Former youth choir to sing together one last time
Hartlepool Youth ChoirSingers from an award-winning youth choir which was founded in 1969 are reuniting one last time for a charity concert.
Hartlepool Youth Choir was started by music teacher and conductor Chris Simmons and he has decided to hold a final Christmas concert.
Former choir members from the 1970s are returning to Hartlepool from all corners of the country to rehearse and perform together.
Mr Simmons, 81, said the choir had been "a huge part" of his life and a wonderful experience but the stress of the concerts was becoming too much for him.
He said: "It is a poignant moment, I was supposed to be stopping doing this last year.
"I arrived in the church for the first rehearsal but I tripped and I fell very heavily."
Mr Simmons was in hospital for two weeks but has now made a full recovery and hopes to end on a high.
"I told people I would have another go this year and try not to trip," he said.
The former music teacher said the choir would practice hard and "hopefully give a good showing".
The charity concert at St George's United Reformed Church on 14 December will raise money for Alice House Hospice and Hartlepool food bank.
During the 35 years Mr Simmons led the choir, they won the International Choral Competition in the former Yugoslavia and the European Youth Choral Competition in Belgium, among other awards.
He was appointed an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours list in June.
'Amazing world of music'
The group was a member of the British Federation of Young Choirs which allowed it to sing around the world, including tours in Europe, Canada and the USA.
Beezy Marsh, 57, looks back on her time in the choir fondly and remembers how much "Chris believed in us".
She said: "We were immersed in this amazing world of music.
"I remember being just 12 or 13 and singing in Venice after we competed against the Russian State Choir."
The former chorister said it was sad bringing the chapter to a close but hoped the choir members would still find a way to sing together.
Tickets for the concert will be £5 and they will be available to buy on entry.