BASINGSTOKE Male Voice Choir is encouraging new faces to join after membership numbers plunged from a peak of 98 to just 26.

In 1964 Basingstoke’s local traffic ‘cop’ PC Idris “Taffy” Roberts realised his dream of creating the sound of his native Wales in the town.

The Basingstoke Male Voice Choir was formed, albeit in embryonic form, with 10 members at the first rehearsal.

Four years later they numbered 35 choristers and were performing concerts and raising money for charity, even coming second at a Welsh eisteddfod.

By January 1986 the choir was 75 strong and made their TV debut, performing with Harry Secombe on the TV Show ‘Highway’.

They were also touring in Europe, appearing in Holland and also singing at Basingstoke’s twin towns of Braine l’Alleud in Belgium and Alencon in France.

In the following years they continued touring, visiting Canada and the USA and also became recording stars, releasing a number of CDs.

The choir numbers peaked at 98 – just failing to make the magic 100 members.

Harry Trott, still a member of the choir after 35 years, and chairman in those heady days, said: ‘It’s my one regret, as chairman, I wasn’t able to see the choir grow to over 100 members.”

Over the years they have performed in prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall and the Tabernacle Chapel in Swansea, home of the world renowned Morriston Orpheus Choir.

As the years have passed the numbers of choristers has declined.

In 2014 when BMVC celebrated its 50th anniversary in St Bede’s Church, Popley, they could muster only 34 choristers on the stage, despite television’s Gareth Malone championing male singing.

At the last concert in April 2016 the choir numbered 26 on stage – a far cry from the 1970s and 80s when a choir of 70-80 was the norm.

The group now has a new music director in Nigel Howard, which members hope could attract fresh blood.

BMVC chairman Malcolm Gallani said: “It is becoming increasingly difficult to produce concerts with numbers so low. We’d like more flexibility so that we can increase the number of concerts we perform.”

Potential new members are invited to the Monday evening rehearsals at 7.30pm at the United Reformed Church in London Street. Visit www.basingstokemvc.org.uk for more details