Description:Page 20 of 'Drake Hall - A War-Time Hostel', a souvenir book produced for staff and residents at the Swynnerton Royal Ordinance Factory hostel at Drake Hall, produced in 1945. Choir mistress Mary Shillito A.R.M.C and choir members. The text reads:
"The Drake Hall Choir first met in the Autumn of 1942 with a regular membership of about a dozen girls. "Our first job" was to sing Carols for Christmas, both for the Nativity Play and on Christmas Day itself. After this we turned our attention to secular music and the programme for a Spring Concert, which included Solos and Duets from some of the girls taking private singing lessons. Our membership grew steadily to about thirty, where it has remained ever since. We worked mainly at Part-Songs of all periods, but when, owing to shift difficulties, numbers at rehearsals were not enough for those to be satisfactory, we learnt the works of the great song-writers such as Schubert and Mozart, which we could sing in unison. After the Spring Concert, which was given before an audience of about one hundred on May 1st, we were asked to take part in the Hostel Revue, when we helped in the choruses and sang a group of songs by ourselves. On this occasion we appeared in black dresses, wearing red carnations very kindly given to us by Mrs. Steed. Soon after this we had the interesting experience of singing to the microphone: we contributed two of our songs to the recordings produced by Gordon Crier. Perhaps the most exciting moment was when we were allowed to hear our record played back—and when Mr. Crier complimented us on the clearness of our words. As Christmas drew near once more we prepared a new set of Carols, and some of the old ones too, for singing at Drake's second Nativity Play and on Christmas Day.
After this we set to work on the music for Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by Mendlessohn. In July we sang parts of the Hallelujah Chorus at the end of a religious play produced in the Hostel. In August we gave one more Concert. This included Part-Songs, Rounds, some unison songs and a group of National Songs in which the audience joined, while some of us sang descants. Some of the girls who have had private singing lessons also performed and for the first time some of our pianists showed us what they could do.
In conclusion, we should like to thank Mr. Morris for all the time he has so generously given us for playing our accompaniments at our public performances, and last, but by no means least, Mrs. Steed, whose loyal support and enthusiasm has always been such a help and encouragement to us. In fact, making music in the happy, friendly atmosphere of Drake Hall has been a real pleasure and one which we shall always remember."