Important to the long success of the SMVC was their last Chairman Charles MAC MacAndrews.. Mac was a member for over fifty years.
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History of the Solent Male Voice Choir
Dear
I have accepted nomination for the position of Chief Publicity Officer and I propose to compile a list of all the places in our area where adverts for Solent Male Voice Choir matters will be posted, together with the names of the members who will do this vital work regularly.
Every member will be able to contribute in however small a way.
Please send your list to anthonyspenderajs@gmail.com
Target Libraries, Community Centres, Churches, shops and other sites.
Try to establish working relationships with representatives of those places.
Ensure that out-of-date information is removed.
Go equipped with pins and Blu Tack.
You’ll be supplied with your required number of posters and flyers.
Note: all suggestions to improve these measures will be gratefully received.
With many thanks,
Anthony
SMVC FOUNDER MEMBER STAN LEWIS RETIRES
Stan Lewis’ extraordinary 65 years’ singing with a local MVC, now sadly coming to an end, started when his supervisor told him, ‘You’re making a ‘lot of a’ row and I’ve decided to start a male voice choir, and you are the first member.’
Born in 1933, Stan had started work as a Telegram Boy in Gosport. Now in the sorting office in Stanhope Road, Portsmouth, where he was always up for a sing song with a few others while waiting for the mails to arrive, the Assistant Inspector Eddy Faro uttered those fateful words quoted above that are firmly etched into Stan’s memory. So that was that – he’d been told in a no uncertain manner!
1961 saw 14 raw recruits begin rehearsals under the baton of a colleague, Welshman Trevor Edwards, accompanied by Eddy’s wife Grace on the piano. ‘Did you sing some songs in Welsh then, Stan?’ I asked. ‘Not at that time – we had enough trouble singing in English!’ came his laughing reply.
In 1971, the membership having grown to 24, Musical Director Trevor Edwards took the choir to the International Eisteddfod, which is held annually at Llangollen. The winners were Bulgarian State Choir, but Portsmouth Post Office Male Voice Choir had acquitted themselves proudly, to return home with renewed enthusiasm having tasted the big time. What a life-changing experience it was, and what a magnificent achievement reaching the required standard in only ten years!
Stan’s wife Cherie played an important role, together with other wives and friends, who made up the Ladies Committee, serving light refreshments and generally supporting their men folk.
Concerts ensued and PPOMVC went to two events worth noting at Cardiff Arms Park in 1992, featuring Tom Jones and in 1993 with Shirley Bassey – but we’re not sure what she was doing at a male voice singing event.
Somewhere along the line Portsmouth Post Office Male Voice Choir became known as Solent Male Voice Choir, which now has nearly 40 members who carry on this fine tradition, performing in the immediate area and further afield. SMVC rehearse at the Pallant Centre, Havant on Tuesdays. Doors open at 1845 and they sing from 1915 to 2130. Check out their website for further details and see their extensive and varied repertoire from Morte Criste to Bridge Over Troubled Water, from Gwahoddiad to Mr Blue Sky, Blackbird, Hey Jude and Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.
Anthony Spender
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SOLENT MALE VOICE CHOIR CHRISTMAS CRACKER AT ST FAITH’S CHURCH, HAVANT, 11th December
Very ably directed by Guest Conductor James Bowen Thomas, the choir led a near capacity audience in traditional carols, one of which, While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night, was cheekily set to the tune of a well-known Ilkley Moor ditty, and choir member Colin Rampton gave us three lovely light-hearted readings between a fine selection of the choir’s favourite repertoire, most of which is arranged for SMVC by their Musical Director R Huw Thomas.
Wrapping Paper Blues by Ben Parry is a case in point – a rap (of course) about opening the presents under the Christmas tree after lunch, resulting in a mixture of disappointment and delight and an inevitable rising tide of paper all around.
