MORE than 150 people returned to a Choir Gathering at Hereford Cathedral when former choristers, lay clerks, organists and others involved with the choir came together to celebrate this year’s Three Choirs Festival. Lindsey Lafford, the oldest choir member present, is in his 97th year and is one of the few remaining choristers to have sung under the baton of Sir Edward Elgar. Lindsey, along with his daughter and son-in-law, had traveled to the reception from Arizona, where he now lives.

“It was wonderful to have such a group come together and, while all had the common thread of having been in the cathedral choir, the stories and experiences that they were swapping obviously showed how choir life had changed,” said Robert Rogers, chairman of Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust.

“We were delighted to be able to work with the Old Choristers Association, Three Choirs Festival Committee and the Old Herefordian Association to track down those have sung in the cathedral. I know that we still have a lot of gaps in our choristers’ list and if anyone should have received an invitation, but didn’t, please do let us know.

“Being part of the choir, and particularly as a chorister, obviously does much to prepare people for life ahead. It was super to hear what they had achieved since their time with the cathedral and their achievements since they were here,”said Robert.

Others who attended the gathering included Michael Burlton, who was an assistant organist in the late 1950s, the Revd Denis Parry, who was a lay clerk from around the same time and a number of choristers who helped keep services happening during the second world war.

The reunion, which was kindly hosted in the Festival Marquee in the gardens of Hereford Cathedral Junior School, concluded with a wander down memory lane as many of the guests took the opportunity to visit the Deanery garden and to attend the Evensong, sung by the cathedral’s Voluntary Choir.

If you have been involved with the Cathedral Choir and would like to receive invitations to future events please contact Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust (01432 374261; perpetual.trust@herefordcathedral.org).