A SINGING group from years gone by is the subject of a talk and musical evening presented by Professor Bill Tamblyn.

The former head of music at the Colchester Institute, Bill is also known as the director and founder of Colchester’s world music community singing troupe, Quire.

It was formed out of a music class Bill ran at the town’s Greyfriars Adult Education which has gone on to be a mainstay of the area’s cultural scene.

With a repertoire that ranges from African and gospel to songs from the Hispanic tradition of the Americas, members of the group will be joining Bill next week at St Mary’s Church, Peldon, to illustrate a choir from the past.

Beginning with the mystery of what happened to the West Gallery at Peldon Church, Bill thought all the evidence of what it was used for was cleared away when it was pulled down in the mid 19th century.

But by building on scraps of information from Peldon, and records from other parishes round the country, Bill discovered a lively and irascible bunch of singers who created a new form of music-making that was to liven up services.

Bill says: “I wanted to find out whether there was a West Gallery Quire of rustics who sang loudly from the gallery and led the singing? If so, what did they sing and can we sing it too?

“This is not about Anglican choirs as we know them today. But interestingly enough, the story does reflect the antagonism between choir and clergy that goes way, way back into our folk history.”

A celebration of the wealth of music sung in church West Galleries in our area starting from the 18th century, Quires in our Villages takes place in St Mary’s Church, Peldon, on May 16 at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £8, available in advance from Bill on 01206 735770.