SKIPTON Ladies Choir is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

“It was born in 1989 with three sopranos, three altos and two basses,” said choir founder and conductor Glyn Evans. “Sadly the men had to go! Not because we didn’t like them, they were lovely, but because we couldn’t find any tenors and it got too hard having to arrange music for that combination of voices.

“I’m pleased to say, with the exception of two ladies who sadly died, the other founder members are still enthusiastic members of the choir.”

The choir has 25 singers, although numbers do fluctuate.

Glyn, a private voice and piano teacher, said: “I could list all the ups and downs, all the adventures we’ve had and all the times we’ve wondered if we’d survive, but what I really want to say is that it’s been wonderful.

“Most of us arrive for rehearsals tired, sometimes bringing the concerns of family, health and work with us, but without exception we all leave feeling much better and in love with life again!

“We work hard, adding to and improving our repertoire of madrigals, part-songs, swing, pop and folk arrangements, and we are all such good friends.”

On Saturday, Skipton Ladies Choir will sing in Bolton Priory from 11am to 12.30pm and, while it is not officially a concert, the group is inviting people to come along and listen.

Later that day, the choir will give a concert in Skipton’s Christ Church at 7pm.

The concert, which will feature soprano Elizabeth Frankland and some talented instrumentalists, will be in aid of the Beamsley Project - which provides holiday accommodation for disabled and disadvantaged youngsters.

Tickets will available on the door.

Anyone interested in joining Skipton Ladies Choir should ring Glyn on 01535 630735 or 07771 742827.