Below L to R: James Bowen Thomas and his brother David Bowen Thomas who both lent the occasion something rather special
But the undoubted star of the evening was David Bowen Thomas, international bari-tenor opera singer who presented four seasonal songs that filled the church with a magnificent sound from the powerful to the subtle in true classical style: a rare treat, very much appreciated by the enthusiastic audience as well as the choir.
So, a little Christmas celebration, like all tantalisingly wrapped gifts, filled with surprises – and this time, just what we always wanted!
I see from the SMVC website that the choir began over 60 years ago, formed by a group of singing postmen – and it occurred to me that perhaps they were originally called Solent Mail Voice Choir?
Anyway, do have a look at their excellent site: https://www.solentmalevoicechoir.org/ - it might inspire you to join or support – or book them for an event. They simply love to sing!
Anthony Spender
Engage in the Arts to Enhance Wellbeing and Longevity
This article comes to you from Solent Male Voice Choir
– which aims to increase membership to fifty in the coming months.
Yes, it’s official – scientific research involving extensive world-wide data collection has revealed that engaging with the arts promotes a feel-good factor supporting good health at all ages, being particularly valuable in the later years.
One of the top creative activities is making music – which includes singing.
Being a member of a choir that meets, say, once a week, preparing for performances several times a year, involves a high standard of self and group discipline, leading to great camaraderie and real happiness.
Physical demands requiring good poise and breath control, supported by the diaphragm correctly used, encourages overall fitness similar to that which you gain from sessions in a gym.
Singers are destined to live longer – maintaining younger brains, slowing their biological clocks, keeping memory sharp through constant refreshment, as well as strengthening the immune system and resistance to diseases, especially those associated with neural disorders.
The three neurotransmitters, dopamine, serotonin and endorphins, the so-called happy hormones, are summoned through singing, leaving choristers as high as kites after, for example, a full-length choral concert or a two-hour rehearsal.
Surf the internet for fuller explanations, far beyond the scope of this article – or read Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Transform Our Health
by Daisy Fancourt – January 2026 – Sunday Times Bestseller.
To return to the earlier assertion: singing is a truly wonderful way to enjoy life and live more healthily, both mentally and physically.
You may be thinking, ‘I want to join a choir – I’ll have some of that!’
Solent Male Voice Choir is a first-class destination for seasoned singers, as well as complete beginners – at the Pallant Centre, Havant – parking nearby – Tuesdays – doors open at 6.45pm – sing from 7.15pm to 9.30pm.
Also, there are many other choirs, it’s only fair to say, catering for men and women, boys and girls, mixed or otherwise, covering a wide range of repertoire from classical to pop.
So, if singing floats your boat, come on, try it for size!
Anthony Spender
Treharris Treat at St Faith’s Church, Havant, Saturday 15th November
Treharris Male Voice Choir, MD Llinos Davies, piano Anna Bowden, aided and abetted by Solent Male Voice Choir, MD Huw Thomas, piano Rev. Tom Kennar, delighted and delivered a delicious mélange of choice renderings from their respective repertoires; most notably Haydn James’ arrangement of ‘Working Man’ and Jeff Lynne’s ‘Mr Blue Sky’, arranged by Huw Thomas. The former, for me, reminiscent of the Spirituals that emerged from the cotton fields and the latter a metaphor for a brighter future following a period of suffering, both filled with heartfelt emotion.
Too many to mention here, there were special moments galore amongst the other well-chosen pieces, plus an appropriate recitation by David Lusby of Don Crawford’s ‘The Man I Never Knew’, followed with a respectful time of Remembrance.
Male voice choirs are renowned for their diction and definition and a pronounced love of meaning – and Treharris and Solent excelled in all these departments. A packed house whooped and cheered throughout the show, rising as one for the hand-waving and clapping coda of Lennon and McCartney’s ‘Hey Jude’. They were on their feet again after the combined choirs closed the evening with the rousing roof-raising ‘Gwahoddiad’ (‘An Invitation’) sung in Welsh.
As the irrepressible Huw Thomas commented, there’s nothing to beat a Welsh male voice choir, but an English one led by a Welshman has got to be the next best thing.
