IT’S almost 75 years since Tony Jermy discovered his love of music when he became a chorister at his local church at the age of seven.
His passion has endured and still burns bright as he approaches his 82nd birthday in March and he remains committed to several choirs and groups across the borough.
“I was born in Wath and started in the choir at St James’ Church there before being ‘poached’ by the organist at Wath Parish Church,” he said.
“It was there that I did a lot of my choral training and I owe them a lot.”
But that was just the start for Tony - he received formal voice training as a teenager and became a member of Wombwell and District Amateur Operatic Society where he and his future wife Jean met.
When the couple married, they lived in Darfield before moving to Wombwell, where they still live, and, as part of his job as a primary school teacher, Tony was heavily involved in school productions and held guitar and classical groups which he loved.
In 1983 he joined the baritone section of Thurnscoe Harmonic Male Voice Choir where he is now musical director.
The prize-winning choir celebrated its centenary last year and Tony has played an important role for over 40 years.
When he retired from teaching, first in 2002 and then four years later after he was persuaded to return to supply teaching, the plan was to take it a bit easier but as he explains things don’t always go to plan.
He added: “Over the years I have often been asked to get involved in different choirs and other projects and I usually start off by saying I just don’t have the time and then before I know it I’m agreeing to do this and that.”
That was the case back in 2009 when he went along to a Barnsley U3A event with his wife who was social secretary and on the executive committee.
“They were holding an event at Wilthorpe and at the end someone asked me why we couldn’t start a choir and I said that I just didn’t have the time.
“It happened though and at our first meeting and about 30 people turned up and it just grew from there.
“At one stage we had to put a cap on it at 90 members but we currently have around 70.
“We meet weekly and do concerts at Christmas and in the summer as well as other events. Most of our members hadn’t done any choral singing but it has gone really well.
“We choose our repertoire carefully and keep it light and happy to make it enjoyable for everyone.”
And the choir is clearly hitting all the right notes for its members and its audience.
A U3A spokesperson said: “Tony is not only the musical director, but he is such a talented soloist.
“At our summer concert he sang ‘Stars’ from Les Misérables and truly brought the house down.”
