Habergham Prize Glee Union, Burnley

Habergham Prize Glee Union, Burnley
Habergham Prize Glee Union, Burnley
Habergham Prize Glee Union, Burnley
277876
EBU20190313001
Habergham Prize Glee Union, Burnley
Burnley
Mr. Ernest Hitchon, Mrs. Hitchon.
Habergham Glee Union had its origins in a group of men from Habergham All Saints' Church, Burnley, but in 1900, became the Habergham Prize Glee Union, open to men from outside the church, and appointed the Habergham church organist Ernest Hitchon as their choirmaster, a role he held until he resigned in October 1926. Under his very able leadership the choir became extremely successful, particularly between 1904 and WW1 at the many choral competitions and festivals held in the North of England and Wales, where choral singing was extremely popular. In 1912 they and many other British choirs competed in the Ville de Paris International Music festival, competing in two categories and winning a joint first place and a joint second place in what was a huge and prestigious event. Mrs. Ernest Hitchon also competed with her Padiham Ladies choir. On their return, they reported that whilst they had enjoyed the festival, particularly crowds shouting "Vive les Anglais", the organisation was not a patch on that of the Morecambe festival. (Burnley Gazette 29.5.1912 p. 5) Although the choir continued throughout and after the war, and won the Lytham Shield in their Silver Jubilee year of 1925, numbers began to decline until Mr. Hitchon decided to resign in 1926, at which point the choir being short of funds and unlikely to be able to replace him, decided to wind up. (Burnley Express 23.10.26 p. 9) Mr. Hitchon died in February 1928. (Obituary Burnley Express 4.2.28 p. 8). In 1948 his widow presented his collection of medals and trophies, including the Oak Leaves awarded at the Paris competition, to Burnley Library which at the time had a music room.
Mr Hitchon can be seen in this image holding a baton, leaning on the impressive trophy, and perhaps this marks one of their earliest wins, from ca. 1904? It was issued as a postcard. Location unknown, map reference given is for Habergham All Saints Church, Padiham Rd., Burnley.
Postcard
Monochrome
14 x 9
1904?
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T621
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