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Freedom of the City awarded to us in 2015 -
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How it all began
The Liverpool Male Voice Choir originated, in essence, in the early 1830’s when a Wesleyan chapel was built on a site now occupied by St Mary’s C of E church in South Drive, Wavertree. St Mary's Church was built in 1910.
The Wesleyan Church brotherhood meetings were held on Sunday afternoons and there was some good singing, but they lacked leadership, until they were joined by a young man called David Green. He had recently moved from Kettering and since he had some musical ability, he was asked to lead the Brotherhood choir at Victoria Park. His involvement created a greater interest in male singing and there was talk of forming a Male Voice Choir.
On 8th June 1911, 12 men met above a Fish and Chip shop at 55 High Street, Wavertree, to discuss this very issue and it was decided to form a Male Voice Choir and call it “Wavertree Imperial Glee Union”.
The picture (below) is one which was taken in 1911, is the man himself, David Green.
Some time in 1913 we became “The Wavertree Male Voice Choir” In June 1937 a proposal was put to the committee that the choir should change its name to “The Liverpool Male Voice Choir”. This would also prevent a newer organisation from claiming the name. This was put to the members at the Annual General Meeting in Crane Hall on Thursday 16th June 1937, with 35 votes to 3 the new name was adopted.
The choir has transcended two world wars and many good and bad times... and we're still here.
A Trip down memory lane
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A word from our former our presidents
Alderman Gerard Scott JP. KHS and Mrs Ann Scott.
Ann and I first became involved with the Liverpool male Voice Choir during my year as Lord Mayor of Liverpool in 2001-2002.
We invited the choir to sing at the Liverpool town hall when the city council conferred the freedom of the city upon Falklands hero Simon Weston, a moving ceremony which was greatly augmented by the wonderful singing of the choir. In fact Simon Weston - a true Welshman - remarked that having heard so many marvellous Welsh choirs was both surprised and impressed with the wonderful harmony and professionalism displayed by the choir.
Both Ann and I were delighted to be invited to become president of the choir, a position we readily accepted and have enjoyed fulfilling for the past eight years.
It is evidence of their continuing success to see new members joining and also the way choir members commit their time, giving concerts and raising hundreds of pounds for many charities.
May the choir continue to go from strength to strength.
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Edward Dodd
Musical Director
1929 – 1939
from Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 16th March 1939
Conductor’s Fatal Fall from Platform
Mr Edward Dodd, The Liverpool choir conductor, who fell eight feet from the platform into the auditorium at the small hall of St Georges Hall during a concert last night, died soon after noon at the Royal Infirmary. He never regained consciousness.
Mr Dodd had been conducting the Liverpool Male Voice Choir in their “Open Night” concert and just before the closing items, was expressing the thanks of the choir to Alderman H. A. Cole, who was deputising for the Lord Mayor, and their other friends for the support given them during the season.
Describing the accident, Alderman F.T. Richardson, who was also present, told the Echo that when he had almost finished his speech Mr Dodd seemed to turn. “He then either slipped or miscalculated the distance from the edge of the platform. He tripped and fell to the floor. We do not know whether or not he struck his head on one of the forms just below the platform.” Mr Dodd was taken to the anteroom, where he was given first aid by men of the St John Ambulance Brigade, and an ambulance arrived to take him to the Royal Infirmary.
Mr Dodd had been the conductor of the choir for many years, and was well known in Merseyside musical circles. His home is at Gorton Rd, Old Swan, and he was an official in the Hospitals Department of the Liverpool Corporation.
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Bert Bowers
"Singing his praises"
This was the headline in the Liverpool Echo on 19th June 1991, when our Bert’s picture was shown. In 1926, a 19-year old youth joined his dad as a member of the Wavertree Male Voice Choir and in 1991, at the age of 84, he was still a member, after 65 years. We had a plaque made for him and presented it at The Liverpool Parish Church, where we were there rehearsing for a massed male voice concert in Leeds Town Hall. Bert continued to be a member, though
Photos
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The choir was joined by other North West choirs at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on 15th March 1986 to celebrate and raise funds for the 18th birthday of the Alder Hey Kidney Fund and to celebrate our 75th anniversary.
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This motley crew were assembled to perform at Liverpool Garden Festival in June 1984. We sang in a plastic tent. Joan Payne (Roberts) conducted and Jean Isaac was at the piano.
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1976 was the last time the choir took part in the International Eisteddfod at Llangollen. Joan Payne was at the helm, with Jean Isaac accompanying.
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The original ‘Glee Choir’ line up 1911.
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The chip shop on Wavertee Road where the choir started. -
St Mary’s Wavertree, built in 1872 originally as a Methodist Church,
it was purchased by C & E in 1949 and re-consecrated as C of E in 1952. more info ( PDF )
Originally a Wesleyan chapel. more info
both these links are external and neither mention the choir.Choir Badges
In the first 38 years of the choir’s existence, there was no mention of uniforms and little consistency, other than dark suits or black dinner suits.
In 1949 there was reference at a committee meeting to the desirability of a “uniformity of dress”, but no action seems to have been taken.
In January 1950 the choir decided to buy ties, but otherwise very little information at this stage. In October 1951 more talk of buying a uniform, and in January 1952 this was still pending.
It was not until February 1954, with the choir already 43 years old, that the committee decided that black blazers would be bought for about £4.15/- each. Every chorister, would contribute 10/- and 6s/6d would be refunded from the prize money at Rhyl Music Festival, to compensate for bus fares to reach the festival. Individual members would then pay 2s/6d per week to the treasurer, until the blazers were paid for. Keeping the blue tie and black blazers at this point. In July 1955 it was agreed to purchase embroidered badges for the black blazers ( in metallic silver ) that afforded a further degree of uniformity. Sometime around 1978, it was decided we needed a new uniform to brighten our image. A forest green blazer ( and not very popular beige trousers ) were bought. See the green badge. Matching sweaters were also acquired.
After about 16 years wear, we were having trouble obtaining a good colour-match when new members arrived, so we decided to completely change the uniform colour to a maroon blazer with navy trousers ( see maroon badge above ). With matching polo shirts.
In 2009 we launched our next uniform; gold blazers with black trousers.
December 2020, Joe Rutherford, who sings in our Baritone section, generously gifted a large amount of money towards our current uniforms. These are the teal/blue uniforms we are currently wearing. Other kind benefactors and choir patrons, also gave donations which have funded our new ties and waistcoats.
While the choir uniforms have ranged from black, to green, to maroon, to gold, and now teal, the badge design has remained constant; a tradition maintained viz, embroidered laurel leaf fronds, centred with a lyre, and a flying banner below, embroidered with L.M.V.C.
The new ensemble in teal/ silver/ white, with grey trousers, was launched 6th October 2023, and co-incided with the appointment of our new Musical Director Richard Marshall.
Photo Gallery
Nordic Church with the Felling Male Voice Choir
June 2019.
Nordic Church with the Felling Male Voice Choir
June 2019.
LMVC joined Leeds MVC and others at the magnificent Leeds Town Hall in 1986. We were to take part again in 1991.
Harington Hall - August 2019
Raised £1,000 for Blossom Fields
Blossom Fields is a craft workshop and enterprise scheme,
set up by staff and service users from
Autism Initiatives which is a charity supporting people with autism. Supporting people’s right to work.More Photos
