Chris and Jennifer to leave Helpston after 30 years

Saying Goodbye to Helpston after thirty years, Choirmaster and Parish Councillor, Chris Britton, pictured with his wife, Jennifer and Henry the cat.

Change will be coming to Helpston Church as Chris Britton, Choirmaster for the past twenty-six years, and his wife Jennifer, a choir member for almost as long, leave the village. Chris will also be missed for his role on the Parish Council, where he has served since 2002.

The couple plan to move to Hexham, Northumberland, in the very near future in order to be nearer to their daughter, Rebecca, who lives in Carlisle, and who plans to get married next year.

The ‘hole’ in the life of the village will need some filling as Jennifer, too, has played an active part in the community, having been secretary for the WI in the past, run the John Clare School choir and assisted with music at the school for many years. She is currently membership secretary for the Langdyke Trust, a street collector for the Scout & Guide ‘200 Club’, planned giving secretary for the church and - not least - Distributor for the Tribune!

Jennifer’s links with the primary school go back to 1987 when Ian Sutherland asked her to play piano for the Christmas Show. This was to continue until 2005, and her association with school until her retirement at Easter 2007. She recalls first helping Mrs Browne with Reception Class singing, and worked with Phil Gregory and Martin Fry. Together with former teacher, Maggie Bentley, she founded the musical evenings at John Clare School, which have become such a regular and popular feature of the school year.

Jennifer and Chris have given Friday evenings over to Choir Practice and Sunday mornings to the regular service, even working their holidays around major religious festivals. Chris has encouraged the choir to grow in expertise and when enough voices permit, four-part singing has become a regular feature.

Chris remembers that when he took over the choir there were ‘about two ladies and ten children’. The present choir grew from there.

As the music developed and more singers were needed for special occasions like Christmas, The Festival Singers were formed, made up of the choir and villagers, some of whom come back year after year. Two members in particular, Bill Coleman and Sydney Smith, have rarely missed.

The only original member of the choir is Nola Crowson, and it was Nola, as a WI member who ‘dragged Chris’ into playing piano for the annual Show - here is another ‘hole’ to be filled.

It is not just as Choirmaster, that Chris will be missed at Helpston Church. He has served on the Heating and Liturgy Committees and as a PCC member and he and Jennifer organised the Gala Plant Stall for many years. He has also been responsible for all the church leaflets, posters and publicity.

Lay Pastoral Minister, Sue Young said:

“Chris has always been ‘a willing pair of hands’. He has been the one to change a light bulb or mend the gate. Both he and Jennifer will be very much missed.”

What of the future? The couple hope to attend their new local Church, Hexham Abbey, where there is a high standard of music, with three different choirs.

“It will be nice to take a step back and enjoy the worship, without worrying about the responsibilities,” Chris commented.

“With regard to Helpston Choir, I am delighted that Liz and Mike Roper are going to be giving a lead and that most members have said they do not want to give up.”

We wish Chris and Jennifer well, and our best wishes too, to Liz and Mike.