £1.202.40. We are extremely grateful for the generosity of the audience and the Mansfield and District Male Voice Choir. The funds raised will be presented to the Ark Cancer Charity

  • In memory of Gerald

    In memory of Gerald

    A sure measure of a successful life, the church was packed for the service “In loving memory and celebration for the life of Gerald Samuel Houldsworth”. Gerald was held in high regard not only by our choir, of which he was a member for 35 years, but in his wider community. A truer gentleman would be hard to find. Unfailingly courteous, respectful, humble, loyal and committed to everything he did Gerald was church warden at St. Chads in Pleasley Vale for 60 years. He and Janet who met and married in 1957 raised two sons, three grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Gerald started working at the age of 13 to supplement the family income after the death of his father at a young age. The majority of his working life was as a miner and he embodied the camaraderie, resilience and Christian values evident in mining communities. He started singing upon his retirement in 1986 and was a stalwart 2nd tenor and choir librarian for many years. As an indication of his reach, here are all the posts placed on facebook expressing their sorrow at his passing. He is sorely missed. Rest in peace, old friend.

    • Janet Houldsworth called this morning to say that Gerald passed away yesterday afternoon. He was in no pain but had just run out of energy. A true gentleman has been taken from us.
    We shall miss him, his lovely voice and his complete sense of decency and fairness. – Geoff Mansfield
    • Sorry to hear that. He was always smart, mostly in a jacket and tie, unless it was really hot, then no tie. Nice chap who thought a lot about the choir as does Janet. – Lynden Lowe
    • Thanks for the news, sad that it is. He will be remembered. – John Wakeland
    • Very sad news. Gerald was a true gentleman, sincere condolences to Janet and family – John Scanlon
    • Very sad to hear that. – Anthony Bramley
    • So sad to lose one of the stalwarts of the choir. RIP Gerald – Terry Ashmore
    • Rest in peace Gerald, sad news indeed. – Alun Roberts
    • Last night at our practice we paid our respect to our very own Gerald Holdsworth, Gerald passed away late last week and will be sorely missed .He was in the choir 35 years ,always guaranteed to be there , a brilliant 2nd tenor, he was also our long-time librarian, always helping to set our stage and piano. Along with his wife Janet supported every event, be it concert or socials. I always loved watching Gerald’s passion for his music and when he wasn’t singing, he was a brilliant dancer . The choir had a period of silence followed by the passionate singing of Gwahoddiad, I hear they welcome voice. – Ian Grice
    • Sad news. RIP Gerald – Geoff Hursthouse
    • Condolences to all of you x — Sandra Ramsell
    • Please accept my heartfelt condolences – Yvette Price-Mear-Olm
    • Thoughts and prayers to you all from everyone at Carlton MVC – Danny Horgan
    • Condolences to everyone from Pembroke MVC. – Meurig Rees
    • A great stalwart of the choir. So privileged to have known him. My condolences to Janet and the family – Kevin Barden
    • My condolences to his family – Kathy Cook
    • Condolences to everyone from Beverly Male Voice Choir – Liz Wilson
    • My condolences to his family, a lovely man. RIP Gerald – Alison Handley
    • I’m so sorry to read this. My condolences to his literal and musical family. Gwahoddiad is the perfect music for such times. Take care. – Ceri Anne Joseph
    • Tom Dillon and family are saddened to hear of this lovely f=gentlemen passing away. Love to Janet xx – Maureen Hutchby
    • So sad to hear of Gerald’s passing. He was a lovely chap who always thought of others and always asked how the family was. – Dave Gee
    • We at Bestwood realise only too well the problems and sadness the passing of a choir member causes, particularly as we are all individual and unique. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time – John Pritchard
    • Please pass on our condolences to the family from Bestwood MVC RIP – Bestwood MVC
    • As a fellow 2nd Tenor I would often stand at the side of Gerald at rehearsals or concerts and he would turn to me and say “How are we doing lad?” to which I would reply “great, Gerald”. Fond memories of a lovely man. RIP Gerald and condolences to Janet and family. – Ian Bartle
    • Aww this is such sad news! Love and prayers for his family. xxx – Heidi Rebecca Balajadia
    • So sad, please give Janet my love – Jean Holmes
    • Very sorry to hear of such sad news. My condolences to his family and his extended family in your choir. – Malcolm Hill. Pye Hill & District Male Voice
    • God bless Gerald. Rest in Peace – Alan Keith Beastall
    • Though Gerald slowed down in later years I want to remember him turning cartwheels at a St Philip Neri Garden party. He was probably in his 70’s then! As Ian Bartle commented he would always ask how we were doing (even though he knew his music inside out). A good friend gone on to the next great adventure. – Mario Curtis
    • Driffield Male Voice Choir send our sincere condolences. RIP in the heavenly choir. – Paul Brereton
    • So sad to hear of Gerald passing. A true gentleman, always pleasant and welcoming. – Barry Robinson

  • The Chairmen!

    The Chairmen!

    After serving for four eventful years as choir Chairman, John Wakeland (Bass) recently passed over the honour to Geoff Hursthouse (Baritone) at the choirs 2023 Annual General Meeting.

    John has successfully led us through a restructuring of the choir membership, the introduction of a fantastic software based singing training system and of course the Covid pandemic.
    Due to Covid, in common with many choirs, our membership has reduced over the last four years but we are steadily attracting new members who are ably assimilated into the choir aided by the software but more essentially finding camaraderie, fun, support and the pleasure of adding to a high quality of singing and performance, which underlines the culture of our choir.
    His reach has been long and every aspect of the choir’s activity has been influenced and improved due to his dedicated and unrelenting work and attention to detail.
    You leave a happy choir John and we are grateful for your continued support as our new Treasurer. Many thanks for your leadership, enthusiasm and involvement.

    Geoff has been with the choir since 2005, initially singing as a 1st Tenor and then continuing as a Baritone. Whilst Geoff has yet to serve on our committee he has a wealth of experience both in singing and of leading teams gained from his professional career. Geoff inherits a great team, fully committed to the choir and an exciting future programme of events not least of which is the choirs 4th appearance with the Welsh Association of Male Choirs at The Royal Albert Hall in April 2024. Welcome Geoff and good luck in taking up your new office and responsibilities.