Huddersfield Choral Society has a new vice president.

This is the second term of office for Margaret Atkinson from Salendine Nook who served as president of the Society from 2002 until 2004. Margaret brings a wealth of commercial experience to the role having been operations manager for Lloyds Bank Leeds Group before retiring and holds a number of trustee positions within charitable trusts. Margaret is also a magistrate on the Kirklees Bench.

Ruth Bostock was elected to the other vacancy on the committee, that of members’ representative for the alto section. The appointments were made at the Society’s annual meeting.

Society treasurer Adrian Lee thanked the Society’s commercial partners for their financial support.

He said that without them the Society couldn’t undertake such an ambitious programme of concerts.

He challenged members to invite their friends, employers and other contacts to consider getting involved with the Society by becoming subscribers, sponsors or programme advertisers to enable the Society to thrive and meet the increasing costs of working with some of the best orchestras and professionals in the country and bringing them to the Huddersfield Town Hall stage.

General Secretary Jeremy Garside referred to the prospect of some exciting engagements ahead that he and Society agent, Patrick Garvey are working on, including a proposed trip to Toronto, Canada, in May 2017.

During the evening Christine Durham (alto) was made an Honorary Life Member of the Society in recognition of her 50 year’s service while long service certificates were presented to retiring members Pam Hird (43 years), Sylvia McGee (43 years) and Dennis Holmes (28 years) while Joanna Cole (13 years) received her long service certificate at the choir’s recent rehearsal weekend in Harrogate.

Singing members who had died during the year included Martin Jenkins (tenor), Lyndon Wilkinson (bass) and associate members Nancy Tomkins, William Kirby and Joan Holroyd were remembered to the sound of Elgar’s Nimrod, played on Huddersfield Town Hall organ by deputy chorus master Darius Battiwalla.

Musical entertainment was provided by Darius and rehearsal accompanist Daniel Gordon.

Anyone wishing to get involved with the Society in the season ahead, either as a subscriber or commercial partner should contact Jeremy Garside in the first instance on 07801 228902 or at jeremygarside@chadlaw.co.uk.