DESPITE last Saturday's wintery blast, choir members from Ilkley and the wider region braved the snow and drifts to attend a singing workshop at St John's Church, Ben Rhydding.

Of 60 members expected, just under 40 made it, for the first performance of a new choral piece to mark the bicentenary of the RNLI.

Entitled Shannon's Song, the work has been a collaboration between Ben Rhydding-based composer and choir leader, Keely Hodgson and Leeds-based poet Emma Storr. Its name comes from the latest RNLI all-weather vessels known as the Shannon Class Lifeboats.

At the end of August, Keely invited singers from around the region to take part in the workshop and last Saturday at St John's, having learned their parts independently and accompanied by pianist Maggie Whitton, they finally came together to practice, rehearse and then, as Keely said: “Launch the song to test her for sea-worthiness.”

Keely is part of a team of composers and arrangers for the website ChoirCommunity. To help celebrate the RNLI 's bicentenary, ChoirCommunity have partnered with the RNLI to celebrate in song through an initiative called “Sing to Save Lives.”

Also present on Saturday was Clive Rand, an RNLI's vice-president, whose wife Anne has been a member of one of Keely's choirs. Knowing the power of music to inspire people, Clive initiated the Sing to Save Lives campaign and contacted Keely to see if she thought it would fly. She did. The campaign was then organised and administered by the RNLI panel, such that over the year, around the country, 99 choirs have taken part.

“The main objective has been to to remind everyone that love of the sea and trust in the RNLI go hand in hand,” said Clive, “and although not intended as a fundraiser over £12,000 has come in for the organisation.”

With a haunting refrain, the four verses of Shannon's Song describe, from a lifeboat's point of view, the bravery, dedication and life-saving work of RNLI volunteers.

At the end of the morning, Keely said she was overwhelmed by the support shown by all the singers. “I want to thank you all all for your commitment to bringing Shannon's Song to life,” she said, “not only those who managed to get to the workshop, but also those singers who were prevented from travelling by the weather, but who had been learning their parts in readiness to sing with everyone.”

Along with Keely, the choir now hopes for a further opportunity in the new year to sing Shannon's Song again, this time to a public audience.