Bob says:
"I joined the London Emmanuel Choir in 1973 (cant remember exactly when). The Choir had been formed in 1946 just after the war for a Christian Endeavour rally. It was intended to be just a one-off event. But the choir was so popular that its leader, Edwin Shepherd, was urged to keep it going as the London Endeavour Choir. He was the conductor and his wife, Mrs Muriel Shepherd, was the accompanist. The choir soon built an international reputation for fine choral singing. In 1953 it changed its name to the London Emmanuel Choir. Edwin died in 1970 (he had been taken ill at a Choir Carol Concert where I was in the audience). His wife took over as conductor and the choir continued its work.
Initially I sang with the Choir as a tenor and occasional soloist. But in 1977 I was "promoted" to the rank of accompanist at the piano.
The choir sang in churches, halls, theatres, cathedrals, chapels, Fairfield Halls, Royal Festival Hall, Winchester Cathedral - indeed, wherever it was invited. On about 30 Saturday or Sundays a year the choir would be out and about. We usually travelled separately to the venue and met up at about 5pm at which point our hosts would lay on tea. At 6pm we would line up and do sound tests. Then off to change. At 6.40pm Alan Crosskey (the organist) and I would strike up the overture (20 minutes) and at 7pm the concert would begin. It lasted 2 hours with a combination of choral, solo and instrumental items. I was well know for my hasty departures immediately the concert had ended. It was a case of "Bob has left the building".
Every Christmas the Choir held a carol festival in London's Westminster Central Hall, which holds over 2000 people. And about every three years the choir hosted a major choral festival at the Royal Albert Hall where Christian Choirs from all over the country were invited to take part. The combined choirs usually numbered about 1000 voices and with the rest of the Albert Hall absolutely packed these were always special nights to remember.
I played the piano at all these events. I was also asked to write a special new song for each of the Albert Hall festivals and I had the pleasure of writing many other songs for the choir. Many have been recorded.
The work of the choir came to an end in December 2003 at the Carol Festival concerts. The last concert in Westminster Central Hall was a grand affair. It had been a complete sell-out within days of the tickets going on sale. So much so that the Choir had to organise a further carol festival for the weekend before the final concerts to meet demand for tickets."
