Choir founder Maureen Handby inspired many people to sing

Her father was Arnold Edwards, a solicitor’s clerk, and her mother Gertrude (nee Akroyd), a homemaker.

One night in 1939 things changed drastically when Maureen’s mother left the household - Maureen would never see her again. The following year her father was granted a divorce.

Being brought up by her grandmother, Maureen showed early promise as a performer by putting on shows for the local people on top of their Anderson shelter.

Arnold soon met a young lady, Margaret Thornber, and fell in love. They married in 1943 and the following year Maureen’s baby brother Malcolm arrived.

A young Maureen in Lytham St Annes

With her father Arnold Edwards

Maureen was to call Margaret ‘Mum’ for the rest of her life. A gifted musician, Maureen took up the viola and piano at school and later attended Huddersfield Technical College where she continued her viola studies, playing with the well-known Huddersfield Youth Orchestra.

It was at college that she met her lifelong friend Cynthia. Both very keen musicians, they became music teachers, Maureen in Yorkshire and Cynthia in the West Midlands, remaining in the profession their whole lives.

Maureen went to work in Exley Secondary School in Halifax. It was here that her abilities to encourage children to sing emerged.

Maureen developed a love of choirs at each school she worked at. From then on, her legacy was the great fun the children had singing their hearts out.

Every year there would be a concert and her choirs became well-known across the Bradford area and beyond. Her school performances were often recorded in the Telegraph & Argus. One in particular was the operetta 'The Stranger'. with pupils from her then school, Lapage Girls’ Junior High.

Maureen, third from right, on a trip to London with staff from Lapage Girls' High School, in the late 1960s

Maureen with her husband Ernest

Maureen met her first husband in the late 1950s, later giving birth to ons Paul and David. Sadly in 1975, Maureen got divorced.

She also participated in Halifax’s twin town project with the spa city of Aachen in Germany. Her father Arnold was a founder member and from 1948 onwards took families from Halifax to Aachen and Aachen to Halifax, to build bridges between communities after the Second World War. Aachen was to become something of a special place for Maureen.

She joined a choir in the early 1980s but it wasn’t local and she didn’t drive. To remedy this, she decided to start her own choir. In 1984 The Glen Singers was born, starting with 24 members.

Maureen met her second husband Ernest through singing in the choir. In 1986 they married at Saltaire United Reformed Church.

The Glen Singers went from strength to strength, swelling to more than 80 members. They met every Thursday at Bolton Methodist Church in Eccleshill.

The Glen Singers about to embark on a trip to Germany, 2005

Maureen Handby will be much missed by her family and friends

The choir gave concerts across Bradford and started to become noticed further afield, soon singing all over the country. Maureen had the inspired idea of touring abroad, starting with Aachen. These trips were hugely popular and loved by all. Maureen and the other choir members loved the adventures they embarked on, entertaining people at home and abroad.

Over the years The Glen Singers raised thousands of pounds for local charities and brought joy to many appreciative audiences. In 2001 they produced a CD 'Singing for Pleasure' which proved very popular.

In 1997, aged 57, Maureen retired from teaching, having spent 27 years as head of music at Lapage Girls’ School and latterly at Lapage Middle School, both in Bradford.

In the late 1990s, while researching the family tree, Maureen’s son David managed to trace Maureen’s mother. Sadly, she had died in 1988, but Maureen discovered a new sister, Trudi and brother Anthony. She met them and kept in constant touch ever since.

In 2008, Maureen stepped down as musical director of the Glen Singers as she felt it was time to pass the baton to someone else.

Raising a toast

Her last concert took place in Bradford Cathedral in June, 2008. She remained in contact with the choir and her the many friends she made throughout her years with them.

In July last year, the Glen Singers had a farewell concert and reunion as the choir was dwindling in numbers. Maureen was the honoured guest. She thoroughly enjoyed the evening, which ended with 'Thank you for the Music' sung by the remaining choir members.

The choir's musical director Ian Baxter said at the time: “The choir is like a large family and community - we saw each other every week and we intend to stay in contact even though the choir is over.”

Maureen loved her involvement with choirs - creating The Glen Singers was her crowing glory.

She died on May 16, 2024 and will be missed by all who knew her.

Maureen's musical influences over the years on both the pupils she taught and the friends she made through the choir are insurmountable. Her life has been fully lived and we will all miss her terribly.