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In 1945, the Rev Ron Jones, Curate of Stand Church in Whitefield, near Manchester, formed a music club. It included six singers who met for rehearsal under the direction of the reverend Bertie Barnby. The first concert was performed on 6th September 1945. This group grew rapidly and soon became known as 'The Barnby Choir'. Bertie Barnby came from a musical family. His father was a professional musician and Sir Joseph Barnby was his great uncle. Bertie won an exhibition to Christ College, Cambridge, where he read English and Theology. |
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In 1950, Bertie moved to Rochdale. As well as giving performances of oratorios and other music of a similar nature in local churches, the choir regularly took part in the 'Epilogue' which was broadcast each evening on the radio. In 1956, Bertie's church choir and The Barnby Choir went to West Germany together where they toured for two weeks giving concerts of both secular and sacred music. |
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In 1969, the now Canon Bertie Barnby became Rector of Wilmslow Parish Church, the choir moved with him and has been in the Wilmslow area ever since. In 1976, Bertie moved parish again. For the first time he left the Manchester area and moved to West Kirby. This meant that after a total of 31 years he was unable to continue running his choir. |
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From
1946 to 1950 he was on the staff of Manchester Cathedral. Whilst
he was there the choir rehearsed in the Cathedral and gave performances
of major choral works. The first full work performed was Bach's
St Matthew's, it was the first performance of its kind given in
the Cathedral after the war.
In
1950, Bertie moved to Rochdale. As well as giving performances
of oratorios and other music of a similar nature in local churches,
the choir regularly took part in the 'Epilogue' which was broadcast
each evening on the radio. In 1956, Bertie's church choir and
The Barnby Choir went to West Germany together where they toured
for two weeks giving concerts of both secular and sacred music.In 1982, Bertie retired and moved to Scarborough where he enjoyed a full and active retirement. After his move to West Kirby in 1976, he was made Life-President of the choir and he continued to take a lively interest in its activities. He attended the choir's Golden Anniversary Concert in November 1995, and in March 1996, although extremely unwell, he attended the Golden Anniversary Dinner.
The Reverend Canon died peacefully in St. Catherine's Hospice, Scarborough on November 14 1996 aged 83 years. He was husband to the late Helen, father of Andrew and Richard and a father-in-law and grandfather.
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A committee had been formed to run the choir at the time Bertie had moved to West Kirby. Paul Bryan, who had been the accompanist and organist of the choir for several years, took over as conductor for two seasons, until he obtained the post of Director of Music at the Choir School at St John's College, Cambridge. At the time of writing, Peter Stallworthy is
the conductor, whose appointment began at the start of the 1999/2000
season. |
Many
thanks to the |
