About the ChoirThe choir was formed in March 1978 when a group of some twenty five police officers and one civilian police employee met at Kent Police Headquarters for an inaugural meeting with the late Gerry Hughes, then a serving officer. Gerry had earlier been involved with a glee club of male and female singers, but by this time it had disbanded. He was present with the then Chief Constable, Barry Pain QPM, at a concert given by the Kent Police Band just before Christmas 1977 which also featured as guests, the West Midlands Police Choir. Gerry remarked 'We could do as well as that' and was given tacit permission to form a police choir. Following its formation, the choir appeared successfully for around four years and the baton was then passed to the present Musical Director, David Vening, one of our early members who has an impressive musical education and background. The original accompanists to the choir, Jack Godden and Jack Goodsall, were replaced by Heather Baker, a considerably talented music teacher and the choir went from strength to strength, becoming known for its quality performances throughout the County. Around 1988 Heather parted company with the choir and was replaced by not one, but two accompanists. The services of the highly qualified Wendy Heaton, were complemented by those of Ann Parnham, another talented music teacher. This duo was created in order that one accompanist would always be available and the system worked spendidly, with the ladies also playing piano duets at many concerts. Ann has now moved away from Kent and Wendy now carries the sole responsibility of looking after us. The choir these days has forty eight singing members and extends a welcome to anyone to come and join us at a rehearsal at Kent Police Headquarters, Maidstone, on most Thursday evenings. We perform for charitable causes all over Kent and the choir has travelled frequently to Wales, Cornwall, Suffolk and mainland Europe. It has visited Germany as guests of the towns of Saarbrucken, of Waltrop (twinned with Herne Bay), Sonsbeck (twinned with Sandwich) and Bad Munstereifel Ashford's twin town. Visits with our wives and partners have been made to sing in Nijmegen in the Netherlands and in Ypres, Belgium. Memorable events for the choir have been its appearances twice at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the 'Festival of Police Choirs', singing with some ten thousand choristers at Cardiff Arms Park together with Shirley Bassey and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, making an appearance on Harry Secombe's 'Highway' television programme, singing on BBC local radio for 'Children in Need' and many more. Perhaps though for many members and their families, singing on two occasions at the 'Last Post' ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium, were the most moving occasions of all. A packed, hushed crowd at both ceremonies were clearly entranced by the choir's performance of pieces such as 'Psalm 23' and 'Steal Away'. No history of the choir would be complete without a mention of the huge contribution made by its former Secretary of fourteen years standing John Pearce. Apart from his considerable administrative and personal skills, John's fluency in the German tongue has smoothed the way through many foreign tours for choristers and their partners. Finally, our sincere thanks go to the long suffering wives, sweethearts, partners and families who give us such tremendous support. |