SKELMANTHORPE Male Voice Choir has been rewarding its loyal members.

Long service awards were presented to singers Barry Sale, Terry Milsom and Roy Wydell. Each of them has been a choir member for 40 years.

Norman Bailey, assistant musical director for 30 years and John Bexon, who will retire in September as chairman, were both made life vice presidents.

Mr Bexon has been chairman for 20 years, on the committee for 40 years and a choir member for 42.

The awards were presented after the choir’s annual patrons’ concert at St John’s Church, Wakefield.

The choir, in its 79th year, sang a selection from its repertoire. Its guests were the Leeds-based Alligator Gumbo Band, a six piece who play New Orleans style jazz from the 1920s.

The concert was held for the first time in the newly-furbished St John’s where the choir rehearses every other Tuesday. It rehearses on alternate Tuesdays in Skelmanthorpe.

The singers will be visiting Horbury Show this weekend (June 30), promoting a recruitment event which will be at St John’s on July 13 from 10am to 1pm.

The choir will hold a concert in Huddersfield Town Hall on September 7 where its guest will be the singer Margaret Keys.

Margaret was a finalist in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s TV show, How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria. Tickets available from Steve Razzell 07926 632682 or Kirklees Box Office.01484223200