Solent Male Voice Choir founder Stan Lewis retires
Stan Lewis’ extraordinary 65 years’ singing with a local MVC, now sadly coming to an end, started when his supervisor told him, ‘You’re making a lot of a row and I’ve decided to start a male voice choir, and you are the first member.’
Born in 1933, Stan had started work, aged 15, as a Telegram Boy in Gosport. He married Cherie in 1959 and around that time his career took him to the sorting office in Stanhope Road, Portsmouth. He was always up for a sing-song with a few others while waiting for the mails to arrive, and one day the Assistant Inspector Eddy Faro uttered those fateful words quoted above that are firmly etched into Stan’s memory. So that was that – he’d been told in a no uncertain manner!
1961 saw 14 raw recruits begin rehearsals under the baton of a colleague, Welshman Trevor Edwards, accompanied by Eddy’s wife Grace on the piano. ‘Did you sing some songs in Welsh then, Stan?’ I asked. ‘Not at that time – we had enough trouble singing in English!’ came his laughing reply.
In 1971, the membership having grown to 24, Musical Director Trevor Edwards accepted an invitation asking the choir to contribute to the International Eisteddfod, a festival of singing and dancing held annually at Llangollen. Portsmouth Post Office Male Voice Choir acquitted themselves proudly and returned home with renewed enthusiasm having tasted the big time. What a life-changing experience it was, and what a magnificent achievement to have reached the required standard in only ten years!
Stan’s wife Cherie played an important role, together with other wives and friends, who made up the Ladies Committee, serving light refreshments and generally supporting their men folk.
Concerts ensued and PPOMVC went to two events worth noting at Cardiff Arms Park in 1992, featuring Tom Jones and in 1993 with Shirley Bassey – but we’re not sure what she was doing at a male voice singing event.
Somewhere along the line Portsmouth Post Office Male Voice Choir became known as Solent Male Voice Choir, which now has nearly 40 members who carry on this fine tradition, performing in the immediate area and further afield. SMVC rehearse at the Pallant Centre, Havant on Tuesdays. Doors open at 1845 and they sing from 1915 to 2130. Check out their website for further details and see their extensive and varied repertoire from Morte Criste to Bridge Over Troubled Water, from Gwahoddiad to Mr Blue Sky, Blackbird, Hey Jude and Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.