Two girl friends who first sang in the Rushden Park-road Baptist Church choir on the last Sunday of February in 1895 were still in the ranks on the corresponding Sunday this year, and singing with them in an anthem they had chosen were their husbands, who have had even longer association with the choir.

  The two friends are now Mrs. S. C. Brightwell and Mrs. W. T. L. Flood.  Fifty years ago they were Miss Lillie West and Miss Clara Groome.  They lived near to one another in Grove-road and attended Sunday School at the old Baptist “Top Meeting.”  One day, when singing together to the accompaniment of a harmonium, they were heard by the celebrated Joseph Farey, who was choirmaster of the church.  He promptly asked them to join the choir, and that was the beginning of a story which bore ample witness to his good judgment.

  The choir, in fact, gained two admirable sopranos who for many years ranked among the best in the town.  Mrs. Brightwell was able to take lessons in singing and qualify for solo work.  Mrs. Flood, though having to dispense with professional training, became a soloist too.

Famous Contests

  Before the arrival of the girlfriends Mr. Brightwell was in the choir as a boy alto, and Mr. Flood was taking shape as a bass following a spell of humble but useful duty as organ-blower.

  All four had the privilege of singing under Mr. Farey during a period when the choir was one of the best in the country, and of taking part in the Crystal Palace competitive festivals of the Nonconformist Choral Union.  As early as 1896 they helped to win first prize in Section B of the festival, and later on they shared in the greatest triumph of all – first prize in Section A.

  The visits to those festivals were wonderful outings.  A return rail ticket, including admission to the Crystal Palace, could be obtained for half-a-crown, and the inconvenience of starting from Irchester station and of walking home from there in the small hours of a Sunday morning was a mere detail.

  In 1906, after taking second prize at the Palace, the choir went straight to the Berger Hall at Bow and gave a concert there.  This was a fortnight after Miss Groome had become Mrs. Flood, and a year after the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Brightwell.

Brake Journeys

  The choir had many outings by brake to give concerts in the villages and to take part in contests at Northampton.  Sometimes practices were held at seven o’clock on Sunday mornings, and when they were over the choristers would often enjoy a bike ride “round Wymington.”

  Mr. Joseph Farey led the choir for 30 years, and his son George, a brilliant organist, co-operated with him for most of the time.  The visits to the London festivals continued until 1914.  The two couples afterwards sang under the batons of Mr. Max Stringer, Mr. T. C. Clarke, Mr. Bernard Tomkins and Mr. John Bayes.  They sang through the ministries of the Revs. W. J. Tomkins, W. F. Harris, R. C. Law, H. J. Horn, J. A. Sutherland and T. W. Gill.  Now, with the Rev. R. P. Jones as minister, they look forward to further service.

  Mr. Flood was at one time secretary of the choir.  In 1911 he became co-organist (with the late Mr. George Denton) at the Independent Wesleyan Church, and since 1920 he has been choirmaster there.  In all those years, however, he has continued to attend the Baptist practices, and for most of the time he has held the position of deputy conductor.  He is at present acting conductor during the absence of Mr. Bayes on war service.

  The two ladies and Mr. Flood gave long service to Rushden Choral Society, of which Mr. Flood was secretary for some years, then becoming a permanent vice-president.

Favourite Solos

  As a church chorister Mrs. Brightwell is particularly fond of Gounod’s solo “There is a green hill” and of the solo part in the anthem, “O for a closer walk with God.”  Mrs. Flood has often sung the soprano solo part in “Hark, hark my soul.”

  Last Sunday evening the anthem chosen by the ladies was Stanford’s “Magnificat.”  Mrs. Brightwell was among the sopranos;  Mrs. Flood was in the contralto department, to which she transferred a few years ago; Mr. Brightwell sang tenor and Mr. Flood was with the basses.

  The choir has one other member of more than 50 years’ standing – Mr. W. Cauldwell.