SMVC is again in action at Portchester Methodist Church, Saturday 6th December, in aid of Rowan’s Hospice, and then Thursday 11th December for a Christmas Concert at St Faith’s Church, Havant.
Anthony Spender
Our Musical Directors over the years until now
Eddy Faro
Bunny Hare
Brian McGrath
Ron Habens (ex Second Tenor)
Walter Gillians (ex Second Tenors)
Peter White (from the Isle of Wight)
Margaret Newman
Howard Wilkie
Geoff Porter
Huw Thomas
Great oaks from little acorns grow, they say - and that saying tells perfectly the story of Solent Male Voice Choir.
In the beginning, in 1961, Portsmouth postmen led by Eddy Faro and Bunny Hare enjoyed singing so much while sorting letters they formed a choir. Next step was to find somewhere to practice. That decision led – surprise, surprise – to a series of rooms above Portsmouth pubs. In the early years the choir was led by Eddie Faro, an assistant inspector in charge of the late duty sorting team and, in the 70’s, by Bunny Hare, a former Army officer and regimental band M.D. who answered Solent’s call for help.
A quiet beginning indeed, followed by a switch to more salubrious practice spaces in church halls in Drayton, Paulsgrove and Copnor before the choir settled into today’s homebase - the Pallant Centre, Havant (formerly St.Faith’s Church Hall). By stint of hard work and an improving quality of voice, Solent soon became a choral force to be reckoned with, and within ten years of formation it was appearing at the National Eistedfodd at Llangollen,North Wales. Summers in the Eighties saw Solent joining male voice choirs from places such as Hart, Basingstoke, Reading, Oxford and Weybridge where each choir took turn to host.
The glory days arrived (and they’re not over yet) in 1992 with a visit to Cardiff Arms Park and the “World Male Voice Choir” featuring 1,000 voices, the massed band of the regimental guards and a Welsh guest soloist called Tom Jones. Proving that a reprise was not impossible, Solent MVC returned to the Arms Park the following year to appear with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and guest soloist Shirley Bassey.
The choir couldn’t top that surely ? Oh yes ! Two years later in London’s Hyde Park our boys in blue jackets were joining massed choirs to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Victory Europe Day with massed choirs and guests Vera Lynn, Elaine Paige, Sir Cliff Richard and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Next big milestone in the choir history came on October 15, 2016 with Solent joining 14 choirs from places as diverse as Hong Kong and Boston celebrating the 25th London Welsh Festival of Male Choirs at the Royal Albert Hall.
It was a prestigious event, with the choirs singing seven songs in Welsh and Solent’s Director of Music Geoff Porter commenting “Our choir enjoyed it greatly and the combined sound of 600 voices was thrilling.” Their next glory day, a date at the biggest theatre in London - the Coliseum - in October 2019 with 2500 singers from choirs from all over the country to record a charity CD to raise funds for Shelter and SMVC had planned a grand gala concert in 2021 to celebrate sixty years of the Solent Male Voice Choir but covid changed all that.
Huw Thomas emerged as a popular accompanist and vocal trainer. He took over from Geoff Porter, as Musical Director, from 1st September 2020, continuing to impress with his quiet authority and great musicality. During covid lockdowns the SMVC continued to meet using Zoom and, eventually singing outdoors under the "rule-of-six" regulation. We even had asmall following who came to listen every Thursday morning! Even during this period Huw introduced new repertoire which was enthusiastically welcomed by the members and put the choir in good stead for returning to singing as soon as regulations were lifted.
Today Solent Male Voice Choir is enjoying another period of renewed vigour, with many new and very capable singers joining the choir. The Choir is one of the few English MVCs who include songs in Welsh in their reportoire. At a recent concert we were joined by the Abertillery Orpheus Male Choir. We had atrip to Wales, to sing with Abertillery OMVC in 2024.
In May 2023 we were invited to join the Welsh National Opera as part of the chorus in a new opera "Blaze Of Glory" at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton.
