AT NINETY years of age, Frank Newbould of Burley-in-Wharfedale is still in fine voice.

And it's no surprise - he has been a member of St Mary's Parish Church male choir in the village since the age of seven - an astonishing 83 years.

To celebrate his birthday, the choir is holding a special service on Sunday when they will be singing seven of Mr Newbould's favourite hymns.

One of these is 'Fight the Good Fight'.

"It's been a favourite since I was a lad," Mr Newbould said. "I think the fighting bit appealed to me!"

Mr Newbould's talent for singing was spotted at a young age.

He remembers: "There was a very well-known Otley preacher by the name of Anthony Birtwhistle. One day he came up to me and said: 'I hear that tha' sings.' I answered: 'Aye lad I do.' He asked me to sing for him after one of his sermons. I went with him, and he preached and preached and preached and preached. At the end of it he says, 'right lad, what tha' going to sing for us?'

"'It is Enough' by Elijah, I answered."

Born in 1913 in Burley-in-Wharfedale, Mr Newbould has rarely left the area, living at various times in Otley and Ilkley before settling once again in Burley.

He lived for some time on Norwood Terrace in a house he paid £600 for in the 1920's.

He remembers gas lamps and the days when the 'knocker-up' did his rounds waking up the mill workers.

Mr Newbould can recall the introduction of trolley buses, the trains running through to Otley and even horse- drawn wagonettes.

"The first bus was a converted ambulance and it cost tuppence to travel from Burley to Otley.

"At one time there were 60 shops in Burley, before the big supermarkets put an end to that," he said.

But some changes were good for Mr Newbould - he loved driving and was still behind the wheel at the age of 84.

"I think it was obvious there were going to be changes," he said. "I do miss driving very much - but people are very good to me."

Mr Newbould will be remembered by many as their headteacher. He was head at Otley C of E school based at Cross Green in 1954, before becoming head of Burley C of E School where he stayed until he retired in 1973.

Mr Newbould said: "It was really a highlight for me to go back as headteacher to the school where I was a pupil."

As a headteacher, Mr Newbould led one of the first evacuations of children to Linton, near Grassington, during the 1939-45 War.

"I had 240 children to look after, night and day."

Some of the evacuees, who stayed at Linton from 1940 onwards, have arranged a reunion this Saturday for Mr Newbould as part of his birthday celebrations.

Other achievements include becoming chairman of Otley Urban District Council and meeting the Queen - he was selected to receive Maundy Money in 1996.

Director of Music at St Mary's Church in Burley-in-Wharfedale, Paul Allan, said: "It is just such an incredible achievement for Mr Newbould to have been with the choir for 83 years. During that time he has been a loyal and dedicated member who supports everything we do - including singing some of the more modern songs that he is not so keen on! The choir is a very big part of his life.

"Frank has also made a very significant financial contribution to the rebuilding of the church organ. We have a lot to be thankful to Frank for.

"We are looking forward to celebrating Frank's birthday and to saying a big thank you. But this is not a goodbye - Frank and the choir are carrying on."

Mr Newbould is looking forward to celebrating his nineties. When asked the secret of reaching such a grand age, he said: "I haven't a clue. I was the runt of the family! I do walk up to the village most days and I think singing has helped."

l The celebration service for Frank Newbould will be held at St Mary's Church, Burley-in-Wharfedale on Sunday at 6pm. All are welcome.

l Anyone who is interested in joining St Mary's Parish Church male choir can contact Paul Allan on 01943 430065.