Below is a brief history of events in the choir. If you click on a link to see the scanned document then please wait while the page loads. I've tried to make the scanned images as small as possible but if you are not on broadband it may take a few seconds to load.

If you want a list of all the conductors from 1879 the click here - Previous Conductors

If you want a list of concerts then click here - Past Concerts

YEAR	EVENT	IMAGE
	Richmondshire Choral Society
1879	This is the first year I can find evidence of the choir. If you click on the image file you will see a concert poster dating from 1879 advertising the choir singing "Henry's Smart's dramatic cantata The Bride of Dunkerron".
1880	A second poster advertising Richmondshire Choral Society singing Athalie.
1891	I can only assume, with the information I have, that the previous society was just an informal gathering of singers. 1891 is the first year that the minutes are recorded for a Richmondshire Choral Society. It's a meeting where a proposal that a choral society be formed called  the Richmondshire Choral Society. In the following meeting they propose that Mr. Callow conducts the society paying him 5 guineas.
	If you want to see the succession of conductors from this point onwards then go to the Previous Directors of Music page by clicking HERE
1893	Concert in Richmond Grammar School. Receipts £11.3.0 (11 pounds, 3 shillings and 0 old pence)
1893	Newspaper article about the AGM
1895	Mr. Ellis receives £2.20 for his services during the last season. The full AGM file can be viewed.
1898	A newspaper clipping of the AGM. Interesting that the meeting complains about that lack of attendance by members and if it didn't improve they would consider finishing the society!
1900	February. "a circular be sent to each singing member asking them to attend next practice as unless there is a good attendance the practices will be discontinued." Click link to see the circular.
1901	First mention of the Swaledale Tournament of Song which the choir took first prize for the Part Song - marks given were 56 out of 60.
1901	Front cover to a concert programme.
1902	Front cover to a concert programme.
1902	First prize, again, in the Swaledale Tournament of Song. Marks given were 57 out of 60.
1903	Front cover to a concert programme.
1903	First prize in the Swaledale Tournament of Song. Marks given were 57 out of 60.
1904	Front cover to a concert programme.
1904	First prize in the Swaledale Tournament of Song. Marks given were 58 out of 60.
1905	First prize in the 6th Swaledale Tournament of Song in Northallerton. Marks given were 69 out of 80.
1906	Front cover to a concert programme.
1906	Second prize in the 7th Swaledale Tournament of Song in Northallerton. Marks given were 81 out of 100.
1907	Third prize in the 8th Swaledale Tournament of Song in Northallerton. Marks given were 48 out of 60.
1908	First prize in the 9th Swaledale Tournament of Song in Northallerton. Marks given were 81 out of 100.
1909	Third prize in the 10th Swaledale Tournament of Song in Northallerton. Marks given were 69 out of 80.
1909	Mr. Brown (conductor) receives 5 guineas.
1910	First mention of a social gathering outside of rehearsals. "The Society gave a Whist Drive and Dance in the Parish Room, which was well attended. Lady Zetland was present at the Whist Drive and gave away the prizes."
1911	Another Whist Drive and Dance. The Proceeds were £6.8.3
1911	Click on the link to view the report on the Swaledale Tournament of Song
1911	The minutes record "On Friday evening, June 23rd, three choruses were sung by The Society at an open air Concert in the Ronaldshay Recreation Grounds - on the occasion of the Coronation".
1911	The conductor (Mr. Brown) is paid £7.10.0
1911	Click on the link to see the Rules of Richmond Choral Society.
1912	The conductor (Mr. Brown) is paid £10.0.0
1915	It was decided in February 1915 not to enter the Swaledale Tournament of Song due to only having a small number of singers and because their attendance was irregular.
1915	The Society temporarily stops for the duration of the war.
	WW1
1919	The Choir resumes  with a committee meeting on October 9th followed by an AGM on October 17th.
1920	Click on the link to view a short report on the works sung by the society in 1920/21. Attendance - satisfactory.
1922	The Society takes part in the Swaledale Tournament of Song again.
1924	Newspaper review of the 1924 Christmas Concert.
1927	The previous year was describes "Possibly this proved to be one - if not the most successful season of the Society"
1927	The Marchioness of Zetland was re-elected President. She had been president from the late 1890's until the beginning of the First World War.
1928	the Concert in February had a very small audience due to the very bad weather
1929	Brahms Requiem cancelled due to "illness among members of the Society".
1929	After 15 years Mr. Fountain leaves the choir and AJ (Dr. A.J. Bull) takes over.
1930	Minutes read "Unfortunately the seasons work mentioned at the general meeting had to be abandoned. The society struggled for many weeks to keep going and then owing  to lack of support in the tenor line the full chorus had to be abandoned. Mr. Bull said he would like to continue with a Ladies Choir. The Ladies worked well and Feb 26th 1930 a Concert was given. Artistically this was a great success, but the financial results were nor so good."
1931	Due to lack of support in the tenors and, to a certain degree, in the basses it was just the ladies who performed.
1932	January 30th. Dr. Bull resigns and the decision of the committee is to disband the Society. Click on the link for the full minutes.
