Popeye packs a punch as choir win prize

POPEYE knocked them in the aisles when Bolsterstone Male Voice Choir took him to a music festival in Northern Ireland.

Baritone and former choir secretary Graham Walsh gamely dressed for the part when the choir sang a speciality number ‘Popeye the Sailor Man’ at the Bangor International Music Festival.

The performance went down well with the audience - and won a £100 cash prize for the choir.

It was the choir’s fourth trip to the Bangor festival in 20 years and proved a huge boost for new music director Daniel Timmins, accompanist Kim Kaye and deputy music director Fran Wells as the choir received its warmest audience reception in many years, including a standing ovation.

Typical of many comments from the audience, including from members of other choirs, were, “you’re the people’s favourite, no doubt” and “wow, what a great sound.”

The conductor of a Welsh ladies’ choir, who has also headed male voice choirs, said she had been “blown away” by Bolsterstone.

Joan Houston, one of the main organisers of the festival and an old friend of the choir, was hugely helpful in making plans for the trip.

She said: “I want to say what an absolute pleasure it was to have the choir back in Bangor. Everyone who heard you sing has been full of praise. Your performance at the concert was superb. Daniel is taking Bolsterstone to very high levels of performance, of that I have no doubt.”

At a reception at Castle Bangor in recognition of the choir’s 20-year association with the festival, choir chairman Mick Siddall presented the mayor, Councillor Richard Smart, with a silver salver engraved with the message ‘To all our friends in Bangor’. In return the choir received a special shield.

The choir’s next concert is at St Leonard’s, Wortley, on Saturday May 25 at 7.30pm followed by two appearances at the Valley Festival. The choir will sing at the evening concert on Saturday June 15 at Stocksbridge High School and will close the two-day festival the next afternoon in Fox Valley.