Habergham Prize Glee Union, Burnley

iBase ID

277877

Reference identifier

EBU20190313002

Title

Habergham Prize Glee Union, Burnley

Place

Burnley

Personal names

Mr. Ernest Hitchon, Mrs. Hitchon.

General notes

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.  Map reference given is for Habergham All Saints Church, Padiham Rd., Burnley but photo may have been taken near Gawthorpe Hall?. Mr. Hitchon can be seen in this image in the centre of the front row behind the trophy.  1909 was a particularly successful year when the choir won  first prize at the Lytham, Morecambe, New Brighton , Blackpool and Chester  competitions, plus  second prizes at Southport, and Shrewsbury, so this image may date from that year., as the trophy in front of the fourth choir member from the right is the Lytham Shield. It was issued as a postcard.

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. Map reference given is for Habergham All Saints Church, Padiham Rd., Burnley but photo may have been taken near Gawthorpe Hall?. Mr. Hitchon can be seen in this image in the centre of the front row behind the trophy. 1909 was a particularly successful year when the choir won first prize at the Lytham, Morecambe, New Brighton , Blackpool and Chester competitions, plus second prizes at Southport, and Shrewsbury, so this image may date from that year., as the trophy in front of the fourth choir member from the right is the Lytham Shield. It was issued as a postcard.

Medium

Postcard

Colour

Monochrome

Original image size

14 x 9

Year of image

1909?

Enter year in yyyy format

Locator

T621

Mario Map link

MARIO Map

Collection link

Web link