It will perhaps surprise few that a meeting held in a pub is what finally got Honley Male Voice Choir off the ground.

Finally, because before that meeting there had been suggestions about forming a new choir in the Holme Valley village.

But it wasn’t until a group of men met on October 29, 1936, in the Wheat Sheaf Inn in the heart of Honley, that the idea finally took off.

There was already a male voice choir in Netherthong and nearby Thongsbridge was the headquarters of the Holme Valley Male Voice Choir, which was then seen as the country’s top choir for men.

Despite all of that, the fledgling new choir in Honley soon got established.

The singers’ first rehearsal was just along the road from the Wheat Sheaf at what was once the Southgate Methodist Sunday School, but which since 1972 has been home to Honley Players.

Today, the choir’s home is Honley Nursery and Infant School where it rehearses every Tuesday.

Norman Mellor, a former chairman of Honley Male Voice Choir and one of its long-standing singers, has just completed a booklet putting together memories of the choir over its seven decades.

“The first 50 years of the choir’s history had been done by Bob Woodhouse who sings in the baritones,” said Norman.

Members of Honley Male Voice Choir pictured in 1939 with the trophy the singers won at Cleethorpes Musical festival. This was the choir's first festival win and the photograph is thought likely to be the oldest in the choir's existence.
Members of Honley Male Voice Choir pictured in 1939 with the trophy the singers won at Cleethorpes Musical festival. This was the choir's first festival win and the photograph is thought likely to be the oldest in the choir's existence.

“I’ve updated that and gone on to cover the next 25 years. I’ve enjoyed doing it and writing it,” he said.

Norman joined the choir in 1967 and continues to sing in the bass section.

He’s called the 60-plus page, illustrated booklet, 75 Glorious Years.

And in it, Norman has shared anecdotes about the choir, explained some of its traditions, listed many of the singers’ competition successes and the accomplishments of its conductors and accompanists.

The choir certainly managed to celebrate its 75th anniversary in style, sharing the stage at Huddersfield Town Hall in 2011 with international opera star Lesley Garrett.

But back to those early days when over a drink in a Honley pub, a new choir was born.

The driving force behind the formation of the new choir seems to have been Ben Kinder.

Ben was a well regarded local man whose main interests were sport and music. He had sung for many years in the Holme Valley Male Voice Choir, which now no longer exists.

But he thought there was still room for another choir in the Holme Valley, so with some of his friends he formed a committee and Honley Male Voice Choir was born.

To this day, Ben’s memory is marked at every choir rehearsal. His favourite hymn was Deep Harmony and every rehearsal since the choir was founded has closed with the men singing the first verse of the hymn.

It’s seen as a way of maintaining the link with the choir’s founders and their aims of “excellence in male voice singing and good fellowship.”

These days, the essence of that camaraderie remains with the singers often rounding off rehearsal with a relaxing chat in a local pub.

And right from the outset, the choir has inspired dedication from its members.

In fact, just a year after the choir started, three new members joined. They all lived in Almondbury and every week, would make the trip to and from rehearsal, on foot.

Over the years, the choir has given its time and skills to help many local charities.

It’s next major event is its Christmas concert at Huddersfield Town Hall on December 14.

That too will doubtless go into the minute book of the choir’s meetings from which Norman has been able to pull together much of its fascinating history.

“I hadn’t intended it to be sold,” said Norman. “But there seems to be some interest in the choir’s history so I’ve had 100 copies made. Any money raised will be given to the choir.”

If you’d like a copy (£8) then call Norman on 01484 851060.

Honley Male Voice Choir on a trip in 1957 to the Blackpool Music Festival
Honley Male Voice Choir on a trip in 1957 to the Blackpool Music Festival