End of an era for generation club (From York Press)
Get in touch: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting YORK to 80360 or send an email»
End of an era for New Generation Singing Club
7:47am Friday 3rd February 2012 in News
Liz Edge, with a collection bucket, with members of the New Generation Choir at York Hospital last year where they sing to patients
A SINGING stalwart from York who has spent ten years helping children build their self-confidence is retiring.
Classically trained Liz Edge, of Parkside Close, started out after teaching her granddaughter, Becky, to sing in 2001 as a way of helping her with health and breathing problems. Before long, Becky’s friends joined in and the New Generation Singing Club was born.
Liz, now 74, said: “We started off in my lounge with a keyboard and a karaoke machine. Following several more requests from Becky’s friends, I realised that my small lounge was not going to be big enough if we were to help the many children who were interested in music.”
Becky suggested the formation of a singing club, but was adamant it should not be called a choir, because “that was too much like school”.
The club has performed at venues including the Guildhall, the Merchant Taylors Hall, the Quaker Church, York Hospital and Selby Church, raising more than £2,000 for charity.
Liz, a former York councillor, said she was no longer able to spend the 20 to 30 hours each week running the club, which would continue with regular members and volunteers.
“I will miss the contact with the children as the work has been the most rewarding of an extremely interesting working life,” she said.
“Sadly at the age of 15, one of our original members lost his mum to multiple sclerosis. He spoke publicly at the funeral and everyone was dumbfounded by his mature and sensitive speech.
“The following evening, while helping me with the equipment in readiness for the club meeting, he asked me what I had thought of his mum’s funeral. Trying hard to say the right thing, given the circumstances, I was complimentary and very effusive of his speech.
“He then, with an arm around my shoulder, said “you know it’s all down to you Liz, if you had not taught me to breathe properly, enunciate and speak slowly, I would never have got through it”.
“That statement alone made all the work of the past ten years worthwhile.”
The club is set to perform at York Minster in May, and currently has five vacancies for nine-to 16-year-olds. To find out more about joining the club, which meets at Foxwood Community Centre, on Thursdays between 6.45pm and 8.45pm, phone Sue Whitaker on 01904 762559.
