Regretfully, it saddens me to have to inform you of the death of the longest
serving member of the Birmingham Icknield Male voice choir.
Brian joined the choir in 1977 and I first met him when I joined in early 1978.
The conductor of the choir at the time was Mike Adams whose father Ron was
a long serving first tenor. Don Beach was the deputy conductor and his brother
Les was the pianist. Brian and I became friends and we used to meet up
socially outside the choir.
When it became obvious that we needed funds to purchase a uniform for the
choir, Brian volunteered to help and with others we managed to raise the
money to buy our first uniform. For many years after this he continued to raise
funds with his weekly lottery based on the number drawn on the bonus ball of
the National lottery.
Every Tuesday, after rehearsal, we used to head down to the Beaufort pub in
Hamstead village for a couple or three swift halves and some harmony singing.
The leaders of this merry band were Charlie Roberts, our chairman, and his
two brothers Frank and Jack. No sooner than they entered the small “snug” in
the Beaufort, even before they had taken a sip of their beer, they would burst
into song.
Initially, Brian sang with the baritones but when Steve Roche realised how high
his voice was he moved him to first tenor.
In recognition of his long service and his fund raising work for the choir he was
made president, apposition he held until his death on Thursday, 12 th October,
2023. Brian had been ill for some time and his physical illness was exacerbated
by his dementia.
He will be sadly missed by all his friends and fellow choristers in the choir.
Rest in Peace Brian.
Dave Ward.
serving member of the Birmingham Icknield Male voice choir.
Brian joined the choir in 1977 and I first met him when I joined in early 1978.
The conductor of the choir at the time was Mike Adams whose father Ron was
a long serving first tenor. Don Beach was the deputy conductor and his brother
Les was the pianist. Brian and I became friends and we used to meet up
socially outside the choir.
When it became obvious that we needed funds to purchase a uniform for the
choir, Brian volunteered to help and with others we managed to raise the
money to buy our first uniform. For many years after this he continued to raise
funds with his weekly lottery based on the number drawn on the bonus ball of
the National lottery.
Every Tuesday, after rehearsal, we used to head down to the Beaufort pub in
Hamstead village for a couple or three swift halves and some harmony singing.
The leaders of this merry band were Charlie Roberts, our chairman, and his
two brothers Frank and Jack. No sooner than they entered the small “snug” in
the Beaufort, even before they had taken a sip of their beer, they would burst
into song.
Initially, Brian sang with the baritones but when Steve Roche realised how high
his voice was he moved him to first tenor.
In recognition of his long service and his fund raising work for the choir he was
made president, apposition he held until his death on Thursday, 12 th October,
2023. Brian had been ill for some time and his physical illness was exacerbated
by his dementia.
He will be sadly missed by all his friends and fellow choristers in the choir.
Rest in Peace Brian.
Dave Ward.
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