Time for Maureen to put down the baton

4:32pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

week after her final concert on June 28, Maureen Handby will be off for a week's holiday with husband Ernest to the charming Scottish coastal town of Oban.

After that she has no idea what will happen to keep her occupied.

For the past quarter of a century, give or take a few months, Maureen hasn't had to think about the future because she's been too busy making it happen with her choir, The Glen Singers.

Born in Halifax 72 years ago, she was one of the first music students at Huddersfield Technical College - Huddersfield University as it is now - and later, as a teacher at the old La Page Middle School, Barkerend Road, she ran a night school choir.

In February, 1984, Maureen posted a notice at Shipley's Kirkgate Community Centre and placed an advertisement in the T&A. She wanted to gauge the interest in the formation of a new choir.

"That first Thursday evening in March we got 24 people. Now we have 81," she said.

But didn't it cost a lot of money?

"It didn't cost anything. I couldn't believe it. I went to the centre and asked if they had a room and a piano. They said yes' to both questions. I asked how much. They said it's free'. So I booked the room."

Now based at Thackley Methodist Church - many of the singers are church members - The Glen Singers have such an extensive repertoire that their sheet-music alone fills five cupboards.

The choir sings three to four times each year to raise money for good causes. Maureen estimates the overall sum is roughly £20,000.

A choir is only as good as its singing which, in turn, is only as interesting as the repertoire.

"There again, it was a gamble. I didn't know what people we would be getting. I think we have hit the right note. People support us and like what we sing," Maureen said.

"They like songs from shows. They love Faure's Requiem and Schubert's Mass in G - we did that with Bradford Chorale, a joint effort."

Maureen, a music teacher and then head of year at La Page for 27 years, took early retirement in 1993 at the age of 57. By then, of course, The Glen Singers had been going for nigh on nine years.

Maureen and Ernest - he was her second husband - married in 1986. The choir sang at their wedding. Ernest was already a member of the Singers and gave Maureen great support. They live in Windhill. The choir has been at the centre of both their lives for so long, why retire at all?

"I planned to retire two years ago. I wanted to have some time with my husband. I have an ageing mother - she's 90. I didn't want to get to the stage where the choir was too much for me. I have a very good deputy in Tony Hamilton."

Maureen is very confident that he, helped by his wife Kath, will be able to keep the choir alive.

Twenty of the 81 members are over 80, and one is 90. The average age is between 60 and 70.

"The main aim is to recruit some younger members otherwise the choir will die eventually. They have to sing things that younger people will enjoy. Tony is one of the younger members of the choir. He's been with me for 23 years," she added.

Kath, Tony and four other members used to form a group within the choir called The Bar Six to do little routines. They will be doing two spots at Maureen's final concert.

At the end of this month Maureen and Ernest will join the choir for its concert trip to Bad Essen and Hamm in Germany: three shows in a week and a terrific time enjoyed by all.

Oddly, perhaps, Maureen has never sung in her own choir. Now that arthritis has set in she can no longer play the piano either.

But she hasn't lost her marbles and can still get about, so don't be surprised if Maureen's second retirement from public life doesn't last that long.

• To mark Maureen's retirement, there will be an evening of celebration, by invitation only, on June 20 at Bingley's Ramada Jarvis Hotel. Her final concert takes place at Bradford Cathedral on June 28, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8. Ring (01274) 603830.

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