COMMUNITY choir Buckden Singers celebrated ten years of making music.

The choir started in 2007 when a group of 12 people came up with the idea in the sitting room of one of the founder members.

Since then, the group has progressed to a four part choir of 48 members who have appeared on television five times, and once on the radio.

Over the last ten years, 80 singers have passed through the group; they have performed 243 separate choir pieces of music; the youngest member has been eight years old and the eldest 82 giving the choir an age range of 74 years.

The choir has performed around 70 times, taken part in almost 400 rehearsals, and have sung near and far, inside and out, including at La Madeleine in Paris.

Singers have performed pop, hymns, sacred pieces, opera. musicals, classical and gospel.

And although singing is their main purpose, over the years members have formed close bonds and friendships.

Around 70 members took part in the tenth anniversary celebrations at the Gamekeepers, Long Ashes Park, Threshfield, where following a hog roast, there was a cabaret, speeches and renditions of favourite pieces.

John Cowpe, accompanist emeritus, spoke of the ‘great achievement’ that is Buckden Singers, and Lesley Taylor talked about how the choir was a family which had lots of fun.

Conductor, Anne Vetch said: “Buckden Singers is not about any individual however talented. It’s about a family, it’s about a community making music together, and my biggest hope is that whatever may happen in the future, Buckden Singers will carry on… and that will be the very best legacy we can all leave.”

Buckden Singers will be in concert on Friday, July, 14 at St Michaels’ Hubberholme and on Saturday, July, 15 at St Margaret’s Threshfield. Both concerts will start at 7.30pm. Tickets from: tickets@buckden.org