Category: News

It seems our blog posts all carry sad news about the passing of our dear friends. I cannot apologise for celebrating the life of two of the choir’s ardent fans, namely Jean Hales and Hilda Eddershaw.

Jean Hales lived and breathed our choir as Choir Secretary for 12 years between 2002 and 2013. Coincident with the years when Meryl Chambers was our MD and Margaret Ball, who still is our accompanist; Jean, Meryl and Margaret represented the steadying feminine hand of realism, care and calm when “the lads” naturally became over enthusiastic in their singing and camaraderie.
Jean unselfishly and genuinely served the interest of the choir as the first non-singing and female member of the choir committee, and she did a great job. She was definitely the choir matriarch holding together all the choir administration and officially representing the choir in our links with local businesses, theatres, dignitaries and of with those choirs of fellow choirs with whom we have shared a stage. Lynden Lowe, a Bass section member, who was previously concert secretary in the St Edmundsbury MVC said that Jean was the most efficient Choir Secretary he dealt with when he was Concert Secretary for SEMVC.

Jean will now be with her husband Denis, a former Bass section singer, who sadly passed in late 2020. They were not separated for too long. Jean and Denis have three children, had travelled extensively in the UK and were also active members of the Old Mansfield Woodhouse Society. Following her passing on 7th June 2021, the family service was at St. Edmunds Church, Mansfield Woodhouse and a burial at Mansfield Cemetery where representatives of the choir paid their respects.

Hilda Eddershaw
Hilda was amazing; a determined and independently minded character who always sought the best in people and who had hundreds of friends. Born in Becontree, near Dagenham, and evacuated to Bedford in WWII, Hilda trained as a secretary. As a member of the Territorial Army, she met her husband John who was a military policeman in the R.A.F. Hilda was especially proud when John was awarded the British Empire Medal. John and Hilda lived in Germany, Aden, France and the UK. After the RAF John was a probation officer and Hilda became a Community Services Supervisor, testament to their caring and community minded attitudes.
Hilda and John led a very full life, travelling all over the world and they owned a house in Brittany. They were truly party animals and keen on entertaining friends. Sadly, John predeceased Hilda in 2007.

Hilda joined many social groups and was an active fan of the choir becoming a member of our Supporters’ Group. She didn’t miss a concert, social event or a weekend away for about 10 years and was always known for her smiling, energetic, happy nature which was marvellous to see in an octogenarian. Generous with her time and always willing to help Hilda was always positive and outward looking; keen to meet as many people as possible. A true measure of the esteem in which she was held was demonstrated at her 90th birthday party where she entertained over 140 guests including her best friend of over 60 years.
Despite her daily walks and exercise routines Hilda passed away on 11th June 2021 aged 93; a real loss to those that knew her and to her many colleagues, friends and their family members.

The choir was recently contacted by a sister and brother living in Australia; isn’t it amazing the reach a website affords!
Ann Booth lives in Queensland, just off the Great Barrier Reef and David Brelsford resides on the island of Tasmania but their roots back to Mansfield run very deeply in their consciences. Why? I hear you ask.
They wrote to tell us about the passing, at the age of 107, of their father Ron, formally known as George Ronald (Ron) Brelsford. Ron Brelsford was a member of Mansfield and District Male Voice Choir for many years from approximately 1930 until he emigrated to Australia in 1970.
This choir photograph, from 1949, shows Ron, a 2nd Tenor, second from the left on the back row.

Ann told us that Ron married the daughter of George (Arthur) Toon who was a founder member of both Rainworth and District Male Voice Choir and then Mansfield and District Male Voice Choir when Rainworth & DMVC amalgamated with Mansfield Orpheus Male Voice Choir in 1944. Arthur Toon is also in this photograph, standing on a chair, on the extreme right of the back row. Ron was introduced to the choir by Arthur and his love of singing remained with him for the rest of his extraordinarily long life.

Ann and David clearly recall the choir performing in the 1956 Llangollen Eisteddfod and still treasure photographs of the choir and then conductor, the illustrious Harry Smith. Apparently, dad told David that, when the choir won their section and beat Treorchy MVC, a famous WELSH choir, they were quietly advised to ‘get out of town quick.’!!

