ST Ann’s Hall, Whitstone, was the venue for the final Launceston Male Voice Choir concert of 2017 on November 23, with the proceeds donated towards the local village chosen charity, Cancer Research.

It has been an active and enjoyable year for the choir with no less than 15 different engagements, including four joint concerts with other choirs, and more than 40 choir members taking part in an epic three concert tour in October with the 90-strong ‘Men of Cornwall Choir’ with venues in St Chad’s Cathedral Birmingham, and also singing in both in St Andrew’s Church Rugby and Northampton Baptist Church.

Nearer home, the choir has sung in joint concerts with the Mousehole and Cheddar Male Voice Choirs, the Canworthy Water Minstrels, and with five Eastern Cornwall choirs in a special event to raise more than £1,500 for the flood stricken village of Coverack. In addition, the choir was again invited to take part in Launceston Show, and also to be a part of the town’s Remembrance Service and Parade. To end the year, choir members will be singing carols in Launceston Hospital and some of the other local care homes.

Members have travelled as far as Paignton and Torrington for concerts during the year, and hosted once again a ‘full house’ concert in Launceston Central Methodist Church, together with the Hampshire Police Choir and the Peterborough Boys’ Choir as part of the Cornwall International Male Choir Festival in May. The choir repertoire is ever changing with many new pieces added, but not to the exclusion of some of the music so long associated with traditional Male Voice Choir performances.

A number of organisations have already booked the choir for charitable fundraising occasions planned for 2018, but the hon. secretary Janet Honey can be contacted on 01566 782282. The choir has welcomed some new members during the year, more are always made welcome at their weekly evening rehearsals held on Wednesdays in the Launceston Methodist Church Hall.