Following a successful tour of Normandy where St Peter’s Singers presented the best of English choral singing, audiences in Ilkley were treated to an evening of music that spanned five centuries of sacred choral music.

Under the expert baton of Alan Horsey, the singers repertoire moved from 16th-century Donati to 18th-century William Boyce and culminated in a tribute to Benjamin Britten on the centenary of his birth.

The organ solos by David Houlder featured a number of good tunes including those recognisable as the accompaniment to Antiques Roadshow and Songs of Praise. These punctuation marks in the choral singing added to the fizz of the evening from these polished and enthusiastic singers.

Ilkley-Coutances Town Twinning Committee will benefit from the proceeds of the evening. This will be used to foster joint activities between the two towns especially the fostering of new links, help in hosting twinning visits and promoting Ilkley to our French neighbours.