Police Band and Choirs

West Mercia Police is fortunate to benefit from a number of affiliated musical organisations, who do considerable work to benefit charities around the region.  They each feature a mix of serving and former police officers or staff alongside members of the public.  You can read about each group below and find out more about how you can get involved.

The Band of West Mercia Police

Formed in 1988, the Band of West Mercia Police has established an impeccable reputation both for musical performance and work within the community.

Successful in competitions at regional and national level, the Band’s achievements include reaching the finals of the British Band Championships and most recently, taking second place in the Pershore Brass Contest.

Band members include serving and retired officers and staff as well as members of the local community. All are committed to providing high quality musical performances and helping to forge links between the Police and local communities.

As well as competing and raising substantial sums for good causes, dedicated Band members provide entertainment at force functions and enhance public relations by establishing closer links with schools throughout the force area and encouraging musical ability.

Concerts and events organised by the Band have raised more than £400,000 for local charities and good causes and a further £9,000 for Project Sri Lanka, following the Asian tsunami in 2004.

Contact The Band

If you are interested in joining the Band or would like them to play at a community event, please contact one of the people below:

Eddie Barry, QPM - Chairman

Telephone: 01562 754397
Mobile: 0780 8122780
Email: ewbarry@aol.com

David Francis – Secretary

Telephone: 01495 303120

Hereford Police Male Choir

Hereford Police Male Choir  celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 2007, having been formed in 1957 to sing at a special thanks giving service at Hereford Cathedral to mark the centenary of the old Herefordshire Constabulary. It was made up then of serving police officers together with some members of the Specials.

Today, the choir continues to successfully sing at concerts throughout the UK and overseas, although its ranks have long been opened up to men from all walks of life. A few of the original police officers, now retired, are still singing with the 65 strong choir. There is a large contingent of choristers from the Worcestershire area. The choir retains its strong links with West Mercia Police and the Chief Constable, Paul West, is a very supportive president.

The choir achieved national fame in 2008 when they reached the last 15 in the BBC TV show, 'Last Choir Standing'.  Having gained great acclaim from the judges for their quality of singing, the choir - the oldest in the competition - narrowly lost out in a tense play-off for a spot on the final show.  Their victors, Only Men Aloud, went on to win the show outright.

The aim of the choir is to provide a platform for its members to enjoy singing together, give pleasure to its audiences, and along the way raise a lot of money for charities – over £800,000 so far. The choir, with its musical director, Alison Houlbrooke, meets for rehearsals at 7pm each Tuesday evening at Hereford Shire Hall and any men interested in joining the choir are urged to go along to a rehearsal. The ability to read music is not essential and Hereford Police Choir is always keen to recruit new singers and would be delighted to hear from anyone interested in becoming a member. 

Contact The Choir

For information about Hereford Police Choir, including details of forthcoming events you can visit their website at www.herefordpolicechoir.org.

If you are interested in joining the choir or would like them to sing at a community event, please contact:

Brian Williams – Secretary

Telephone: 01905 454760
Email: brianwilliams54@btinternet.com

Shrewsbury Police Male Choir

Shrewsbury Police Male Choir celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2008, having been formed in August 1983 by seven members of West Mercia Police's Shropshire Division.

The choir now has some 56 members and is made up of both retired police officers and members of the wider community who had been invited to join.

It sings throughout Shropshire and the surrounding counties for charitable and other worthy causes, in doing so fostering and building on public relations between the police and local communities.

During its more than 25-year career, the choir has helped raised more than £200,000 for charity and remains one of the better known choirs in the Shropshire area.

The choir meets each Monday evening at The Brooklands Hotel in Meole Brace, Shrewsbury from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Members are always pleased to hear from anyone wishing to join the choir or who might simply want to come along to their practice night, where a warm welcome always awaits them.

Contact The Choir

More information about Shrewsbury Police Male Choir can be found on its website at
www.sy-police-mvc.freeserve.co.uk.

If you would like to speak to a member of the choir, please contact:

Secretary Glen Davies

Telephone: 01743 446598

Email: g.davies22@tiscali.co.uk,

Musical Director Jim Edmunds

Telephone: 01743 365679