KIRK Balk School had a very enthusiastic and talented girls’ choir in the 1950s.

They were, in fact, so good that they walked away with the shield for the best school choir in Barnsley in 1951.

Former head girl Georgette Denton (nee Yates), who lived at Hoyland Common, was a member of the choir and she still remembers the delight they all shared when they were announced as winners.

She has loaned to us a photograph of the choir. She is fifth from the left on the front row, holding the shield which was presented to them.

Georgette has been able to name most of the choir. They are as follows: back row, left to right: not known, Shirley Knock, Jean Butler, June Utley, Margaret Eyre, Mavis Round, not known, Joyce Teasdale, Catherine Kitching, not known.

Middle row: Miss LL Meakin (teacher), Doreen Sylvester, not known, Maureen Linley, not known, not known, Shirley Dalton, Greta (surname not known), Gwen Taylor, not known, Helen Davies, Bessie Dorling, Miss WK Dunnett.

Front row: not known, Marlene Fowler, Pat Hough, Maureen Fitzjohn, Georgette Yates, Pat Edwards, Janis Gray, Denise Hickman, Decima Charlesworth, Lilian (surname not known).

Six years earlier, Georgette had taken part in the school’s production of the play ‘Quality Street’ which involved pupils in classes 1A and 1B. They were: back row, left to right: Sybil Boswick, Molly Royston, Phylis Burgin, not known, Sylvia Yeardley, Pat Dickinson.

Middle row: left to right, Elaine Blackburn, Rita Spencer, Kathleen Moxon, not known, Shirley Evans, Georgette Yates.

Front row: not known, Helen Davies, Betty Tollerfield, Mildred Bland, Bessie Sharman.