Founder Member and Honorary Life Member
Lynne Evans, Chairman, writes
It with great sadness that Lorna passed away on Monday 18th March 2024 at around the time that we were singing and thinking about her. Lorna was an Honorary Life Member of Congleton Choral Society who was a member from its very beginning in 1971 and she has supported our progress ever since. Initially she sang with her husband Bert when they arrived in Congleton. When Bert died, Lorna continued to attend concerts as a singer or an audience member. Lorna was delighted with Tom’s appointment supported by Rachel and was so pleased about our plans for the future. Her enthusiasm and joy around music will be very much missed, especially by her friends in the society.
Many singers will remember Lorna with great fondness and I am sure that some members may wish to add their thoughts and memories to the website - family members and singers will gain such comfort from them. If you wish to contribute, please let Phil Edwards: know.
From Nick Sharman
Jane and I knew Lorna for many years: a lady famous for her welcoming smile and enthusiasm for the choir. Lorna was the only person I've ever heard say "Oh, Jings!"
When Lorna retired from the choir, the committee and I (as Chairman at the time) decided to make her an Honorary Vice-President. When I called to present her with a certificate and a bunch of flowers she was thrilled.
Lorna will be hugely missed by us all. Our thoughts are with her family,
From David Johnson, (Music Director 1975 - 2009 and Honorary Patron)
With the sad death of Lorna Stirling, the Choral Society has lost its last link to the small band of singers who started the original choir in 1971. Formed by Councillor Gladys Worthington that year, its main purpose was to provide music for the visit of Queen Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh to Congleton in 1972.
Since its formation in 1971, Lorna has been a continuing presence in the Society. She was singing soprano when I joined as MD in 1975, and she continued singing when I retired 34 years later in 2009; only reluctantly joining me as a member of the audience when her own health declined.
Lorna and her late husband Bert, originally moved to Congleton from Scotland as a result of his job move. Both of them had sung for many years (and probably fell in love) in The Glasgow Phoenix Choir, under their famous conductor Sir Hugh Robertson. Sir Hugh was also a prolific choral arranger, and through Lorna’s perseverance, we have quite a few of his arrangements in the Society’s library - including my favourite ‘All in the April Evening’, which we performed many times with them both in the choir.
The photo is from The Congleton Chronicle ©, around 1987, publicising some of our forthcoming concerts. Lorna is bottom front left. And there are many young recognisable faces, who are all still singing with the Society today!
As Lorna was a CCS 'constant', it came as no surprise to me, to see that she was singing when I conducted a performance of the Society’s next major work, Puccini's Messa di Gloria’
However, it did surprise me when I looked at my programme, from May 1999, to see that we had a young undergraduate student from the RNCM as our tenor soloist. I’ve just listened to the (cassette tape!) recording of our performance, and Sean Ruane certainly wowed us with his singing, as a 20 year-old. However amazingly, he is the same tenor I’m looking forward to hearing again in April, some 25 years later. This time from the audience, and sadly without Lorna!
- May 1999 Concert (including the Programme to download)
