Keighley Vocal Union has gone on the record to celebrate its 100th anniversary.

Two new CDs will be on sale tomorrow during the choir's birthday concert.

A new 16-page booklet outlining the choir's history will also be available at the performance, in Skipton.

The Vocal Union will perform with other local groups, including Steeton Male Voice Choir and the Holme Singers.

The concert, featuring individual and joint choir pieces, is one of six very different performances to mark the centenary year.

The members have spent several months preparing the CDs, the booklet and a longer book due to be published later.

One CD gathers together the best material that was originally recorded in the Vocal Union's first 70 years.

The other disc has music from more recent LPs, as well as several newly-recorded pieces from the choir's current repertoire.

The booklet, 100 Years of Song, acts as the Vocal Union's Centenary Handbook.

It contains messages of congratulation from the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Keighley MP Ann Cryer and leaders of other choirs.

The handbook also contains choir photographs from various decades, listings of officials and a piece written by chairman Paul Spencer.

Musical director Frank Smith and accompanist Ellis Right, who have served 24 and 36 years respectively, have written about their memories.

Frank paid tribute to Ellis as part of his resum of the choir's achievements and highlights of his own time at the helm.

Frank said: "Ellis is held in the highest regard and with great affection by us all."

Frank remembered Ellis as a young man at Wesley Place Church, Keighley, playing the organ as Frank's father, Jack, led great oratorio performances.

Jack was the Vocal Union's musical director from 1937 and Frank remembered attending concerts as a boy in short trousers.

He said: "What the choir achieved, especially in the world of choral competitions over a period of 40 years, is largely due to my father."

Jack invited Frank to join the Vocal Union in the late 1950s to replace a fellow bass singer who had died.

Frank said: "I took my place in the back row with the bad boys and began my apprenticeship."

Frank took part in his first music festival, at Llangollen, in 1958, filling in because two regular competitors could not get time off work.

He said: "What a way to start and what a memorable day for the whole choir."

Frank said the 1950s and 1960s were glorious years for the Vocal Union in terms of competition success.

As the festival movement declined, the choir widened its concert repertoire and began performing major works.

Frank also recalled interesting personalities from the choir's history, as well as trips away and notable performances of major pieces over the past two decades.

He said: "In all the performances we were joined by the Linden Singers, which enabled us to tackle successfully the demands made by these choral masterpieces."

Frank paid tribute to the hundreds of people who had been members during the choir's 100 years.

He said: "They have provided a continuity of music-making to enable us to celebrate the centenary.

"Let us spread the good news so our history, traditions and present skills and talents are presented to an ever-widening audience.

"We derive pleasure from what we do. It remains a joy we can share with our audiences throughout our lives."

The Linden Singers will be among performers at the 100th birthday concert, beginning tomorrow, at 7.15pm, in Aireville School, Skipton.

Tickets cost £10, including cake and wine, by telephoning 01535 632296. The CDs cost £8 each.