South Yorkshire Times, April 28th, 1939.
Winners at the South Yorkshire club union choral contest at Wombwell reform club on Saturday. In the centre is Dr. A. W. Wilcock, F.R.C.O the adjudicator.
Though there are 161 clubs affiliated to the South Yorkshire Branch of the club and Institute Union, only six entered teams for the union’s annual choral contest at Wombwell on Saturday.This fact was the subject of expressions of regret from Mr H Wilde, secretary who organised the contest and addressed a large company at the prizegiving. He said the position was all the more deplorable when they considered that some of the clubs were spending as much as £1000 a year on entertainment. He looked forward to the time when that side of the club activity would arouse more interest.
The contest was staged in the assembly Hall of the road from club, the team is performing before a large mixed audience all listed intently to the common criticisms of the adjudicator, Dr. A. W. Wilcock F.R.C.O., Hon. F.R.C.M Hon. R.C.M., who is organist at Exeter Cathedral, and was at one time attached to the Manchester College of music is Professor of harmony. The local arrangements were made under the direction of Mr a Walker, secretary of Wombwell reform club, and trophies and prizes were given out by Mr P Higgins of Thurnscoe Coronation club, chairman of the game sleek and a member of the S.Y. union executive.
Two sections.
The competition was run into sections – quartets and double quartets – and the winners respectively were Elsecar Midland club and Holly’s club, Wath on Dearne. Two years ago Elsecar Midland won the quartet trophy outright. A new trophy is being obtained the Hollies club, whose conductor is Miss Annie Tingle, have won the double quartet trophy three times out of four. On the fourth occasion they were second.
The quartet had to sing “Simon the Cellarer” (hatton) in addition each had to sink one of their own choice. Elsecar Midland sang “passing by” and the Hollies club in the octet “oh sweet delight” in the afternoon Elsecar Midland tied with Wharncliffe Silkstone, each scoring 85 points at a second test in the evening Elsecar carried off the honours with 86 points to 85.
Quality praised.
Mr Wilde said he always seemed that the latest contest was the best, but he could honestly say that as regards the quality of the thinking that was the best choral contest they had had during his period as secretary. He felt that they had all had an enjoyable time. When they realised, however that there were 161 clubs in the branch, and that there were entries from only six, it was a deplorable reflection on their movement – more so when it was known that some of them were spending as much as £1000 on entertainment. He looked forward to the time when that side of club activity would be developed as enthusiastically as the usual indoor games. For the quartet section there was no trophy and show, but it would be coming along in due course. The stipulation was that a trophy would be offered if there were six entries, and on this occasion there were seven entries from five clubs the club union had promised a trophy. Mr Wilde explained that the teams had paid an entrance fee of 10s each the club union had given 3 pound and the games committee had undertaken to their prize fund balance. Members of the two winning teams would each receive a canteen of cutlery and the runners-up souvenir electroplated clocks.