THE Hampshire Police Male Voice Choir will celebrate its 75th anniversary this month with a special concert.

In 1940, when Portsmouth was undermined by constant air attack, police officers, police war reservists and members of the Special Constabulary carried out, not only their conventional duties, but Civil Defence duties.

Whilst on many hours of stand-by they started to sing together, which led to the formation of the Portsmouth City Police Choir.

With kind permission of the then Chief Constable, Arthur Charles West, the Choir gave concerts to raise the spirits and morale amongst the public and emergency workers, and raise funds for the Lord Mayor’s Appeals.

In a comparatively short time it became well known and popular, and was invited to broadcast on the Home and Overseas programmes.

The choir continued after the war and became the Hampshire Police Male Voice Choir on the amalgamation of the local police forces in 1967. There are four members from the original choir who are still singing in the present choir.

The 75th anniversary concert will take place in Ferneham Hall, Fareham on Saturday, June 20 at 7.30pm.

The choir will be joined by their colleagues in the Band of the Hampshire Constabulary, directed by Major Pete Curtis, MBE, and guest performer Helena Blackman. Helena was runner up in the 2006 BBC programme How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?

The concert will be in support of the two charities, The Blue Lamp Trust and The Crimestoppers Trust.

Tickets priced £14 are available from the Ferneham Hall box office on 01329 231942 or online at fernehamhall.co.uk.