West Smethwick Male Voice Choir (now Warley Male Choir)

 

Holly Lane School Map

On formation the choir was known as "A3 Group Wardens' Male Voice Choir" taking the name of the air raid post stationed at Holly Lodge School in which all of them were serving.

Having ditched the Air Raid Wardens uniform for concerts in 1946 and new members, who had not been wardens, were joined the choir it was decided to adopt the title of West Smethwick Male Voice Choir in 1951.

In 1966 local government changes meant that the name of "West Smethwick" disappeared along with Oldbury and Rowley Regis as a new County Borough of Warley was formed.  So the choir dropped "West Smethwick" and "Voice" to become Warley Male Choir. Further reorganisation of local government saw Warley included into the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell.  The choir decided to retain "Warley". 

Bill Jones retired recently after 52 years as Music Director, Conductor and Arranger, as did Andrew Biggs as accompanist and soloist, both extremely talented musicians who contributed greatly to the success and reputation of the Warley Male Choir.

        Challenge Shield 1955

Jim Utterly Chairman

Bill Jones Conductor

Ted Perkins Accompanist

ADULT SCHOOL UNION SHIELD           Won                            Year                Conductor

West Smethwick (Now Warley)                    Yes                              1955                W. O. Jones

                                                                        Yes                              1956                W. O. Jones

Mr Bill Jones relates that the venue for the 1955 competition was the Friends Institute Moseley and there was also a choir competing against them in 1955 called  Chadsmoor and Hednesford possibly under the baton of Howard Benton, which later was swallowed up by amalgamation with Essington and other choirs in the Cannock area to become the Cannock Chase Orpheus MVC.

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