MEMBERS of a community choir in Yate are celebrating their first anniversary of singing together.

The Yate and Chipping Sodbury Good Afternoon Choir was founded by musician Grenville Jones, whose driving passion is to get people of all ages singing and belonging to a singing group where they can make friends, enjoy themselves and have fun through music.

The choir, which meets at St Mary’s Church on Wednesday afternoons, now boasts 60 members.

"I don't know where the first year has gone, it has gone by so fast," said musical director Sian Walters, who also teaches music at Tockington Manor School and leads a community choir based in Patchway.

"The choir is just a bit of fun for everyone - you don’t have to be a trained singer or be able to read music to attend.

"We welcome people of all abilities to come along and join us and our members now range from young mothers and fathers, to grandparents."

With a repertoire including tracks from musical theatre, folk, pop and gospel songs, plus Christmas favourites, the choir performs three to four concerts a year.

At the moment the singers are working on pieces for a joint concert in Bath Forum on June 2, with other Good Afternoon Choirs from Bristol and Bath.

"Anybody that would like to come and sing with us and have some fun, do come along on April 11, to St Mary’s Church, Yate at 2pm," said Ms Walters.

For further information call Niki on 01761 472468.