1932	Click on the link to view the last entry in the Richmond Choral Society minutes book.
	Richmondshire Musical Society
1933	After the last entry in the Richmondshire Choral Society minutes book, dating 1st February 1932, it was about 18 months before another meeting took place. The reforming of the Choral Society took place on 18th September 1933. Why Richmond Musical Society and not Choral Society? Perhaps a change of name would encourage new members or attract old members who stopped going to the Choral Society. Essentially it was still the same Society - Same conductor, same committee members, same rehearsal day  in the same place. If anybody knows the real reason as to why there was a change of name then email me HERE. To view the first entry in the minutes book for the Richmondshire Musical Society click on the link.
1934	A list of signatures from the AGM
1937	Rehearsal venue changed from the Parish Room to the Congregational School Room
1939	First mention of the war having an effect on the choir. All social events and the Harrogate Tournament had been cancelled due to the war.
1940	An overdraft of £1.2.10d was recorded which had been reduced to 1/8d. Also the first mention of the Society becoming an Evening Class under the North Riding Education Committee.
1940	Concert Poster
1942	First AGM in the Evening Institute - Richmondshire Musical Society becomes an evening class in the North Riding Evening Institute.
1944	A mention of how the membership was boosted by members of the armed forces.
1945	Newspaper report.
1947	February. In debt "to the extent of about £30."
1947	June. Back in credit - £34.10.3d but Dr. Bull resign due to his new appointment.
1947	I've included the conductors (Mr. Holden) report for 1947 and 1948. He mentions the lack of balanced parts (2 tenors and 3 basses), members not being committed (going on holiday) and not enough  younger members (between the ages of 20 and 40).
1950	50 members - average attendance 22 per rehearsal.
1951	A mention of the previous minutes book is made (1891 to 1932) which "should in future be carefully preserved." Where is it? I've been working from a photocopy.
1952	First mention of moving away from the Evening Institute. It was also mention that "raising the subscriptions last year caused many people to leave the society." Because of lack of members  I think the choir is stopped. There are no minutes after 1952 and the next entry is 1960 about concerts that took place in 1959. I've included the full minutes for the 1952 meeting for you to read between the lines.
1959	Choir reforms.
1960	Dr. Bull is president, Mr. Dickinson is Chairman, Neil Wade conducts and Brenda Ewart play the piano.
1961	Another discussion about remaining part of the Institute or becoming independent from the institute.
1967	Members are unhappy about the hiring of music from the Henry Watson Library  because "the conductor had no real opportunity of establishing beforehand that the works ordered would prove a suitable choice."
1967	"Society members were asked if they wished for the re-introduction of a short break for refreshment during rehearsal. But the majority felt that pleasant aas it would be this would waste too much time." I know what my next item for the agenda will be!
1969	Mrs. R. Withers joins the committee and was a member of the committe until her death in June 2007.
1972	1st place in the Wensleydale Tournament of Song (part song).
1978	Another discussion about leaving the Institute and becoming independent. It was decided to stay for at least the next year. It was suggested that Phillip Glithroe should be invited to sing the bas solo.
1978	The choir votes to leave the Institute.
1979	The choir moves out of the Institute and continues rehearsals in The Richmond Music Studios.
1980	Mr. D. Meek joins the committee. "It was proposed and carried that smoking should be prohibited in the singing room during rehearsals."  I cannot imagine anybody having a quick fag during a rehearsal!
1983	Mr. Frank Dickenson leaves the choir after 47 years of singing. He had been an active committee member since 1938.
1984	The increased size of the choir makes it difficult to rehearse in the Music Studios.
1985	AGM. A concern was raised that the choir had 30 members, 20 being ladies which produced an unbalanced choir. The constitution gets an update.
1987	Rehearsal move from the Music Studios into the Methodist Church Hall.
1987	Interesting minutes. Dr. Bull had been conducting the choir because Mr. Roachford was ill. In this meeting on July 7th, the committee decides to let Dr. Bull continue conducting the choir even though Mr. Rochford considered himself fit and wanted to resume. Under the choirs constitution the "Society shall invite and appoint a MUSICAL DIRECTOR and ACCOMPANIST at each Annual General Meeting to serve for one year".
1987	AGM. 57 regular members.
	Richmondshire Choral Society
1998	A change of name back to the Richmondshire Choral Society. It was decided that we were a Choral Society and not a Musical Society. From my own experience when I first moved into Richmond in 1989 I did not join the society because I didn't enjoy singing musicals or acting on stage (which the Society didn't do). I joined the choir in 1998.
2000	Roy McCormack becomes conductor.
2000	The Choral Society web site is set up and maintained by Roy.
2004	I receive a load of historical documents relating to the choir. Although the minutes from 1891 to 1932 are in photocopy form.
2006	The Choral Society web site gets a massive update to include some of the documents and history of the choir.