Harrogate Male Voice Choir
Minutes of Committee Meeting at Woodlands Methodist Church
10.00 am on Tuesday 3rd February 2026 Final
Circulation – David Bayne( DB) , Chris Dunn (CD), Ian Ibbotson (II), Tony Goodall (TG),
Stuart Berry (SB), George Cross (GC), Richard Kay (RK), Lawrie Coulthard (LC)
Item Action
1 The minutes of the January meeting were approved and signed off TG
2 Project ”Sing when you’re winning” (SWYW)
The focus of this meeting was once again SWYW. RK believes that the promotion of this
course which begins on 22 nd April should start almost right away, as soon as we have
identified volunteers and have printed the flyers and posters.
Instead of forming a sub-committee to drive actions on this project, we will use and
expand the task list formulated by RK, which is available to all volunteers and committee
members
From the task list
We agree with RK’s latest flyer design showing himself as soloist
Order 1000 (GC says 2000) flyers but add 100 A4 posters
The google participant application form by RK is excellent
We need to understand how the SWYW e-mail account will work
Who has the link to the Bramhall Trust? Can David Healy progress this?
Our grant application to NY council has not yet been approved but they have
until end of February to contact us.
St Roberts is booked from 22 nd April and West Park for final concert on 4 th July (DB
to add to Choir Dates)
II is already allocating funds for venue booking and flyer printing
Excellent progress with Andy’s Man Club (AMC) in Harrogate. Extend to branches
in Ripon, Thirsk, and Knaresborough (no branch in Wetherby)
DB’s mobile number has been printed on the flyers and he will answer all
telephone enquiries and agree a protocol with RK for passing on contacts to the
e-mail address and the person registering attendance at the course.
DB will make up a form for volunteers to sign up to and display it tonight after TG
has addressed the members.
Draft press release was not attached by RK (has since been received). Committee
members to comment ASAP
Volunteers will be assigned to 5 districts of Harrogate, to Knaresborough, to
Ripon, and any other areas.
Check with LC for contacts with local radio
Complete checklist of press and radio contacts
TG and DB will inform Social Prescribers of the SWYW course and ask to direct
patients there instead of to the choir
As well as village halls and notice boards, flyers to be distributed to
– Barber shops
– Drop-in centres
– Leisure centres
– Golf/sports clubs
– Rotary/Round Table
– Probus clubs
– Mixed choirs
– Churches (J Melanaphy if fit enough)
. Draw up checklist of locations for volunteers
. Aim is to hand out flyers and posters to identified volunteers at a briefing before
rehearsal on 10 th February (as we are not rehearsing on 17 th Feb) – previous target was
24 th February
. Steve Hurdle may participate in SWYW and has offered to take participant’s details
. Mass distribution of flyers through letterboxes nearer the start of the course via
allocated volunteers.
. Hand out flyers at Harrogate Town FC home matches (RK proposal)
The date of the joint SWYW and HMVC concert has been set at Saturday 4 th July at West
Park centre
3 West Park Centre
The committee has approved a letter by TG in support of their application for Mayor’s
funds. We are also progressing plans to expand seating for our Sing Out concert
TG
4 Treasurer Report
December hall hire of £90 was paid and £150 was received from Holy Trinity
2 full year subs and one sub instalment are still outstanding.
II
5 Concert secretary report
13 th February 8.30 am visit to Brackenfield prep school. See (9) below
27 th February 7.30 pm Joint concert with Rodillians ladies at Boston Spa methodist church
1 st March York festival evening concert at 7.30 pm. We sing 5 songs in a 20-minute slot
and need to be there before 6.35 pm for a sound check. GC and DB will visit the venue on
8 th February. We must get out a good choir attendance despite the concert 2 days before.
21 st March Harrogate choir competition. Performance time confirmed as 2pm. We
assume venue is Harrogate High school as there is no further mention of St Martin’s
church in the syllabus.
30 th April. Afternoon visit to Pannal primary school
9 th May. Harrogate Choir Festival (invitation received and RK confirmed his availability)
6 th June Sing Out concert, now assumed to be at West Park Centre
4 th July Joint concert of SAYW with HMVC at West Park Centre
11 th October. Joint Sunday afternoon concert with Eastwood Collieries MVC
GC
6 Members Secretary Report
There is confusion over whether or not Richard Hayter has resigned
Robert Bickford is unable to sing and we need to assess whether he continues as a
member. John Melanaphy is back home recovering from a heart attack hopes to rejoin us
before too long. A “get well” card will be circulated this evening for members to sign.
Steve Hurdle will attend the SWYW course. Nigel Lister has moved to a new address.
SB
7 Promotion of HMVC concerts
We urgently need to identify a successor to LC for promotion of concerts, which must
continue separately from SWYW. Lawrie has a wide network of publicity outlets including
radio and we should use his knowledge to maximise SWYW coverage. Meanwhile LC has
made a sterling effort to promote the Boston Spa concert in Wetherby and the Church
has made a great effort to promote it within the Tadcaster Circuit (Boston, Wetherby,
Tadcaster and Collingham). Martin House refused to display our posers until we had
pasted their logo onto them (house rule). We should ensure that the logos of
beneficiaries always appear in our publicity! Now the choir needs to sell tickets as the
Rodillians are expected to bring up to 40 supporters.
?
8 Social
TG has distributed menus from 2 caterers to the committee (as St Roberts cannot do this
in-house). The room will cost £60 and for a minimum of 35 people, a main course plus
dessert will cost £16 with a room charge of £2 pr head making £18. TG will ask for a show
of hands for participants this evening.
TG
9 Sing Out
An early start is required for our performance at Brackenfield school assembly at 8.45. on
Friday 13 th February. We need to be there by 8.30 and allow for time to find parking in
adjacent streets.
TG
10 Choir dates
The list of choir dates for performances and breaks has been updated and checked by GC,
TG and RK and will now be issued to all members. Note that we have some noticeboard
space back in the Woodlands main hall.
DB
11 Next Meeting Tuesday 3 rd March at 10 am, Woodlands Meths. DB
