Information obtained from the Choir’s website.
Nankersey is the old Cornish name for the village of Flushing.
1950: Formed as The Nankersey Glee Singers with twelve members.
1950: Harry Owen, Musical Director, a renowned bass soloist who was the conductor of the Flushing Male Voice Choir in the 1930s and for many years conducted the Falmouth Docks Christmas Choir.
The Choir had no accompanist for a while.
1950: First concert – at Flushing Primitive Methodist Chapel.
Original choir members
Back row: Frank Vinnicombe, John Laity, Michael Parsons, Matthew Laity, David Laity, Jack Curnow, William Stuthridge
Middle row: Alfred Rose, George Sara, Harry Owen (Conductor), Harold Wales, Joseph Sawle
Front row: Terry Burleigh, Ronald Laity
The Choir’s motto is to sing for and to give pleasure translated into Cornish is Can ha ry lowender.
Mid-1950s: David Eastburn, Musical Director, aged only nineteen.
Mid-1950s: Noel Ashton, Accompanist.
Circa 1960: Noel Ashton, Musical Director.
Circa 1960: Harry Francis, Accompanist.
1966: The Choir began its association with Falmouth’s Princess Pavilion.
Ven Collins, Accompanist.
1967: Margaret Howard, Assistant Accompanist.
Margaret Howard, Accompanist.
1983: Took part in the 1,000 Voice Concert at the Royal Albert Hall.
1987: Denmam Dunstan: Musical Director.
1987: Elaine Tangye, Accompanist.
1998: The Choir was invited to sing in the Daily Mail Pavilion at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.
1998: The Choir played a key role in the celebrations of the Tall Ships Race from Falmouth.
1998: Elaine Tangye, Musical Director.
1998: Jane Wernham, Accompanist.
1999: The Choir participated in a short film, Wind, by Wild West Films.
2000: George Smith, Accompanist.
2000: The Choir’s 50th Anniversary year.
2000: Celebratory CD and cassette made.
2002: Camborne Music Festival – Nankersey awarded the Ewart Kinsman Challenge Cup in the Advanced Male Voice Choir class, whilst Elaine received the Special Award of the Bob and Eileen Gilbert Perpetual Baton.
March 2003: Nankersey won the Open Class for Male Voice Choirs at the Cornwall Music Festival.
May 2003: The first-ever British Male Voice Choir Festival was held in Cornwall with forty-eight choirs taking part, including eight from continental Europe . Nankersey participated in a Gala Concert in Richmond Chapel, Penzance, with the Bela Bartok Male Voice Choir from Pecs , Hungary , Rhos Male Voice Choir from Wales and Marazion Apollo. Nankersey also took part in the festival competition for choirs of over 40 singers.
2005 and 2007: Nankersey Male Choir took part in the Cornwall International Male Voice Choral Festivals.
May 2007: The Choir took part in the Festival Competition for choirs of over 40 members, held at the Hall for Cornwall.
Nankersey Choir has participated in every biennial Cornwall International Male Choral Festival , hosting choirs from all parts of the United Kingdom and the rest of the world.
The Choir have appeared on Songs of Praise and Sir Harry Secombe’s programme Highway.
2014: Michael Uren, Accompanist.
Circa 2022: Membership almost 60.
Rehearsals are held in St Peter’s Church Hall, Flushing.
Further information about the choir can be found here: https://www.nankerseychoir.org/
If you would like to amend or add to this page then please leave a comment and we will be in touch.
This is a part of the Cornish National Music Archive (CNMA) project to Collect, Preserve and Share our Cornish Heritage and Culture.