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POLPERRO FISHERMEN'S MALE VOICE CHOIR
POLPERRO FISHERMEN'S MALE VOICE CHOIR meets to practise on Wednesdays at 7.30pm at Polperro Methodist Chapel.
A HISTORY OF POLPERRO AND THE CHOIR The history of Polperro can be traced back over many centuries, and the village has been known by many names from the days of Henry VIII up to the present day. The historical background drawn up by its famous choir says that whether known as Porthpyre, Polpire, Poulpirrhe or Polperro, one common factor has spanned the centuries- it is a village next to the sea and in her cottages live men of the sea who earn their living from the oceans. For many years the prosperity of the village depended, in the main, upon the pilchard fishing, and up to the early part of the century Polperro still had a fine fishing fleet. The devout men in their small boats would sing as they worked, and the hymns sung in Chapel on Sundays would take pride of place in their repertoire. Sadly, with the decline of the fishing industry locally the fleet fell in numbers. It was Eva Cloke, the wife of a Polperro fisherman, and organist at the Chapel, who realised the value of preserving the tradition of the singing fishermen of Polperro. In 1923 Tommy Marks, a fisherman lay-preacher known as ‘The Fishermen’s Bishop’, attracted large congregations to his services. Between them he and Eva brought together the singing fishermen to form the first Polperro Fishermen’s Choir, to sing hymns and religious style sea songs in the village. Few, if any, of the choir could read music, but the patient coaching of Eva helped each man to learn his part, and soon the choir became a fair match in its friendly rivalry with the men of Looe. The uniform was a rough home knitted roll neck woollen jersey, so the tradition of the real old days when wives and daughters knitted jumpers for their men folk, and each man could be recognised by the pattern on his jumper, became part of the choir. It was not until 1982 that the choir modernised and adopted the black blazer and roll-necked shirt by which it is now so easily recognised. As the fishing industry declined still further so did the number of fishermen, and other men of the village came to swell the choir. Soon they were singing regularly in the village and in other parts of Cornwall, mainly at religious services. The transport problem was solved by Pearce’s buses, which, from what is now Big Green, provided the main means of travelling. There have been many memories built up since then, but one of the saddest times was when founder-conductor Eva Cloke passed away on Christmas Eve 1969 as the choir were singing their traditional carols around the village. A seat and plaque, donated by the choir, stand on the spot on the old quay where Eva conducted many open-air concerts, as a lasting memorial to the work she did for the choir. Jack Libby, a former conductor and musical director of the choir, whose father Jack senior was a founder member, joined as a first tenor in 1951 and initially took the baton at a London weekend concert in 1968 when Eva was indisposed. He ran the choir for a short time after her death and became deputy conductor when Len Rundle took over for 18 months up to June 1971. Jack Libby then resumed his position as conductor and musical director and then built up the choir to the point where he was received into the Gorsedd of Cornwall as a Bard in recognition of his services to the choir and to choral music. Jack took the Bardic name “Map Porthpyra”- ‘Son of Polperro’. Some proud moments in the choir’s history include several TV appearances for both BBC and ITV during 1983-1985 and recordings for BBC Radio, Radio Cornwall and Plymouth Sound during 1984, 1985 and 1986. In 1988, together with the Polperro Ladies Choir, the Fishermen appeared in a ‘Festival of Choirs’ at Plymouth Guildhall and at Launceston Central Methodist Church in a farewell concert for Wilfred Cocks. Other venues have included the Royal Albert Hall, although some have not been as lavish. Arguably one of the most important people in the choir is the accompanist, and in the early days Ruth Oliver, daughter of Freddy (Dobbin) Oliver, one of the choir members, played the piano with Eva as conductor. Later, Florrie Oliver, sister-in-law of Eva, and village music teacher, took over the task. Many local girls went to her for music lessons, one of these being Beryl Libby. Beryl, who became Beryl Pannewitz, later became accompanist to the Ladies Choir and also often assisted the Fishermen. During the war years the choir was disbanded, but in 1951 was resurrected under the guidance of Eva with her nephew, Jack, as accompanist. The choir as it is today really began at this time when the influence of Jack Libby became noticeable. Vashti Trudeau, daughter of another choir member, Jack Curtis, was asked to help out. Vashti was succeeded by Maisie Hall, daughter of John Gordon Blatchford, another founder member, her great strength being her versatility and musical knowledge. The condition of some of the organs and pianos encountered by the choir sometimes leaves much to be desired- such as the piano on which only half of the keys would emit a note, and even those were out of tune. Thanks to the generosity of the Pirates group from Bedford, the Fishermen were given an electric piano for their busy programme, and now no longer have to rely on the condition of instruments at their concert venues. In 1973, the choir’s Golden Jubilee year, they made their first album, “Sounds like Polperro” which quickly became a best seller, followed by many other successful recordings which include “When Evening’s Twilight”, “Polperro Sings Again”, “Tis Christmas Time”, “Polperro Sail”, and “Born to Sing” with the Polperro Ladies Choir. Appearing as soloist on several of the recordings was Lloyd Dunn, who maintained the seafaring tradition and was for many years Senior Pilot at Fowey. Jack Libby retired in 1999 after 48 years with the choir, and the position of musical director and conductor was taken over by Phil Carrigan, a former Royal Marine Bandsman and Musician. Phil has many years of experience in the world of music, and the choir has benefited greatly from his expertise and enthusiasm. A story which is sometimes told at choir concerts is of Phil serving in HMS Ark Royal when Rod Stuart recorded his hit “Sailing”. Not so often told is another story involving Phil chasing a “Big Bass Drum” as it rolled down the flight deck of the aircraft carrier! Although today there are only two true fishermen singing with the choir, the roots and traditions of the choir are deep, and its aims and objectives are as strong as ever. All concerts are given free of charge and many charities throughout Cornwall have benefited from the devotion and pure love of singing of all the choir members. Each year concerts are traditionally given “at home” on Polperro Quay on Wednesday evenings during July and August, and the now famous Christmas concert in the Polperro Methodist Chapel attracts people from all over the country and, indeed many other parts of the world. In addition to singing in the UK the choir has in recent years travelled further afield, to venues in the Channel Islands and in 2006 to Quiberon, France, where the choir had the memorable experience of singing as part of an International Festival of Choirs involving choirs from Cornwall, France, Germany and Hungary. The standard of singing at this bi-annual event is very high, and the Polperro Fishermen’s Choir is delighted to be invited to attend this year’s Festival, together with the Ladies Choir. From an original article published in the Cornish Times in 1998, updated (2008) by choir member Tony Clarke. |
