A meeting was held in the Wheat Sheaf Inn, Honley. It was here that Ben Kinder, Ernest Armitage, Norman Pearson, A Mathewman, WH Johnson and J Hartley met as the first choir committee.
Ernest Armitage was appointed conductor following the first meeting in October 1936. A special meeting was held on 14th October 1952 with regard to an expected letter of resignation from Musical director Mr Armitage. On the 21st of the same month this letter was received and resignation accepted, the reason given being ill health. The photograph is of the choir in 1952 prior to the resignation of MD Ernest Armitage, (right).
It would appear that the formation of a new choir had been made at some earlier date and then shelved for a while prompting the following poem. The poem came from Bill Dearnley and probably written by Ernest Armitage. Ben Kinder A man with an urge of fire, said Ernest lets start a new choir, Ben Kinder's the name, It was said in Long Lane, So I said I was always a tryer. However I dropped it a while, But Ben in his usual style, Would give me no rest, So I thought it was best. To give the project a trial. The people of Honley were advised, when a meeting was advertised, thus the choir begun, with Deep Harmony sung, and the hopes of our Ben realised. The choir soon got on its feet and to all of us it was a treat, to compete with the best and to feather our nest, with prizes when others we beat. At concerts we've done very well and it's always been easy to tell, that our boys did their work though some of them sherk, but the sherkers are ringing their knell.
The first rehearsal was in Southgate Methodist School on 6th November 1936, now known as Southgate Theatre.
It was decided to charge members 3d per week to help purchase music and for the rehearsal room rental. In 2017 this was worth approximately £8.32 per week!
The first AGM was held in the Parish rooms where it was agreed that satisfactory progress had been made and such was the enthusiasm for the choir that three new members joined! Bill Dearnley and his brother Lewis and Jimmy Garner, all from Almondbury would walk to and back home every rehearsal!
It was decided that the rehearsals should in future be held at the Honley National School.
At the second annual general meeting of the choir in 1938 the secretary thanked everyone for their commitment. Mr H Samuel Drake a local corn and provision merchant having been elected President during the previous year, being present.
It was decided to engage Mr Clifford Oldfield as accompanist to the choir. Clifford was uncle to John Oldfield who, in 2008, completed forty years service with the choir and then retired.