Ron emigrated in 1970 and up to the age of 105 he was living on the Central Coast of NSW where he was a member of the biggest Seniors Centre in Australia. He was an active member of their Variety Group, writing and singing songs for them and reciting the many poems he had learned as a boy and never forgot. He sang with his local choir up until about three years ago when his eyesight got too bad for him to follow the music. Ron lived in Tasmania with David for about 3 years and fortunately, his mind was very sharp right until the end; but alas, his body had obviously had enough and he passed away on Monday 7th June. His funeral was held on Tuesday 15th June, in Tasmania and one of the songs played was “What Would I Do Without My Music”. This fabulous song is still in the repertoire of M&DMVC today, a great choice!

A more recent photograph from the Launceston Examiner newspaper portrays Ron and his family at the celebration of his 107th birthday, the oldest person in Tasmania and the 6th oldest man in Australia, of which Ron was quite rightly immensely proud. His recipe for a long life was “having a sharp wit, clean living and a love of song!
As a choir we are proud to be associated, through song, with the long-life of Mr. Brelsford and are grateful to both Ann and David for keeping in touch.

Today, Marilyn and I have been fortunate and honoured to attend the funeral of Shirley White. Shirley has been associated with Mansfield and District Male Voice Choir since the early 1950s as her husband John was the longest serving chorister the choir has ever had, a stalwart of the 1st Tenor section. Shirley was a key member of the choir Supporters’ Group and a valued friend.

This extract from the service was written by Karen Unwin, a friend of Julie Mason, one of John and Shirley’s daughters, and says exactly what Julie wanted to say, expressing the high regard in which Shirley was held.

“Shirley was a unique lady, a real personality, who told it as she saw it. She had the qualities of a leader with the added extras of integrity, a generous spirit, and a very kind heart – she had such a positive attitude to life. I am a richer person for having met Shirley. She was a true stalwart, loyal, reliable, strong and brave.”

Married to John for over 60 years, Shirley had a very full life and she adored all her family; Mandy and Julie, their two daughters and particularly her grandsons, she will be sorely missed by all of them.

Here are just some of her associations with others and groups around Mansfield. Member of the Co-operative Drama Group, members of the Baptist Church, Mansfield where she started a youth club, member of the :Labour party, The Trefoil Guild (Guiding for Adults), Mansfield and District Male Voice Choir Supporters’ Group and a member of St. Augustine’s Church, Mansfield. Guiding was her passion and she will always be known as “Captain” having led camps and expeditions for generations of children in the area.

Shirley always chose to sit right at the back of any concert venue she attended with the choir because she always said that you could hear the performance much better from a distance. At her funeral today the choir was able to contribute through our CD “In Harmony” as two songs were played – “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “How Great Though Art”. It was as if John sang to her!

Shirley was funny, attentive, 100% reliable, tolerant, curious, hospitable, generous, a music lover, frank, ironic, empathetic, sarcastic at time, but never mean.

Here are some comments from our choir members:

Sad to hear about Shirley. We were both born at Bull Farm so I knew her from childhood. Condolences to Mandy and family.
Les and Beryl.

Goodbye Shirley xx Another end to an era of a special couple…Their faith in God was an example to us all…. A sad loss….. Love to the family….
Meryl

So sorry to hear of Shirley’s passing. She was lovely caring lady. Condolences to her family
Maddie and Tony Pearson

So sad, at least she is now free of pain and distress. Love to the family,
Ian Grice

Shirley and John contributed in so many ways to our choir. This year has been a mix of sadness and joy. As Ian G says Shirley is free of pain and distress. Our condolences to Mandy and family.
Mario Curtis

Sad news about Shirley. Condolences to Mandy and family.
Aileen and Barry Robinson.

That’s so sad yet another one leaves our fold we’ll remember her in church tomorrow thoughts are with her family.
David Marriott

Oh no that’s awful news my condolences to Mandy and the family.
Anthony Bramley

Sorry to hear the sad news of Shirley’s passing, sincere condolences to Mandy and family
John Scanlon

Sue and I are so sorry to hear of Shirley’s passing.
Ian Bartle

I was sorry to hear the news about Shirley. Shirley was a great supporter of the choir and will be missed.
Condolences to Mandy and the family.
Margaret Ball

Rest in peace, good friend.

Geoff Mansfield