On 7th January 2023 a number of choristers attended Bill Nash’s 100th birthday party at the Ardagh Bowls Club in Horfield, Bristol where he was thrilled to once again sing alongside the choristers for a selection of songs including Annie’s Song, Stout Hearted Men and My Grandfather’s Clock. Bill was also presented with a signed birthday card, hand crafted by Jayne Stallard and a unique slate plaque by the choristers to commemorate his remarkable achievement. Bill attributes his longevity largely to singing in a choir for almost all his life.
Choristers attending were Musical Director Sian Hatton, David Gould, chairman Graham Hughes, Alyn Dawe, Gareth Thomas, Peter Hanks, Rob Stallard, Mike Thurman and Lyn Gauntlett. Also attending was choir photographer Colleen Gauntlett, for once getting in the photo.
Bill has been a continual member of the Choir for over 50 years, travelling from his home in Bristol to attend practices twice a week, innumerable concerts and many foreign tours including the USA and Canada. He has been involved in choral singing from the age of eight, including during his wartime service in the RAF. We doubt that any other chorister in the country can emulate this achievement.
Legendary Bill received many tributes and accolades over the week end, not least from the D M Davis Welsh Male Voice Choir of Jackson, Ohio of which Bill is an honorary member, Pendyrus, Treorchy, Newquay and other male choirs and was the subject of a tribute on Roy Noble’s BBC Radio Show on Sunday where Musical Director Sian Hatton was interviewed by Roy on the show.
Bill’s birthday was on 9th January and was celebrated at home with his family while enjoying his favourite fish and chips lunch. Bill was also presented with a congratulatory 100th birthday card from King Charles whom he met at Buckingham Palace in 2018 when the Choir was invited to sing at the then Prince of Wales’ 70th birthday celebrations.
Congratulations Bill and we hope you can pay us a visit in the near future.
