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The Choir ArchiveThe Croydon choir has been in existence for 35 years. Here are photographs and documents from the choir archive. November 2007
In November 2007 the choir sang at the Service of Thanksgiving held at Croydon Parish Church for the late Lord Weatherill, Speaker of the House of Commons and former Croydon MP. By special request of his family, the choir sang The Battle Hymn of the Republic, one of Lord Weatherill's favourite pieces. 1991
In 1991 the choir sang at the opening ceremony for the new Thames Crossing at Dartford, where H M Queen performed the honours. Left to right: John Marshall, Gerry Upjohn and Nev Clark - all three are still choir members. The 1970s
The Croydon choir in the 1970s. The occasion is an open-air festival organised by the Croydon Co-op, the choir's sponsors at that time. Two current members of the choir are in the photograph: Dave Binge (far left) and John Marshall (next left). Spring 2008
From the choir's Yorkshire tour in spring 2008: figure right is baritone Bulla Robinson. The man on the seat is John Ward Turner, otherwise known as JWT, who is both a photographer and the choir's ace organiser. JWT made all the arrangements for the Yorkshire tour, following a triumphant visit to France and Belgium. Vic Wallace
Choir archivist Vic Wallace (second tenor) who keeps these photographs and other choir documents. Vic was photographed looking rueful during the 2008 Yorkshire tour. Behind him are basses Peter L Gillman (left) and Keith Meredith. February 2010
Left: Arnfinn Tobiassen photographed at the Eden Centre during our Cornwall tour in May 2009 In February 2010, we said farewell to our pianist Arnfinn Tobiassen after he had spent 18 months with the choir. Arnfinn grew up in Bergen, Norway, where he played the organ in his father's church. During military service he was organist to the Norwegian navy. In 2001 he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, and was awarded the Academy's prized Diploma on graduating in 2007. Already organist at the Dutch Church in London, he became assistant organist at St Michael's and All Angels Church in Croydon, and joined the music staff at the Royal Russell School. While the organ is Arnfinn's first instrument, he was a highly skilled pianist with a breathtaking ability to sight read. He also had a keen sense of humour that endeared him to choir and audiences alike. He left the choir on deciding to return to Norway, where he had been offered a prestigious post as a church organist. |
