Choir Committee & President

CHOIR COMMITTEE

Committee Officers

ROGER HIGGS

Chairman

IAN BLOWERS

Secretary

MIKE PICTOR

Treasurer

Committee Members

TIM PRICE

MIKE St JOHN-GREEN

MIKE BROWN

MIKE WAKEHAM

Choir President

IAN MEAN MBE

Congratulations to Ian Mean on being honoured with an MBE for services to the community

At rehearsal on Monday June 22, 2012 the choir chairman Pete Wilson announced that Ian Mean, Editor in Chief of Gloucestershire Media is to be the choir's President.

A career in journalism spanning 40 years which includes Marketing Manager of the Daily Mirror, Northern News Editor of the Daily Mail and Chief News Editor of the Birmingham Evening Mail, Ian is currently responsible for The Citizen, Gloucestershire Echo, Forester and the Group’s website www.thisisgloucestershire. Ian has a deep - rooted passion for everything local and this is reflected in the campaigns that he has championed. He is Vice Chairman of the Gloucester Heritage Regeneration Company, a member of Gloucester Strategic Partnership and a Board member of Crimestoppers. Ian has never shied away from using the power of the press to provocatively challenge local and regional issues. He is also a regular BBC broadcaster.

Said Ian, ‘I feel enormously privileged to be asked to take on the role of president of such a brilliant male voice choir. But I must stress that this will be an ambassadorial role—I leave the singing to my wife, Judy. To me, the choir is very much part of the fabric of the county’s culture having been founded in 1965. Gloucestershire should be proud of its many male voice choirs like Churchdown—singing is at the very heart of this county and I am proud to be asked to take on the role’.

Pete Wilson, choir chairman, said, ‘We are delighted that Ian has accepted our invitation to be our president. We are certain that he will be a great ambassador for the choir and we look forward to being able to work together using his wide knowledge of the county and his passion for local concerns. We shall continue bringing pleasure to people with our singing and also raising funds for local and national charities. We note that he will not be singing with us, leaving the singing to his wife Judy. Now, that is a challenge, as I didn’t intend to sing with the choir either and was just elected vice-president. I have now been singing with them for more than two years, so we will see’.