Peterborough Male Voice Choir was formed in 1935 by workers at Peterborough’s old sugar beet factory. It was known then as the Peterborough Sports and Social Club Choir. A local musician, Ivan Slatapolski, became musical director.
After the Second World War it reformed as the Nene Valley Singers and the baton was taken up by Peter Watson. Peter led the choir through some twenty-five years of its history and to several competition successes. In these early years the choir appeared on stage with such well-known personalities as Sandy McPherson and Kathleen Ferrier, as well as making recordings for the BBC Home Service.
The nineteen seventies were lean years for Peterborough Male Voice Choir. However, it recovered its vitality and prestige under Freda Woodhouse and David Ingleby, who both led it to successes during the ensuing twenty-five years. Freda held the post continuously from 1980 until ill-health forced her retirement in 1994. David subsequently took over as musical director, a post he had held briefly in the late seventies, and continued in that role until 2003.
In the eighties, the choir changed its name twice, first to the Nene Valley Male Voice Choir then, in 1987, to the Peterborough Male Voice Choir. In the nineties, it took part in several major choral events. It sang twice in Cardiff Arms Park, sharing the platform with such stars as Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones. It also took part in the 50th anniversary VE Day celebrations in Hyde Park, when guest stars included Sir Cliff Richard, Elaine Page and Dame Vera Lynn. In 1991, 1992 and 1994, PMVC won the Morriston Orpheus Trophy at the South Woodham Ferrers Festival.
In 1995, PMVC celebrated its diamond jubilee by releasing its third cassette recording, Diamonds, and by staging a massed concert in Peterborough Cathedral. This concert raised £1,500 for the Sue Ryder Home at Thorpe Hall in the city. Since 2000, the choir has twice gained second place at the Bedford Music Festival. In 2004, PMVC hosted a major concert in Peterborough Cathedral and raised some £2,000 for the cathedral’s music fund.
The choir has also been fortunate in having some talented and committed accompanists, among them Gwen Vinter, Jenny Pedley and Sheila Crown. Gwen served in this capacity from the mid fifties until 1987, though she had been associated with the choir for much longer. Sheila was regular accompanist from 1987 until July 2005.
Since 2000, Peterborough Male Voice Choir has undertaken several successful tours and has twice (in 2005 and 2007) taken part in the Cornwall International Male Voice Choral Festival.
PMVC’s most recent trip, in June 2007, was to Edinburgh and Linlithgow, both having strong historic links with Peterborough and its environs through the life and death of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Consideration is being given to visiting Berlin in the summer of 2009, with the possibility of singing in the famous Gedächtniskirche on the Ku’damm.
