ORGANISERS are tuning up for Huddersfield's "mother of all sings" on Sunday.
The Longwood Sing, at Nab End Tower, will be the 130th event of its kind and the singing will start at 2.45pm.
To get people in the mood, a 30-year-old film will be screened during a concert at St Mark's Church in Longwood, tomorrow night. It features a speech by former Prime Minister Harold Wilson at the 100th Longwood Sing.
The six-minute film was shot by Peter Pearson, of Glastonbury Drive, Golcar, on 8mm film and has been transferred to video.
It will be shown at 7.30pm. Proceeds from the Songs of Faith and Inspiration concert will go to the church's twin parish of Mara in Tanzania, where there are plans to build a new church.
Music for Sunday's sing will be provided by organist Dr Geoffrey Lockwood and the Golcar Band.
Mr Brian Shaw, of Colne Valley Male Voice Choir, will conduct the singers.
The speaker will be the Rev Mike Smith.
A collection will be taken in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and St Luke's Hospital, Crosland Moor.
If the weather is bad, the sing will be held in St Mark's Church.
Tea and cakes will be served afterwards in the parish centre.
The Longwood Sing is known as the "mother of all sings" because local people claim it sparked off similar sings in other West Riding villages.
It was inspired by Jabez Iredale, of Longwood, who was a teacher, librarian and financial secretary, and has been held every two years with a few exceptions.
But it has not always been known as the Longwood Sing - it has also been called the Nab End Oratorio, the Nab End Musical Festival and the Nab End Tower Festival.
The first sing was believed to have been held in Mr Oliver Ainley's garden in Longwood Gate.
