LANGCLIFFE Singers gala 40th anniversary concert is due to take place on Saturday, April 1 at Giggleswick School Chapel.

In the run-up to the event, the Settle-based choir's chair of trustees, Margaret Coleman visited the founder, Valerie Baulard, who is now retired, and living in Morecambe.

After an illustrious career in opera and recitals Valerie moved to Langcliffe with husband Howard, where in 1983, from seven women and a boy treble the choir took its roots, at one time later on reaching over 80 members.

The choir was ambitious in its early productions - including performing Mozart's the Magic Flute, Elijah and Verdi's Requiem.

The gala concert on April 1 follows that tradition, featuring an ambitious programme of Mozart's Requiem and Haydn's Te Deum with orchestra, choir and professional soloists, performed under the baton of musical director Darren Everhart.

Asked what advice she would give the singers for the future, Val replied: "Keep enjoying singing and give enjoyment to the audience through good singing."

Tickets for the concert, at 7.30pm on April 1 at Giggleswick School Chapel are £15, under 16s free. Available from https://www.langcliffesingers.org.uk or https://richardwhiteleytheatre.giggleswick.org.uk/