CHOIR HISTORY

Each year the choir helped to raise considerable sums for a range of charities by staging a dozen or so concerts in concert halls and churches within a 30 mile radius of Leamington Spa. In addition, it frequently combined with other choirs in order to stage much larger events. For examples of major events in recent years, see "major events attended"

In October 1997 the choir celebrated its Silver Jubilee by staging a grand Charity Concert in the Guy Nelson Hall in Warwick, for which it was joined by two other choirs plus a soprano soloist and brass ensemble.

One of the highlights of 1999 was a "twinning" visit to Villebon sur Yvette near Paris (France) in June, where the Choir gave a concert in conjunction with a local mixed choir, and also took part in a special commemorative church service. The visit was made at the invitation of the Whitnash Twinning Association. This was the choir's first - but not last - experience of twinning, as will be seen below.

In September 2000, the Choir staged a charity concert - in conjunction with the Cubbington Silver Band - in the new School Hall of the Kingsley School in Leamington Spa. At this single event, over £1000 was raised to assist with the cost of the new Accident and Emergency Unit at Warwick Hospital.

In May 2002, the choir was involved in a "return match" for the 1999 twinning event. Again, through the good offices of the Whitnash Twinning Association, a choir from Villebon sur Yvette visited the Leamington area, and staged a joint concert with the RNA Choir in St. Margaret's Church, Whitnash. The weekend also included a number of social events.to mark the 10th anniversary of the twinning of Whitnash with Villebon. 

In the intervening years, the choir continued to raise considerable sums for charity each year. In September 2008 the magnificent sum of £1500 was raised in a single concert, staged to assist with the restoration of Radford Semele Church following a disastrous fire earlier in the year. In April 2010, the choir staged a concert in Leamington Town Hall (in conjuction with other musical groups) on behalf of Help for Heroes - resulting in the even more magnificent sum of £3,400 being raised.

The Choir's had only five Musical Directors in its long history, two of the previous incumbants having served for very long periods. The final MD - Steve Height - who had been a member of the choir for many years, took over in August 2010, and continued until the choir was disbanded in 2018.