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Choir set to end Whitby Sunday season
MARSKE Fishermen's Choir will bring Whitby Pavilion's Sunday Evening Concert season to a wonderful finale on Sunday.
The choir was not actually founded – rather, it evolved in the 1960s in the village of Marske 20 miles from Whitby.
The fishing at Marske at that time bounded with energy and enthusiasm.
Among the fishermen were some of a musical persuasion who liked to sing or play instruments, and they would get together to do so without need for any other excuse, usually in the Ship Inn at Marske, after the fishing was done for the day.
From this spawning ground the choir was born due to the interest and dedication of one man – the late Jimmy Madden, who offered to arrange some songs associated with the sea, if volunteers were willing to practise them.
Thus the keel was laid, with the first concert being launched in December 1968.
Since that time the choir has cast its net ever further, with up to 30 concerts a year being given from September to the end of March.
The repertoire includes a wide selection of sea songs and shanties, popular songs and a few hymns with maritime imagery or significance.
These are now all arranged by one of the original founder members, the present musical director Bill Porritt – who is also the sole accompanist on guitar – into unique three-part harmonies for "Squeakers","Groaners" and "Grunters".
The choir has appeared all over Britain and even abroad, at many different sorts of musical occasions such as the Tall Ship festivals and milestone anniversaries for which special songs have been written for the choir.
Its concerts in support of social, community and fund-raising events for a wide variety of charities and organisations have resulted, not only in providing entertainment, but also in thousands of pounds going to a number of causes including the RNLI.
The choir was recognised and honoured by the RNLI with the presentation of the 2006 National Group Supporters' Award.
In 2008 the choir celebrated its 40th anniversary and the year was crowned with the conferment of the Freedom of the Borough of Redcar and Cleveland.
The Sunday Evening Concert Season at Whitby Pavilion ran for 10 weeks between 4 July to 5 September.
Tickets for this Sunday's concert at 7.30pm are priced 5.50 adults and 4.50 concessions.
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Weather for Whitby
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: -3 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 37 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
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