Mansfield and District Male Voice Choir were invited to perform at the 5th International Bomber Command Centre’s annual remembrance service on Thursday, 24th July. The service is part of the Lincoln centre’s annual International Bomber Command Day. This year will also mark the 10th anniversary of the official unveiling of the memorial spire. The centre pays tribute to the efforts, sacrifices, and commitment of the 57, 861 men and women from 62 different nations who came together in Bomber Command during the second world war. Bomber Command suffered the highest losses of any unit during the conflict. This was the second occasion that the choir has been asked to perform at the service, remembering the sacrifice made by a generation of brave airmen and women. The whole event was imbued with respect, honour and thanksgiving and fantastically supported by the R.A.F., and fly pasts from a WWII Hurricane and the wonderful Red Arrows. There is no better review than the comments received following the event as shown below. We look forward to returning in 2026.
• Proud to perform with these guys today. Maureen Lockwood, Accompanist
• You all sounded brilliant from where we were standing. Adele Stenton, Supporters’ Group
• It was a good event lads and Maureen; we received lots of praise from some of the hierarchy and the lady that matters, she has said we will return next year.- Lynden Lowe, Concert Manager
• A lovely lady from London approached me after the event to say that Calon Lan literally brought her to tears and she was still quite emotional when talking to me. Apparently, she had Welsh ties. She asked me to thank all the choir. Well done lads, it was a hugely enjoyable event again. Paul Bennett, 2nd Tenor
• I was talking to a lady as we walked up the path towards the refreshments who thanked me and the choir. She loved Chitty Chitty Bang Bang that evoked memories of her father’s shop which had a “Chitty” for a short period of time. She couldn’t remember too much about it other than they weren’t allowed to climb into it. She had thoroughly enjoyed the day and would do her utmost to be there again next year. Steve Cree, Baritone
• It is nice to hear positive feedback from the people attending. I was talking to a lady on the way back to the coach who complemented us. She is in a local community choir, and she also told me that her daughter was the first female pilot for the Red Arrows.
Geoff Hursthouse, Chairman
• We were loved again! Ian Grice, Musical Director
Our daytrip to the International Bomber Command Centre memorial service with the Mansfield and District Male Voice Choir. During the past few years, my wife Kath, and a few of our close friends attended a show performed by the Mansfield and District Male Voice Choir. I first heard their impressive voices in the main hall of Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Mansfield, where the acoustics were of a consistently high quality and the delivery precise and well-coordinated.
During the interval, the Mayor of Mansfield addressed the audience and began his speech by mentioning that he had attended Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School and valued his time there. I also attended QEGS for five years, so naturally we exchanged a few words about our respective experiences. One of the choristers stopped me and asked my name. I said, “Ken Hardy” and he replied “Ian Bartle”; we are the same age, were in the same class and having a shared history we finally met again after almost 50 years.
Since that meeting, Kath and I have attended nearly every M&DMVC concert and plan to continue doing so. We seasoned groupies managed to book seats on the M&DMVC coach tour to attend the annual Bomber Command memorial event. The music and unfaltering voices of the M&DMVC certainly complimented this solemn and tearful event; they gave a sympathetic performance of some well-loved, powerful, and evocative songs. Kath and I have previously visited the Bomber Command memorial. It is a truly special place to sit and contemplate the sad loss of so many young lives. Since the COVID lockdown, we have attended many M&DMVC concerts together and we all agreed the IBCC event was particularly special. It was moving to see gratitude for those who gave their lives for future generations. The MMVC holds a special place in our hearts. Each year, they gain experience and delight audiences. We are confident they will continue to grow and improve with every concert.
Kath and Ken Hardy. Skegby – 25th July 2025.
