How it all started

A couple of dozen men responded to an article in the Rossendale Free Press and met at Spencer's Café at 99 Bank Street, Rawtenstall, on March 14th 1924. It was resolved that “the Goodshaw Glee Union be disbanded and that the new choir be named the Rossendale Male Voice Choir”. Fred Tomlinson was appointed temporary conductor “until we get someone proper”. He was to remain as the choir’s conductor for the next 52 years! Exactly 100 years later we held the first of 6 centenary shows tracing this eventful history. With a carefully selected repertoire and the use of vintage radio, film and TV recordings, an audience of former RMVC singers, members of the Tomlinson family and our most loyal supporters enjoyed a memorable multi-media journey through the choir's first hundred years.

Early 20th Century photo of Bank Street Rawtenstall

Competition Success

Within 6 months of its foundation the choir came third at Colne and in 1926 took first prize at the Wallasey Festival. It would be followed by more than 40 competition wins under Fred's leadership. The pinnacle achievement was the unprecedented three consecutive first places at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod (1952-54). This extraordinary success was covered in the national and international press, and back in Rossendale the Parks Dept created a 3000 flower tribute in Rawtenstall’s memorial gardens. With 30 more wins under the leadership of Beatrice Wade, the choir maintained its reputation as one of the best in Britain.

Fred Tomlinson being held aloft by the choir, holding an Eisteddfod trophy

Celebrity Concerts

In 1936 Fred established a 40-year series of Celebrity Concerts, bringing musicians of international fame to perform here in Rawtenstall. Stars like Geraint Evans and Owen Brannigan performed at the Picture House between engagements at venues including Covent Garden and the Royal Opera House. Associate members paid 2/6d (12.5 pence!) for entrance to three concerts a year. By 1937 the number of Associate Members had grown to 1,168 and it was proving difficult to find sufficiently large venues. Such was the success of these concerts that in the late 1930s Fred exchanged several letters with the Hollywood film star and world-famous bass baritone Paul Robeson, but a busy schedule prevented him from coming.

TV, Radio & Film

In 1932 the choir made the first of over 30 BBC radio appearances and in 1958 performed in the documentary film The Waters Of Irwell. The 1970s brought TV success for three consecutive years on the BBC’s A Grand Sing competition, and in 1978 BBC Radio Lancashire broadcast a one-hour special called The Men from The Valley. Many of the choir's conductors have contributed to the choir’s body of recorded work on LPs and CDs, and now the choir's performances are enjoyed internationally thanks to YouTube and various streaming services.

For our centenary, we produced a new CD "100 Years of Song" which featured pieces performed by today's choir as well as classic tracks recorded by the men who celebrated the choir's 50th anniversary. Fred's youngest son, Fred Jr, sang in the choir for a number of years and went on to form the Fred Tomlinson Singers, performing the choral pieces in The Two Ronnies and Monty Python's Flying Circus. Fred Jr was responsible for classics like The Lumberjack Song and SPAM. Sir Michael Palin was amongst the mourners at Fred’s 2016 funeral.

And of course, in October 2024 we auditioned for Britain's Got Talent at The Winter Gardens in Blackpool. What a day that was!

You can watch us here.

Ernest Tomlinson conducting the choir in a TV competition

International Festivals

The choir has travelled widely to perform and compete. In 1963 two DC3 Dakotas were chartered to transport the men to Cork for the festival, which they won, and in 1973 the choir travelled by Aer Lingus 737 to the Koorsfestival in Holland. The choir sang The Two Roses on the tarmac, but because the pilot hadn’t heard it there was a repeat performance at 20,000ft! Many other exciting and memorable trips followed, including Killarney in Ireland and to our twin town in Germany, where excellent relationships were established with Bocholt choirs. In 2007 the choir was honoured to give a moving performance of Ave Maria at the Menin Gate in Ypres, just before the playing of The Last Post. In our centenary year we once again visited Belgium, performing at the Menin Gate, war cemetries and the cathedrals of Ghent and Bruges.

The choir singing beside a Boeing 737, ready to fly to Cork Ireland

Today's Choir

Winners of the inaugural Lancashire Choir of the Year competition in 2022, today’s choir has around 70 members, with a broad repertoire ranging from choral classics to Oasis and Rick Astley. The choir performs and competes locally and nationally, in a variety of venues from the Bridgewater Hall to valley churches, pubs and supermarkets, often as charity fundraisers.

In March 2023 the choir was honoured with the award of a Certificate of Achievement, presented by the Mayor Councillor Anne Cheetham in recognition of the choir’s 100 years of success. The award celebrates the choir’s role as ambassadors for Rossendale and its contribution to the valley’s cultural life. It’s a wonderful privilege for the men of today’s choir to be able to honour the incredible achievements of their forebears and to launch the choir onward into its second century!

Cutout picture of the Rossendale Male Voive Choir celebrating the LCOTY win in 2022